HD Korea Shipbuilding Signs MOU With Schneider Electric to Develop Floating Data Centers, Tapping AI Infrastructure Boom
HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (010140.KS) and Schneider Electric signed a July 8 MOU to develop floating data centers, combining offshore platform engineering with power and cooling expertise to target AI infrastructure demand from North America.
Pentagon Issues First Naval RFI to Korean Shipbuilders Under MASGA, Opening Path to USD 40B Annual Market
The Pentagon and US Navy have sent formal Requests for Information to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hanwha Ocean, and Samsung Heavy Industries — marking the first official RFI to Korean yards under the MASGA initiative and opening a potential path into the USD 40.1B annual US naval shipbuilding market.
Kakao (035720.KS) Targets Cut as AI Revenue Remains Unproven
Kakao Corp (035720.KS), the operator of Korea's near-ubiquitous KakaoTalk messaging app and one of the country's two dominant internet platforms, has drawn pric
Korean Bank Stocks Rally as Chip Rotation Meets Buyback Bets
Korean bank stocks opened higher on July 8, 2026, extending a run that has made the sector one of the year's most reliable havens whenever the KOSPI wobbles. By
EU Finalizes Anti-Dumping Duties on Korean Tires Made in China, Forcing Kumho and Nexen to Accelerate Production Shift
The EU confirmed definitive anti-dumping duties on Korean tires made in China: 29.9% for Kumho and Nexen, 3.4% for Hankook. Europe represents 40% of the three makers' combined revenue.
Hugel Doubles Botulinum Toxin Capacity to 13 Million Vials, Awaiting FDA Nod for New Plant as Letybo Drives 69% Export Mix
Hugel (145020.KQ) doubled its annual botulinum toxin production to 13 million vials with Building B at Chuncheon. FY2025 revenue hit KRW 425.1B (+16.4% 5yr CAGR), OPM ~47%. US FDA registration pending — a key catalyst for Letybo's commercial ramp across 70+ markets.
South Korea Launches NATO Procurement Talks, Unlocking $9.9B Alliance Market for Defense Firms
Seoul launched formal negotiations for a NATO procurement framework agreement at the Ankara summit, targeting a $9.9B annual market. South Korea gained observer status in NATO's Defense Critical Raw Materials Initiative. Listed beneficiaries include Hanwha Aerospace (267110.KS), KAI (047810.KS), Hyundai Rotem (064350.KS), and LIG Nex1 (079550.KS).
Samsung (005930.KS): Lee at Sun Valley to Win AI Chip Deals
Lee Jae-yong, executive chairman of Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) and head of Korea's most valuable company, left Seoul on July 7 for the annual Sun Valley Co
Samsung Distributes ₩344.5B in Treasury Shares to 49,345 Non-Semiconductor Employees
Samsung's board approved a ₩344.5 billion treasury share payout for 49,345 DX and CSS employees on July 7, with distribution scheduled for July 8 as part of the 2026 profit-sharing labor agreement.
Incheon Airport Crosses 1 Billion Passengers in Record 25 Years, the World's Fastest Hub Milestone
Incheon International Airport reached 1 billion cumulative passengers in July 2026 — the fastest any major hub has hit the mark globally — lifting the outlook for Korean Air (003490.KS) and Korea's 30-million-visitor tourism target.
Korea's Assembly and Regulators Push to Delist Samsung, SK Hynix Leveraged ETFs After 35.9% Monthly Loss
Korean lawmakers from both parties and financial regulators are calling for the delisting of 14 single-stock leveraged ETFs tied to Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, which have posted losses as large as 35.9% since their May 27 launch and have driven KRW 212T in trading turnover.
LG Electronics Posts Record Q2 Operating Profit of ₩1.58 Trillion, Beating Forecasts by 49%
LG Electronics reported its best-ever Q2 with operating profit of KRW 1.58 trillion, up 147%, driven by home appliances, vehicle components, and European heat pump demand. First-half operating profit already exceeds full-year 2025.