Naver vs Coupang 2026: KRW 33 Billion Kurly Bet and First Fulfillment Centers Reset Korea E-Commerce Race
Naver injected KRW 33B into Kurly (stake to 6.2%) and is scouting its first fulfillment centers as Coupang data breach handed Korea No. 2 a 45% MAU surge.
Hyundai Motor Takes 100% Control of Boston Dynamics for $325M as SoftBank Exits — 25,000 Atlas Robots Cleared for Korean and U.S. Plants by 2028
Hyundai acquires SoftBank's remaining 9.65% stake in Boston Dynamics for $325M, securing full ownership. 25,000 Atlas robots set for Korean and U.S. factory deployment by 2028.
K-Pop Album Exports Hit Record $257M in H1 2026 — BTS "Arirang" Drives 125% Surge, Setting Up HYBE's July 28 Earnings Test
South Korea's K-pop album exports hit a record USD 257.48M in H1 2026 (+125% YoY). BTS's 'Arirang' topped the Billboard 200 for three consecutive weeks; HYBE reported record Q1 revenue of ₩698.3B (+39.5% YoY). HYBE reports Q2 2026 earnings July 28.
Samsung Galaxy Glasses Meet Meta Head-On With $379–$499 Bet on AI Fashion — Gentle Monster Puts Korea at the Heart of the Wearable Race
Samsung is set to unveil Galaxy Glasses at Unpacked on July 22, 2026. Leaked pricing at $379–$499 matches Meta's Ray-Ban Gen 2. Korean eyewear brand Gentle Monster co-designs one frame line, adding Korean design credentials to Samsung's DX growth push.
Korea's Power Grid Trio Locks In ₩1.43T in Contracts as AI Data Centers Trigger a Transformer Supercycle
HD Hyundai Electric, Hyosung Heavy Industries, and LS Electric announced a combined ₩1.43 trillion in power infrastructure contracts on July 2, 2026, driven by AI data center construction and aging US grid replacement. The trio's combined 2026 operating profit is forecast to approach ₩3 trillion, up 38% year-on-year.
Samsung Q2 2026 Full Results Due July 30: Three Figures Behind the ₩89.4T Headline
Samsung posted ₩89.4T operating profit in Q2 2026 (preliminary, July 7). Full segment breakdown — DS, MX, foundry — releases July 30. Three numbers that will move 005930.KS.
Apple Enters DOJ Settlement Talks — Samsung Korea Subpoenaed as Case's 'Most Relevant Third Party'
Apple entered early settlement talks with the U.S. DOJ over its 2024 antitrust case. Samsung Korea is at the center — subpoenaed for discovery, named as Apple's closest competitor.
SKHY ADR Premium Drops 28 Points From 51% to 23% in Two Sessions: Constitution Day, Options Expiry
SKHY ADR premium compressed from a same-session peak of 51% on July 14 to ~23% on July 16 in two sessions. KRX closed today for Korea's reinstated Constitution Day.
Meritz Financial Approves ₩200 Billion DIP Loan for Homeplus as MBK Chair Stakes Personal Guarantee Before July 20 Court Deadline
Meritz Financial Group approved a ₩200 billion debtor-in-possession loan for Homeplus on July 16, with MBK Partners Chairman Michael Kim providing a personal guarantee for the full amount. The deal enables Homeplus to appeal Seoul Bankruptcy Court's rehabilitation termination before the July 20 deadline. Korean bank creditors hold an estimated ₩1 trillion in combined exposure.
Kia Partners With Kakao Mobility to Build Purpose-Built Robotaxis as Seoul Sets October Level-4 Debut
Kia and Kakao Mobility ink a PBV robotaxi co-development MOU, with Kia supplying PV5 DevKit vans for Seoul's 2026 pilot as both partners target Korea's first unmanned Level-4 commercial service in October.
Micron Locks In Hyundai Mobis and Samsung's Harman on 3-5 Year AI Vehicle Chip Deals
Micron Technology secured 3-5 year strategic supply agreements with Hyundai Mobis and Samsung's Harman for AI-enabled vehicle memory. What it means for Korea's three-way automotive chip race.
KAI Completes T-50i Deliveries to Indonesia, Opening KRW 2.5T KF-21 Revenue Window
KAI delivered its final T-50i batch to Indonesia on July 16, completing 22 total units and cementing a relationship that anchors a KRW 2.5 trillion KF-21 fighter revenue stream beginning Q1 2026. With Q1 revenue forecast up 53.4% YoY and 94+ FA-50 aircraft in global negotiation, analysts maintain a Buy consensus with a 37% upside target.