German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday called for a global alliance of like-minded economies to defend rules-based trade, urging closer coordination between Europe and the Indo-Pacific as protectionism and geopolitical tensions threaten the international trading system. Speaking at the 19th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business in Seoul, Merz proposed a political alliance to uphold global trade rules, strengthen the World Trade Organization and coordinate responses to violations. “Trade

South Korea and Germany must strengthen economic security without retreating into protectionism, government and business leaders said Friday, calling for closer cooperation in industrial AI and supply chains as geopolitical tensions reshape global trade. Speaking at the 19th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business in Seoul, Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan warned that efforts to reduce economic vulnerabilities should not come at the expense of open markets. “Economic security should not become

Siemens CEO Roland Busch and Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon on Saturday urged companies to move beyond AI pilot projects and focus on measurable productivity gains, stressing that better data management and leadership commitment are key to scaling industrial artificial intelligence. Speaking at an industrial AI session at APK 2026 in Seoul, moderated by journalist Jennifer Moon, the executives said companies' ability to unlock internal data and integrate AI into everyday operations would determine its

While artificial intelligence is fueling predictions of sweeping industrial change, turning that promise into practical gains on factory floors -- and bringing those benefits to smaller manufacturers -- remains a work in progress. Meeting these challenges requires models trained on industrial knowledge and data, alongside an adoption strategy suited to businesses with limited resources, said Roland Busch, president and CEO of Siemens, the German industrial tech company that supplies factory auto

Samsung Electronics will acquire Samsung Display’s entire stake in Chinese panel maker TCL CSOT, bolstering LCD supply ties for its TV business as the display subsidiary focuses on high-end OLED panels. Samsung Electronics said in a regulatory filing on Friday that it would buy the 10.16 percent stake for about 1.27 trillion won ($950 million). It cited “strengthening strategic cooperation” as the purpose of the acquisition. Samsung Display acquired the shares as part of the sale of its Suzhou L

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power has ended construction contract negotiations with a Daewoo Engineering & Construction-led consortium for its landmark Czech nuclear project, exposing a rift within the South Korean team behind the multibillion-dollar deal. The state-run nuclear operator said Thursday it would begin terminating its cooperation agreement with the consortium, which includes Doosan Enerbility, and prepare a new bidding process to select a replacement contractor. The breakdown follows more

SK hynix said Wednesday its DRAM and high-bandwidth memory chips were effectively sold out through 2029, underscoring the strength of AI-driven demand as the chipmaker posted record quarterly earnings, with revenue surpassing 100 trillion won ($75.5 billion) for the first time. The memory giant also unveiled additional shareholder returns, bringing its planned dividends and share buybacks and cancellations for this year to about 100 trillion won. In a rare appearance on the company's third-quart

LG Innotek’s record third-quarter sales failed to cushion a sharp currency hit, with operating profit more than halving as higher material costs eroded gains from strong demand for smartphone cameras. The Apple supplier said Tuesday that operating profit fell 53.4 percent from a year earlier to 94.8 billion won ($71.5 million), less than half the 197.3 billion won forecast compiled by financial data provider FnGuide. Revenue rose 18.6 percent to 6.37 trillion won, a third-quarter record. Its ope

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong marked four years in the role on Tuesday with the company forecasting its biggest quarterly profit, a dramatic reversal from the semiconductor downturn that engulfed the early months of his tenure. Lee is now focused on strengthening Samsung’s technological lead and pursuing growth in robotics, automotive electronics and artificial intelligence-powered manufacturing as the memory business rebounds. No anniversary ceremony or special message was planned.

SONGDO, Incheon — Inside a tightly controlled factory in Songdo, German chemicals giant Henkel is producing a critical but often overlooked ingredient in AI chips: semiconductor adhesives. Workers in cleanroom suits operate mixing equipment under strict temperature and humidity controls. Some rooms glow yellow, with ultraviolet light filtered out to prevent unwanted chemical reactions. The materials produced here help hold chips together, protect delicate connections and dissipate heat — increas

SK hynix's decision to shelve a potential US listing of its NAND flash subsidiary Solidigm reflects a strategic reassessment of how best to finance the company's next phase of growth, rather than a retreat from its expansion ambitions. The Korean chipmaker announced Friday that Solidigm had ended its review of pre-IPO fundraising and an initial public offering, 79 days after the plan first emerged on Aug. 5. The decision comes as a sharp correction in semiconductor stocks has made a favorable va

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong joined senior executives Friday at a memorial service for his late father, former Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee, ahead of the sixth anniversary of his death on Sunday. Lee arrived at the family burial site in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, at around 8:40 a.m., shortly after returning from a business trip to the United Arab Emirates. He paid his respects at the grave, bowing twice before observing a moment of silence and performing a traditional memorial ritual

China is touting a breakthrough in one of the semiconductor industry's toughest technologies: extreme ultraviolet lithography. But how close is it really to challenging global chipmaking leaders? Chinese startup Langdao Silex recently unveiled a prototype EUV light source built with what it claims are 90 percent domestically made components, promising commercialization within three to five years. Yet its reported performance falls far short of commercial requirements, and experts doubt China can

Samsung Electro-Mechanics said Monday it has signed a 360.5 billion won ($271 million) contract to supply high-performance package substrates for memory chips to a major global customer, expanding its long-term supply agreements into its substrate business. Under the one-year deal, the company will supply the substrates from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2027. Samsung Electro-Mechanics did not identify the customer. The agreement comes as demand for advanced memory components rises alongside the rapid

South Korea's leading display-makers are preparing fresh investments in advanced organic light-emitting diode production as Apple expands the technology into laptops, tablets and monitors, creating new growth opportunities in the premium display market. Apple is expected to unveil an OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro and an OLED-equipped iPad Mini later this month, with Samsung Display reportedly supplying all initial panels for both products, according to industry officials. The launches would mark