Trump could target battery materials sourced from China, sources say South Korean battery companies are closely monitoring the second Donald Trump administration’s potential imposition of tariffs on key battery materials produced in Korea. The concern follows the enforcement of 25 percent duties on Korean steel and aluminum that took effect Wednesday, with additional tariffs expected next month. While electric vehicle batteries are currently exempt from the proposed tariffs — set to be enforced

Opposition leader’s state-owned tech proposal faces reality check South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung’s recent proposal to establish a big tech company akin to Nvidia, but one that is state-backed and profit would be distributed among citizens, has sparked a heated debate among business and political circles here. “If a company like Nvidia were to be established (in Korea), with 70 percent of shares privately owned and 30 percent distributed among citizens, wouldn’t a society emerge tha

Trump's exaggeration seen as strategic move to pressure Korea on trade, security US President Donald Trump's March 4 claim that South Korea levies tariffs four times higher than those of the US has sparked controversy about its accuracy as well as concerns about the possible intent behind the statement. “China’s average tariff on our products is twice what we charge them, and South Korea’s average tariff is four times higher,” Trump said in a speech at a joint session of Congress last week. “Thi

Google makes 4th attempt to export high-precision mapping data instead of investing in local data centers or servers The longstanding dispute over South Korea's restriction on the overseas transfer of geographic data has resurfaced, with US President Donald Trump having criticized the policy as a non-tariff barrier. The issue has gained renewed attention as Google recently filed a request to export high-precision mapping data for the first time in nine years. According to industry sources on Thu

As the US, China accelerate quantum innovation, Korea struggles with talent shortages, investment gaps On Feb. 19, Microsoft announced a major breakthrough in the nascent quantum computing sector, unveiling Majorana 1, the tech giant’s first quantum computing chip that utilizes a new state of matter. The new processor, powered by what is known as topological qubits, enables the development of quantum computers “capable of solving meaningful, industrial-scale problems, in years, not decades,” acc

Hyundai Motor Company and General Motors seem like very different automakers. One is a South Korean juggernaut known for its efficiency and clean design, while the other is a symbol of American muscle, built on a century of dominance in trucks and sport utility vehicles. Yet earlier this month, these two giants signed a sweeping partnership. “In a time of intense competition from Tesla and an ever-growing Chinese EV threat, Hyundai and GM are probably betting that their combined strengths

Electric vehicle owners in South Korea’s crowded apartment complexes are beginning to feel like social outcasts. “In my apartment, EV users are sometimes treated like criminals,” said Lee Ho-deok, an EV owner living in a large apartment complex in Seoul’s Mapo district, when describing the tense atmosphere. In a city where over 85 percent of the population lives in multi-unit housing, apartment residents already contend with longstanding issues like noise between floors.

NCSoft is seeking answers to rebound with new titles and managerial overhauling efforts amid its falling stock price, as the first-generation South Korean gaming powerhouse hopes to get back to the throne. Experts forecast that the success of new games NC plans to roll out and reorganization of human resources will determine whether the game developer can turn things around in the short term. Plummeting shares NC’s stock has been practically in a free fall since reaching its peak at 1.

In the race toward electrification, the auto industry has seen a dizzying array of electric vehicle types, from battery electric vehicles to hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and fuel-cell electric vehicles. Now, Hyundai Motor is adding another contender to the crowded mix -- extended-range electric vehicles, or EREVs. Announced on Aug. 28 during the company's CEO Investor Day, Hyundai plans to introduce these new vehicles to the North American and Chinese markets by 2027. What exactly are EREVs?

Every morning, Jung-in wakes up to her AI boyfriend Tae-joo's video call, who tells her she has 30 minutes to prepare for work before her bus comes. As she hurries out the door, Tae-joo smiles and calls out, "Take your umbrella with you, it's raining today!" Tae-joo in real life has fallen into a coma, and Jung-in restored her comatose boyfriend as an astronaut in this virtual world called Wonderland. With AI Tae-ju always accessible inside her smartphone and TV screens, Jung