SK Chemicals zeroes in on recycling, next-level copolyester

SK Chemicals is doubling down on recycling and advancing its copolyester technology, as the Korean green chemical firm seeks to maintain and expand its lead in the global market. “We collect polyester waste, break down polyester from such waste into raw materials and polymerize them. In other words, advancing our chemical recycling business is the most important next step for us,” said Kim Eung-soo, head of SK Chemicals’ Green Materials Business, in an interview with The Korea Herald at the comp

Nov. 16, 2025

Korean shipbuilders upbeat on opportunity to build US vessels

Korean shipbuilders on Friday welcomed the joint fact sheet announcement issued by Korea and the United States, which hinted at a possibility of building US vessels at Korean shipyards, opening a new market. Earlier in the day, President Lee Jae Myung announced in a live broadcast from Seoul’s presidential office that the two countries had agreed to pursue systematic changes so that not only US commercial ships but also US military vessels can be built in Korea, saying they have laid stepping st

Nov. 14, 2025

Kia completes 1st PBV production plant in Hwaseong

Kia unveiled its newly built EVO Plant East — Hyundai Motor Group’s first factory dedicated to platform beyond vehicle, or PBV — in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province on Friday, signifying the automaker’s emphasis on the electrification of light commercial vehicles. Kia, Korea’s second-largest automaker behind its affiliate Hyundai Motor, held a completion ceremony for the EVO Plant East and a groundbreaking ceremony for the EVO Plant West at Kia Autoland Hwaseong on the same day. According to Kia, the

Nov. 14, 2025

HD Hyundai chief seeks stronger ties with India

HD Hyundai is stepping up efforts to strengthen ties with India, as the Korean shipbuilder looks to bolster global partnerships. According to the Korean shipbuilder on Thursday, HD Hyundai Chair Chung Ki-sun met with India’s Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation at HD Hyundai’s global research and development center in Gyeonggi Province. The HD Hyundai chief presented the firm's shipbuilding design and technological capabilities, as we

Nov. 13, 2025

LG Energy Solution to develop space-bound battery

LG Energy Solution is expanding its battery product portfolio into outer space in partnership with South 8 Technologies, an American startup, the Korean battery-maker said Wednesday. According to LG Energy Solution, the two sides signed a strategic partnership for the research and development of aerospace-bound battery cells. South 8 Technologies is the world’s first company to have developed a liquefied gas electrolyte for lithium-ion batteries, which was named one of the world's top 200 invent

Nov. 12, 2025

Samsung Epis launches new biotech subsidiary Epis NexLab

Samsung Epis Holdings announced Tuesday that it has established a new subsidiary, Epis NexLab, to seek new growth engines by developing biotechnology platforms. The launch of Epis NexLab, whose name combines the words "Next" and "Laboratory," came with the completion of the recent spinoff of Samsung Epis Holdings from contract manufacturing and development organization giant Samsung Biologics. Samsung Epis Holdings said the new entity will focus on developing biotech platforms in various sectors

Nov. 11, 2025

Hyundai Motor to supply electric buses to Bali

Hyundai Motor has been selected as the official supplier of electric buses for Indonesia’s Bali, the Korean automaker said Tuesday. According to Hyundai Motor, which won the bid led by the Global Green Growth Institute on behalf of the Indonesian government in August this year, it received high ratings in the competitiveness of electric bus quality, after-sales services and experience in pro-environmental official development assistance projects. The automaker will supply 10 units of its battery

Nov. 11, 2025

Cha Biotech’s Matica Bio, Calidi partner on cancer immunotherapy project

Matica Biotechnology, a United States contract development and manufacturing organization under Korea’s Cha Biotech, said Monday that it had signed a partnership with California-based Calidi Biotherapeutics for a commercialization project in the US. Matica Bio will support Calidi’s application to the US Food and Drug Administration for clinical testing of its CLD-401, a tumor-tropic oncolytic virus, by offering analytical development, process development and Good Manufacturing Practices producti

Nov. 3, 2025

SK Biopharmaceuticals, Interon team up on autism treatment

SK Biopharmaceuticals has teamed up with Boston-based biotech Interon Laboratories to develop a novel treatment candidate for autism spectrum disorder, by controlling the neuroimmune system, the drugmaking unit of SK Group said Monday. The joint research is based on an innovative neuroimmune approach that improves autism-related symptoms by strengthening the signal transduction of the neuron’s interleukin-17 receptors. The IL-17 is a type of protein that acts as a signaling molecule in the immun

Nov. 3, 2025

Kia expects tariff aftermath to linger in Q4

Kia said Friday that it expects the United States tariffs on auto imports will likely deal a blow to its fourth quarter earnings despite Korea reaching an agreement with the Trump administration to lower the current tariffs of 25 percent to 15 percent. “Even if the (reduced tariff) is applied as of Nov. 1, the 25 percent tariff was already paid on existing inventory,” Kim Seung-jun, chief finance officer at Kia, said during the company’s conference call. “Though we expect to see the impact (of t

Oct. 31, 2025