February 26 (Wednesday) News Headline

《Economy》

KHNP Launches K-Nuclear Adopting Countries' Group… “Strengthening International Standing”

• Reactor model named "APR Owners Group"

• UAE founding member participation, Czech Republic expected to join

• Strategic move to secure export leadership over KEPCO

Basic Pension Projected to Accumulate KRW 1,905 Trillion by 2070… “Need to Adjust Criteria Amid Rapid Aging”

• KDI announces proposed reforms for basic pension selection method

• Current system criticized for inadequate reflection of elderly economic conditions

• Suggestion to lower standard median income eligibility from 100% to 50%

High Exchange Rate Fuels Dollar Insurance Sales Boom… Financial Supervisory Service Issues Consumer Warning

• Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) issues ‘Caution’ level consumer alert on foreign currency insurance

• KRW 140 billion worth sold in January alone, over three times last year’s sales

• “Foreign currency insurance is not for currency trading… Consumer risks highlighted”

K-Semiconductor Overtaken by China… Losing Its Former No.1 Position

• China surpasses Korea in semiconductor fundamentals, except in packaging

• Rising concerns over a semiconductor crisis

• Potential decline in HBM growth

• Semiconductor exhibition ‘Semicon Korea’ concludes with gloomy outlook

Trump’s Tariff Pressure and KCTU Strike… A KRW 4 Trillion Factory Shutdown

• Hyundai Steel partially shuts down plants due to strike

• Union demands higher performance bonuses

• Industry faces recession, Trump’s steel tariffs loom, production halted amid strike

《Finance》

Despite Fed’s Hold, BOK Cuts Interest Rates… “We Must Boost Domestic Demand Now”

• Decision made amid stable KRW 1,430 exchange rate

• Growth forecast revised down from 1.9% to 1.5%

• Trump’s tariff war expected to have ripple effects on exports

• Strengthening domestic demand seen as key to mitigating economic downturn

“Crypto Investors in Panic” – Bitcoin Plunges 6% Amid Trump’s Tariff Reaffirmation

• Bitcoin drops to KRW 130 million on Upbit

• Ethereum, Ripple, Solana, and Dogecoin decline over 10%

• Trump confirms 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico

• Korean crypto premium (Kimchi Premium) falls to 0%

• Fear & Greed Index shifts to "Extreme Fear"

KOSPI Declines 0.4% Amid Rate Cut… Samsung Electronics Rebounds

• Foreign investors sell KRW 284.1 billion vs. domestic retail investors buy KRW 367.2 billion

• Sectors diverge: Metals down 2%, Utilities up 4%

• Korea Zinc and POSCO Future M fall over 4%

• Samsung Heavy Industries surges 7%, HMM up over 6%

Launch of Alternative Trading System (ATS) Triggers Brokerage Fee Reductions

• ‘Next Trade’ set to launch on April 4

• Lower fees and extended trading hours until 8 PM

• Major brokerages (Korea Investment & Securities, Mirae Asset, Kiwoom, Shinhan Investment) reviewing fee cuts

• Increased competition expected to benefit investors

Toss Bank Set to Disrupt Mortgage Loan Market… Product Launch in H1 Next Year

• System development for Q2 2026 launch

• New loan volume expected to increase by KRW 4–5 trillion

• Toss boasts 20 million monthly active users, signaling major market shift

• All three internet banks entering mortgage loan sector

《Corporates》

SK Hynix Breaks Ground on ‘Fab 1’… Strengthening AI Memory Leadership

• Semiconductor cluster construction begins in Yongin

• Production hub for next-gen DRAM including HBM

• Accelerated permits allow earlier construction

• First fab set for completion in May 2027, three more fabs planned by 2050

• KRW 120 trillion investment to secure competitive edge

Hopes for End of Russia-Ukraine War… Korean Home Appliance Makers Prepare for Production Resumption

• Local media: Samsung Electronics increasing marketing budget by 30%

• LG Electronics attends local events, drawing attention

• Chinese home appliance makers benefited during war… Expected fierce competition

LS Eco Energy Partners with Vietnam on Rare Earth Supply Chain & Power Infrastructure

• Meetings with Vietnam’s Industry Minister, Power Authority, and state-owned petroleum company

• Potential multi-trillion-won power grid business if new nuclear plant is built

Samsung Electronics Teams Up with Japan’s Mitsui to Strengthen Foundry Competitiveness

• Orders EUV pellicle production from Mitsui

• Strategy to improve advanced 3nm chip yields

• Collaboration with Korea’s FST on next-gen CNT technology

Apple’s Massive $714 Trillion AI Investment… How Will It Impact the AI Chip Market?

• Apple ramps up AI investments in the U.S.

• Accelerating AI chip development, moving away from Nvidia

• Korea’s HBM supply chain diversification expected to benefit

《Real Estate》

15 Times the Size of Yeouido: Greenbelt Areas in Regional Cities to Be Lifted… 15 Strategic Projects Selected

• Support for industrial complexes and urban development

• Environmental assessment eased for Grade 1 & 2 areas

• First large-scale greenbelt adjustment since 2008

• Projects include Busan’s ‘Second Eco Delta City’ and Daejeon’s Nano Semiconductor Industrial Complex

Haeundae Property Prices Plunge by Up to KRW 1 Billion in 14 Months

• 168㎡ unit in We’ve the Zenith, Udong, now KRW 2.38 billion

• Daegu’s Suseong-gu ranks 10th nationwide for price drops

“This Month, It’s KRW 750,000” – Rent Increases Out of Control

• January’s average rent for Seoul’s one-room apartments rose slightly

• Yeongdeungpo-gu has the highest average rent

Seoul’s New Apartment Supply to Plummet to a Quarter of 2024 Levels

• Metropolitan area new apartment move-ins expected at 70,000, lowest in 11 years

• Premium on new properties likely to grow

“Five Cases of Dehydration Treatment” – Construction Workers Demand Effective Heatwave Countermeasures

• National Assembly forum on heat illness prevention for construction workers

• “Without penalties, water, shade, and rest rules are meaningless”

• Calls for actual temperature measurement, mandatory breaks above 33°C

《Society》

“Undetectable Drugs?” – NFS Identifies World’s First New Synthetic Drug

• ‘2-Fluoro-2-Oxo-PCPr’ found to cause hallucinations and delusions

• Distributed via Telegram and ‘dead drop’ methods in Seoul, Cheonan, and Jeonbuk

“YouTubers and Webtoon Creators Also Subject to Labor Inspections” – Labor Ministry Announces Supervision Plans

• Integrated oversight of labor and occupational safety

• Strict action against deliberate and repeat labor violations

• Wage arrears and serious safety risks to be monitored at top 10 construction firms

• Consulting-focused approach for small businesses

• Certification system introduced for top labor inspectors

Highway Overpass Collapse in Anseong Leaves 10 Dead or Injured… National Fire Mobilization Order Issued

• Seoul-Sejong Expressway bridge section between Ansan and Yongin collapses

• 4-5 slabs fall, killing 3 and seriously injuring 7

Elderly Poverty in Korea… “Low Public Pension Replacement Rate and Basic Pension to Blame”

• Study compares Korea’s retirement income security with eight European countries

• Europe provides 50–80% of pre-retirement income, Korea only 20–30%

Jin Air Flight from Busan to Okinawa Makes Emergency Return After Engine Explosion

• Loud explosion heard during takeoff, flames reported by passengers

• Aircraft circled to burn fuel before safe landing, no casualties

《International》

Trump: “Ukraine War to End Soon” vs. Macron: “Security Guarantees Must Be Ensured”

• U.S.-France summit held at White House

• Both support a quick peace but differ on causes and methods

US-Ukraine Mineral Agreement Nears Completion… Could It Accelerate Peace Talks?

• Final stage confirmed, U.S. drops ‘$500B payment’ clause

• Ukraine forced to accept amid Trump’s pro-Russia stance

• Debate over linking the deal to ceasefire talks

China’s ‘1 Robot per Household’ Era Approaching… Humanoid Robot Rental Boom

• KRW 20M robots rented for KRW 1M per day

• Industry eyes rapid market expansion

First Human Attempt to Discover Moon Ice and Asteroid Metals… Probe Launch on the 27th

• NASA and Intuitive Machines to send a robot to a lunar south pole crater to investigate ice presence

• U.S. startup probe to analyze metal content in an asteroid 6 million km away

Seoul Tribune (c)

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