By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee HS Hyosung Advanced Materials, the first Korean company to possess proprietary carbon fiber technology, is participating in Asia’s largest composites exhibition, the China Composites Expo (CCE) 2025, held in Shanghai from September 16 to 18. The CCE exhibition, held annually in Shanghai, is Asia’s largest composites trade show, featuring 700 companies presenting materials for a wide range of industries including aerospace, automotive, sports, and energy. Since 2013, HS Hyosung has participated in CCE every year, strengthening its presence in the Asian market. At
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo NCSOFT announced that its new MMORPG, AION 2, will officially launch in Korea and Taiwan on November 19. Pre-registration opened on September 11 through the official website and major app marketplaces. Players can reserve server and character names starting October 16, and pre-create customized characters beginning November 16, ahead of launch. All pre-registered players will receive a Pet Selection Box (Zaif/Papis) and a 100,000 Kinah Box. Those who register by September 14 will also be entered into a drawing for tickets to G-STAR 2025. During the AION2NIGHT l
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Hyundai Motor Group asserted its hydrogen leadership at the 1st Ministerial Meeting on Sustainable Fuels and the 7th Hydrogen Energy Ministerial Meeting on September 15 in Osaka, Japan, through lead intervention on the clean energy transition. The ministerial meetings, co-hosted by the governments of Japan and Brazil and with the participation of over 25 countries and the International Energy Agency (IEA), Asian Development Bank (ADB), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), were held with the aim of accelerating global collaboration. Hyundai Motor Group
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) hosted an exclusive closed-door roundtable on September 14 with Christopher Landau, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, during his first official visit to Seoul as Deputy Secretary. Held at the Grand Hyatt Seoul, the meeting brought together senior executives from leading U.S. and Korean companies across industries including automotive, airlines, healthcare, ICT and digital services, and steel. With Korean investments in the United States continuing to grow, participants engaged in candid discussions on strengtheni
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo South Korea's weapons exports to NATO member states over the past five years are second only to those of the U.S., the Korea. Net reported. Korea is an emerging power in the global weapons sector due to swift delivery and competitive pricing. The British weekly Economist on Aug. 31 said this in quoting a report in March by the Sweden-based Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, "Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2024." Korea tied with France from 2020-24 for second place in arms exports to NATO member countries with 6.5% each. The U.S., the wor
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Indian Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ICCK), in collaboration with Khaitan & Co., a top-tier leading law firm in India, held a business seminar on “India Market Insights: A Guide for Korean Investors” at Andaz Seoul Gangnam Hotel on Sept. 9, 2025. At the business seminar designed to guide Korean investors through the practical aspects of doing business in India, Ramesh Iyer, Chairman of ICCK, said in a welcoming address, “During the seminar, we will offer key insights and real-world case studies to help understand crucial business and regulatory consider
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Samsung Electronics announced on Sept. 8 that its 2025 OLED TV (S95F model) has been officially certified as a Real Black display by the Verband der Elektrotechnik (VDE), a leading electrical engineering certification institute in Germany. By meeting the required standards to be genuinely considered Real Black, Samsung has proven that its OLED technology delivers a true black viewing experience. The certification validates the OLED display’s crisp, reflection-free images with near-perfect blacks measured below 0.005 nits in dark environments, as well as black a
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) hosted the “Blockchain Seminar 2025” on Sept. 10 at the Grand Intercontinental Seoul Parnas under the theme “Bridging Worlds: Traditional Finance Meets the Digital Economy.” The event brought together over 70 leaders from multinational corporations, financial institutions, and technology firms to explore how blockchain innovation is reshaping the global financial system and Korea’s role in this transformation. The seminar featured a distinguished lineup of global experts and thought leaders who shared insights
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo LG Chem announced on Sept. 9 that Toyota Tsusho Corporation had acquired a 25% stake in LG-HY BCM, the company’s cathode materials plant in Gumi, thereby joining as the second-largest shareholder. Toyota Tsusho, the general trading company of the Toyota Group, plays a vital role in Toyota Motor’s raw material procurement. With Toyota Tsusho’s investment, the shareholding structure of the Gumi plant has shifted to LG Chem (51%), Toyota Tsusho (25%) and Huayou Cobalt (24%, down from 49%). This adjustment ensures the venture meets the newly redefined PFE criteria
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo LG Electronics CEO William Cho is advancing the company’s Global South growth strategy through a strategic partnership to provide cooling solutions for an AI data center under development in Oxagon, the industrial hub of Saudi Arabia’s NEOM City project. On September 2 in Riyadh, Cho met with Abdulelah Abunayyan, Chairman of SHAKER Group, the manufacturer and sole distributor of LG Air Conditioners, following the 30th anniversary of the strategic partnership; and Rajit Nanda, CEO of DATAVOLT, a global data infrastructure provider. The parties signed a memorandu
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Kia Corporation is celebrating its one millionth sale in Australia on September 4, 2025. The milestone vehicle, a Tasman X-Pro Dual Cab pickup, purchased from Motorama Kia in Queensland, reflects the brand’s growing popularity in the region and its ability to adapt to customer needs. Kia first entered the Australian market in 1988 with the launch of the Rocsta. It took three decades to reach 500,000 cumulative sales in 2018 – a significant achievement. Yet in just seven years, Kia has doubled that figure, reaching the one million mark. This rapid growth highlight
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Hanwha Aerospace, and its Europe based subsidiary Hanwha Aerospace Europe, along with the Polish Military Institute of Armament Technology (WITU), have signed a strategic cooperation MOU during the MSPO 2025 international defence exhibition. This agreement paves the way for deeper industrial cooperation and is a foundational step toward strengthening Poland's sovereign defence capabilities, particularly in the ammunition sector. Under this MOU, Hanwha Aerospace and WITU have agreed to collaborate on various aspects of ammunition technology, including the design
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI, President & CEO Marie Antonia von Schönburg) hosted “Guide Walkers” joint CSR event on September 7, 2025, at Sangam World Cup Park in Seoul, South Korea. This year’s event marked a milestone, with over 700 colleagues and partners from KGCCI and its member companies joining as “Guide Walkers” for individuals with visual impairments at the 11th Harmony Marathon with the Visually Impaired, co-organized by Seoul Disabled Sports Association and KGCCI. Launched in 2023 to commemorate 140th anniversary of
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI, President & CEO Marie Antonia von Schönburg), in cooperation with the German Embassy Seoul and think tank adelphi under the Korean-German Energy Partnership, supported by RWE Renewables, TÜV SÜD, Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen, Skyborn Renewables, and BayWa r.e., hosted the 2025 Korean-German Business Forum on Offshore Wind Energy on September 5 at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul. Held under the theme of “Offshore Wind Special Act and Beyond,” the forum brought together over 200 key stakeholders from Korea
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held a launching ceremony on Sept. 4 for the team to boost the effectiveness of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country and provide support at the Korea Trade Insurance Corp. in Seoul's Jongno-gu District. Participants included officials from the ministry, foreign investment companies, Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, Seoul Metropolitan Government, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Chungcheongnam-do Province and Incheon Port Authority. The team is designed to manage the entire process from in