Garmin’s latest endurance smartwatch offers up to 90 days of battery life in smartwatch mode with solar charging, alongside faster map rendering and enhanced navigation features.

A Chinese businesswoman who had a close relationship with Nvidia chief Jensen Huang was suspected of passing intelligence to Beijing. Donald Trump’s reaction to the news has raised eyebrows.

Personal information of hundreds of customers at cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb has been leaked in a recent cyberattack, industry sources said Thursday. Bithumb reported a data breach in its in-house mobile system on Wednesday, but the incident was initially believed to have affected only its employees. After analyzing the scope of the data leak, Bithumb found that personal information of hundreds of customers has also been exposed, according to the sources. Three financial firms — Daishin Securities, Mirae Asset Global Investments and Bithumb — have been hit by cyberattacks, in the latest hacking attack targeting the nation's financial institutions.

JB Financial Group brought together strategic partners at its annual forum to expand cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) and fintech, the company said Thursday. The group held its second annual JB Forum from last Friday to Saturday at its campus in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province, with 14 partners from Korea and abroad participating. Held under the theme "Navigating Tomorrow," the two-day forum featured strategic partners including Finda, Upstage, Aigen Global, Higher Diversity and MediArk, which shared business developments and discussed potential areas of collaboration. JB Financial has made strategic investment in 17 companies so far, expanding its focus this year beyond domestic and overseas fintech firms to include AI and digital assets. Four companies joined its partner network this year including Upstage, Streami, U.S.-based AI security firm CipherData and Higher Diversity. Participants shared developments from the past year and discussed how AI could reshape financial services and workplace practices. The forum also featured demonstrations of physical AI, with humanoid robo

Lotte Shopping, a retail affiliate of Korea's Lotte Group, said Thursday it has agreed to sell a department store in the southeastern port city of Busan to rival Shinsegae Group as part of its business reorganization. The move is part of the company's "select and focus" strategy, aimed at responding swiftly to rapidly changing retail market conditions through asset sales and business restructuring, the company said in a press release. The deal to transfer Lotte Department Store's Centum City outlet in Busan, about 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul, to Shinsegae Centum City will be completed following a review by the Fair Trade Commission (FTC), the company said. "We will increase investment in core department stores nationwide and strengthen our business competitiveness by developing new shopping malls," a company official said. Lotte Shopping currently operates four department stores in Busan, including the Centum City outlet. The outlet will remain in operation until the FTC completes its review. Globally, Lotte Shopping operates 61 department stores, including four in Vietnam and Indon

Dongwon Industries, Korea’s leading seafood conglomerate, has deployed a state-of-the-art 2,000-ton fishing vessel equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) and aerial drones to track tuna schools and enhance crew safety in the South Pacific. The company held a launch ceremony for the Danuri at Dadae Port in Busan Thursday afternoon, with about 200 people attending, including Oceans and Fisheries Minister Hwang Jong-woo, Dongwon Group Chairman Kim Nam-jung and Dongwon Industries CEO Park Sang-jin. Built with an investment of more than 50 billion won ($35 million), the vessel brings advanced technology to nearly every stage of tuna fishing, from locating schools to preserving the catch. Danuri carries two drones designed specifically for fish detection, capable of taking off and landing automatically while the vessel is moving and flying at speeds of up to 120 kilometers per hour. Footage captured by the drones is analyzed in real time by AI systems in the vessel's control room, while three-dimensional sonar and radar help crews identify fish schools and improve fishing efficiency. The

Korea’s four largest financial groups — KB, Shinhan, Hana and Woori — have shown strong earnings for the third quarter of this year, posting a combined 5.76 trillion won ($4.31 billion) in net profit. But a recent wave of cyberattacks and data breaches, as well as tougher regulatory scrutiny of corporate governance, are adding to the challenges they face, industry officials said Thursday. According to market data, KB Financial Group led the pack with a third-quarter net profit of 1.91 trillion won, up 13.1 percent from a year earlier. Its cumulative profit for the first nine months reached a record 5.79 trillion won. Shinhan followed with 1.58 trillion won, an 11.3 percent increase from the same period last year. Its nine-month net profit also hit a record, at 5.03 trillion won. Hana logged a net profit of 1.22 trillion won, its highest quarterly figure since the 2015 merger of Hana Bank and Korea Exchange Bank. Woori was the only one of the four to post a decline, with net profit falling 15.7 percent to 1.04 trillion won. Even so, it recorded a quarterly profit of over 1 trillion

Hyosung Group Chairman Cho Hyun-joon called for a fundamental overhaul of work practices and a more resilient corporate culture, Thursday, urging employees to remain steadfast in pursuing their goals as the group marked its 60th anniversary. Speaking at a ceremony at Hyosung’s headquarters in Seoul, Cho said mounting government debt, fiscal deficits, prolonged overseas wars and spreading protectionism in global trade were worsening the business environment. “Our company is by no means immune to these crises,” Cho said. “What we need to overcome them and achieve a new leap forward is an intense commitment to our goals.” He outlined persistence, meticulousness and reliability as key values. “These are not simply slogans,” he said. “They are the attitudes and principles we must put into practice to survive, outperform our competitors and embark on our next 100 years.” Cho also highlighted the meaning of Hyosung’s name, “morning star,” urging employees to remain hopeful through adversity and forge a new future through diligence and perseverance. The ceremony also recogn

Korean defense firm Hanwha Aerospace said Thursday it swung to a net loss in the third quarter, weighed down by delayed weapons deliveries and one-off costs. The company posted a net loss of 36.7 billion won ($27.5 million) for the July-September period, reversing a profit of 699 billion won a year earlier, according to a regulatory filing. Operating profit fell 46.2 percent on-year to 452 billion won, while revenue declined 6 percent to 6.09 trillion won. Hanwha Aerospace attributed the weaker performance partly to the postponement of K9 self-propelled howitzer deliveries to Poland until the fourth quarter. Some weapons deliveries had also been completed ahead of schedule in the second quarter. The company's ground defense division reported revenue of 1.24 trillion won and operating profit of 21.7 billion won. Its order backlog stood at 35 trillion won as of the end of September. The aerospace division posted revenue of 659.9 billion won and an operating loss of 2.4 billion won, as increased deliveries of geared turbofan (GTF) engines to its client led to higher losses under its risk- an

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) announced Thursday that it had ended negotiations with a consortium of Daewoo E&C and Doosan Enerbility over a construction contract for a 26 trillion won ($19.4 billion) nuclear power project in the Czech Republic, after the two sides failed to reach an agreement on key terms. KHNP said it would begin terminating its cooperation agreement with the consortium and prepare a competitive bidding process to select a new contractor, seeking to minimize disruption to construction of the two Korean-designed APR1000 reactors at the country’s Dukovany site. “KHNP and the construction consortium had worked to reach an amicable agreement through working-level negotiations, a dispute mediation committee and management-level talks, but failed to reach a final agreement,” the state-run nuclear operator said. The breakdown follows about 15 months of negotiations after KHNP signed the main contract with Elektrarna Dukovany II, the Czech state-run company in charge of the project, in June 2025. KHNP said the two sides had already been at odds over key contract ter

Fines and stricter regulations are no panacea for a growing wave of suspected artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted cyberattacks targeting Korea's financial sector, a cybersecurity expert said Thursday, calling for a government task force to overhaul the country’s cybersecurity defenses. "Humans simply cannot keep up with AI agents' hacking threats. The entire paradigm of cybersecurity has changed, requiring both the government and the private sector to rethink how they defend against cyberattacks," Lim Jong-in, chair of the AI committee at Soongsil University, said in a phone interview with The Korea Times. Lim, a former presidential special adviser on cybersecurity, called for the launch of a presidential office-led task force to coordinate responses to AI-driven threats, warning that such attacks will become more sophisticated. His warning comes as suspected AI-assisted cyberattacks ripple through Korea's financial sector, spreading from commercial banks to brokerages and cryptocurrency exchanges. Brokerage firm Daishin Securities, cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb and asset manager M

The 25th Seoul International Cafe Show will open Nov. 11 for a four-day run at Coex in Seoul. This year’s event aims to strengthen its position as a global coffee business platform, bringing together leading coffee brands from around the world to connect with Korea’s dynamic market and explore business opportunities. For global companies and participating brands, the exhibition offers opportunities to establish new business channels, identify emerging industry trends and expand their market reach. Attendees can also explore a range of specialized programs designed to foster cross-border collaboration. A key highlight is Coffee Alley, running under the theme of meeting the world’s top independent specialty coffee brands. This signature showcase will feature a total of 78 powerhouse brands, comprising 58 domestic and 20 overseas participants, including elite international cafes that have dominated global rankings. The newly introduced Bakery Alley and the returning Cherry’s Choice will give brands a platform to showcase innovative products and explore the latest F&B trends through

A decade after it exited the country, Mirae Asset Securities is set to reenter Japan through its acquisition of local brokerage Sanko Securities, as it looks to expand its presence in a market where retail investment is gaining momentum, the company said Thursday. The company said its board approved a plan to purchase 100 percent of the stakes in Sanko Securities through its U.S. affiliate, Mirae Asset Securities Holdings. The deal is valued at an estimated 42.6 billion won ($35.62 million), with the final price to be determined at closing after regulatory approvals and other conditions are met. Mirae Asset will inject a total of 100.6 billion won into its U.S. affiliate to fund the acquisition and subsequent business expansion in Japan. Sanko, which operates under Okasan Securities Group, specializes in proprietary trading — buying and selling stocks, bonds and other securities with its own capital to generate returns. It posted a net profit of roughly 400 million won and net assets of 39.1 billion won for the fiscal year ended March 2026, the company said. The acquisition will give M

The 2026 Korea Tuning Car Festival kicks off Friday for a two-day run at Gimcheon Sports Town in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, bringing together customized vehicles, off-road performance showcases and specialized camping cars, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Thursday. Now in its fifth year, the event stands as Korea’s largest celebration of car tuning — the practice of modifying automobiles to enhance performance or alter visual design. Jointly organized by the transport ministry, North Gyeongsang Province, Gimcheon city and the Korea Transportation Safety Authority, the festival aims to demystify vehicle customization and foster broader public engagement. Last year’s gathering, also held in Gimcheon, drew roughly 30,000 visitors. To improve accessibility, organizers revamped this year’s setup by moving the venue to a centralized downtown location. Key industry groups will display custom-built camper vans and high-performance modifications, offering attendees direct access to inspect the vehicle interiors. The festival arrives as Korea's vehicle cu

Doosan Enerbility Co. said Thursday it has secured a contract from U.S.-based small modular reactor (SMR) developer NuScale Power to supply a key reactor component, expanding their cooperation into commercial reactor equipment production. The Korean power plant equipment maker said the deal covers production of the first upper reactor pressure vessel (URPV) module for NuScale's SMR project. The URPV forms the upper section of the reactor pressure vessel, which contains high-temperature, high-pressure coolant. NuScale Power's SMR design was the first in the United States to receive approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. SMRs are designed to reduce construction costs and shorten building periods by manufacturing major components as modules for assembly at construction sites.

The Korea International Trade Association (KITA) said Thursday it dispatched a delegation of Korean consumer goods companies to the United Arab Emirates and Morocco from Monday to Thursday to support their expansion into the Middle East and North Africa market through meetings with local government agencies and business networking events. The delegation was led by KITA Executive Vice President Lee In-ho and comprised eight companies specializing in medical devices, cosmetics, hair care products and food products. The UAE is widely considered the business hub in the Middle East, where demand for Korean consumer goods is growing rapidly, driven by strong purchasing power and the rising popularity of Korean culture. Korea's K-beauty exports to the UAE surged more than ninefold from $31 million in 2020 to $287 million last year. The Korea-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which took effect in May, has also laid the groundwork for expanding trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. Morocco is a strategic market connecting Europe, Africa and the Middle East. It

Kolmar Korea, a cosmetics developer and manufacturer, said Thursday it has developed a hyaluronic acid powder that melts and is absorbed when rubbed onto the skin, the first such product in Korea. The company said it has obtained a patent for the technology, which turns hyaluronic acid, a widely used moisturizing ingredient, into a powder of sharp, needle-like crystals. It is the first time the ingredient has been made into this form in the cosmetics industry, according to the company. The product mimics spicules, tiny needle-shaped natural materials taken from marine sponges. Spicules lightly stimulate the skin’s surface to help active ingredients absorb, and the tingling sensation they cause has made spicule cosmetics popular. But because they are hard and do not dissolve in water, they can irritate the skin and must be washed off. After about four years of research, Kolmar Korea developed a method of hardening hyaluronic acid particles into crystals and shaping them into 250-micrometer pointed powder. Like spicules, the crystals help ingredients penetrate the skin, but because hyal

Krafton Chairman Chang Byung-gyu urged aspiring entrepreneurs to venture beyond familiar territory, arguing that breakthroughs often begin when people abandon comfortable paths and embrace uncertainty. Chang delivered the keynote address, titled “Expanding Into Infinity,” at the 2026 Chung Ju-yung Startup Competition Demo Day on Wednesday at Coex in southern Seoul, where he discussed how personal choices, persistence and lessons from past ventures can open new avenues for growth. Hosted by the Asan Nanum Foundation, the competition marked its 15th edition this year under the theme “Infinite,” inspired by the late Hyundai Group founder Chung Ju-yung’s belief that human potential is limitless. Chang opened by reflecting on the paradox of finite human lives and the impulse to contemplate infinity, recalling how preparing remarks for the groundbreaking ceremony of Krafton’s headquarters in Seongsu-dong led him to consider how ideas and beliefs embedded in buildings can outlast both individuals and companies. He described giving up as one way to discover new possibilities, recount

Hyundai Motor posted modest growth in its operating profit for the third quarter, as stronger sales of higher-value vehicles, particularly hybrids, and favorable exchange rates helped offset production disruptions and weaker global demand, the carmaker said Thursday. In a regulatory filing, the automaker reported its operating profit grew by 5.5 percent between July and September to 2.68 trillion won ($2.05 billion), while its sales fell 3.4 percent to 45 trillion won during the same period. The carmaker managed to weather market concerns to some extent with the earnings growth, as the market expected it to continue its losing streak due to multiple risk factors, such as domestic production disruptions caused by labor strikes and deepening competition around the world. Hyundai Motor attributed the profit increase to favorable exchange rates, cost optimization measures and an improved sales mix driven by growing demand for hybrids. The average won-dollar exchange rate rose 2.8 percent from a year earlier to 1,423 won during the third quarter. Hybrids accounted for 18.2 percent of the comp

LG Uplus, one of Korea’s major telecommunications carriers, said Thursday that two of its research papers on making mobile artificial intelligence (AI) run faster while consuming less smartphone battery have been accepted at NeurIPS 2026, the world’s premier AI research conference. The papers were selected for the conference’s On-Device Intelligence workshop, which focuses on AI that runs directly on phones rather than on remote servers, according to the Korean mobile carrier. NeurIPS, the Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems, is considered one of the top three AI conferences along with ICML and ICLR. This year’s event will be held in Sydney from Dec. 6 to 12. The research centers on token optimization. Tokens are the units of data AI models use to understand questions and generate answers. Processing them more efficiently speeds up responses and cuts power use. LG Uplus developed a small language model for its call services and optimized it for smartphones with limited memory and power. The model ran about 4.5 times faster and used about 77 percent less battery th

SK Bioscience will join global partners in a U.S. government-funded project to develop and produce a vaccine against the Bundibugyo virus, a strain of Ebola spreading in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Korean vaccine maker said Thursday. The project, carried out with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), a global nonprofit biomedical research organization, and Singapore-based Hilleman Laboratories, will receive up to 130.9 billion won ($99 million) from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). BARDA is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response. Initial funding of $36 million has been confirmed. The money will go toward clinical and regulatory work, including a Phase 1 trial, which tests a vaccine’s safety in a small group of people, as well as outbreak-response vaccine production and supply. Development of an upgraded vaccine based on variant strains is also planned. The Congo outbreak has reached 10,060 confirmed cases and 4,887 deaths as of Sunday, making it the s

Ananti has opened a new clubhouse at Ananti Jeju, integrating "gotjawal," Jeju Island’s distinctive forest ecosystem shaped by volcanic terrain, into a contemporary architectural setting. Opened on July 22, the clubhouse combines the island’s natural landscape with architecture, golf and dining, offering guests a place to unwind while experiencing Jeju’s unique environment. Located in Gujwa-eup in northeastern Jeju, Ananti Jeju sits in an evergreen forest area about 80 to 130 meters above sea level. Despite its proximity to the coast, the property is surrounded by the dense woodland characteristic of gotjawal. Rather than treating the forest as a scenic backdrop, Ananti has incorporated the natural surroundings into the clubhouse’s design. The building connects the island’s sky, water, land and woodland with its golf courses, creating a seamless transition between architecture and nature. Golf remains central to the property, which features 36 holes across two courses: the 18-hole Halla Course and the 18-hole Kimnyeong Course. Dense woodland lines the fairways, while distinct l

Korea's antitrust watchdog said Thursday it will impose a 630 million-won ($469,000) fine on Celltrion Inc., a biotechnology firm, for unfairly canceling orders and failing to provide a subcontractor with required documents on time. The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) said it will also issue a corrective order against the company over violations related to COVID-19 test kits with a local subcontractor. Of the total fine, 590 million won will be imposed for unfair order cancellations and 40 million won for failing to meet documentation requirements. According to the FTC, Celltrion placed seven orders for COVID-19 test kits between September 2021 and January 2022. The company failed to issue legally required documents when changing the types of products in two orders and delayed issuing documents for another. In one case, Celltrion changed some of the point-of-care (POC) test kits for medical professionals to over-the-counter (OTC) kits for general consumers before switching some of those kits back to POC products. The FTC said the Fair Transactions in Subcontracting Act requires prime contracto

Gaon Cable, a Korean power cable maker, said Thursday it has secured a 120 billion-won ($90 million) cable supply deal with a U.S. cloud company. LS Cable USA (LSCUS), Gaon Cable's U.S. manufacturing subsidiary, will supply a medium-voltage power distribution cable system to the customer by the first half of next year, the company said in a press release. The company did not disclose the customer's identity. "The order will support Gaon Cable's efforts to expand its presence in the North American artificial intelligence data center (AIDC) power infrastructure market," a company official said, adding that it plans to expand production and broaden its customer base. Gaon Cable is 81.62 percent owned by LS Cable & System, Korea's leading wire and cable manufacturer.

Renault Korea is combining French design sensibilities with Korean consumers’ practical needs, blending distinctive driving pleasure with spacious interiors, quiet cabins and advanced convenience features. The approach reflects Renault's philosophy of “voitures a vivre,” or cars for living, which views vehicles as spaces where drivers and passengers spend part of their daily lives, rather than simply as means of transportation. Under this concept, exterior styling is only one part of the design process, alongside interior usability, passenger comfort and intuitive technology. Alexandre Malval, Renault's vice president of design, has outlined four core design values: Designed to be Loved, Crafted Space, Electrified by Passion and People-first Tech. The principles emphasize creating vehicles that appeal emotionally while improving the everyday experiences of those inside them, according to Renault Group. Korean consumer preferences play a key role in translating these principles into products. Demand for generous rear-seat space, passenger comfort, multimedia functions and convenient

Samsung SDI returned to operating profitability in the third quarter of 2026, driven by strong demand for energy storage system (ESS) batteries and growing sales of small batteries for artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. The battery maker reported Thursday an operating profit of 407.8 billion won ($285 million) for the July-September period, compared with an operating loss of 591.3 billion won a year earlier. The figure nearly doubled from 203.8 billion won in the previous quarter, marking its highest quarterly operating profit since the third quarter of 2023, when it recorded 496 billion won. Revenue rose 52.6 percent year-on-year to 4.69 trillion won, up from 3.07 trillion won a year earlier and 20.9 percent from the previous quarter. The battery business generated 4.41 trillion won in revenue, up 55.3 percent from a year earlier, while operating profit reached 361.9 billion won. Strong ESS and battery backup unit (BBU) sales amid the expansion of the global AI data center market, along with increased sales of cylindrical batteries for power tools and electric vehicles (EVs), d

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission has asked prosecutors to exercise leniency for two former Coupang workers accused of leaking company data to divulge allegations that the company maintained a blacklist of people banned from rehiring, officials said Thursday. The two first raised the allegations in 2024, saying Coupang's logistics arm, Coupang Fulfillment Services (CFS), created a blacklist of more than 16,000 individuals deemed persona non grata. One of the two whistleblowers had worked for CFS' human resources team. The company struck back, saying the information is legitimate HR data, and filed criminal complaints accusing the two of leaking company information without authorization. As public outrage grew over the company's practices, the Coupang subsidiary apologized and dropped the complaints against the two. Still, however, the police investigation continued and the two were ultimately indicted because violation of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection is an offense that can be prosecuted regardless of

Transactions of repurchase agreement (RP) loans among financial institutions grew more than 3 percent in the third quarter from a year earlier, data showed Thursday. The combined turnover of RP loans extended by local institutions and brokerages reached 12,862 trillion won ($9.62 trillion) as of end-September, up 3.16 percent from a year ago, according to data from the Korea Securities Depository. An RP allows a borrower to use a security as collateral for a cash loan at a fixed interest rate and buy it back from the lender at a set price at a later date. The outstanding value of RP transactions stood at 271.2 trillion won as of end-September, up 8.13 percent from a year earlier, according to the data.

Korea will ease export restrictions currently imposed on diesel starting in November on condition that domestic supply remains stable, the industry ministry said Thursday. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources said the government will allow diesel exports of up to 110 percent of the volume recorded in the same month a year earlier, up from the current cap of 100 percent. The higher cap will apply only when oil refiners fulfill their domestic supply obligations and maintain adequate inventories, the ministry added. Korea adopted export restrictions on fuel products when it implemented the oil price cap system in March to maintain stable domestic supply. Local oil refiners have recently called for such restrictions to be eased. The industry ministry said crude supplies remain stable, citing crude import volumes for October and November equivalent to at least 100 percent of last year's monthly average. "With tensions in the Middle East lingering, the government will closely monitor the supply of petroleum products and immediately reinstate the previous cap should further supply conce

Samsung Electronics will pay out 30 trillion won ($22.5 billion) in dividends for the third quarter, increasing its dividend per share more than 12-fold in a move to address the mismatch between its sluggish share price and record-breaking earnings performance. The company reported an operating profit of 107.44 trillion won and revenue of 195.25 trillion won for the July-September period, up 783.1 percent and 126.9 percent year-on-year, respectively, on Thursday. The chipmaking Device Solutions Division accounted for most of the profit, logging 147.1 trillion won in sales and 106.5 trillion won in operating profit. However, investors reacted with disappointment, as the company had already signaled plans to increase its dividends and delayed the announcement of additional shareholder return measures until next year. Samsung Electronics shares closed at 232,000 won on Thursday, down 4.13 percent. At a board meeting, Samsung Electronics approved a quarterly dividend of 4,601 won per share for both common and preferred shares, more than 12 times its quarterly payout of around 370 won per sh