Smart glasses incidents at university entrance examinations in Seoul, disclosed on October 13, have exposed a gap between checking candidates before a test and maintaining security throughout it. Devices that combine cameras and connectivity with ordinary-looking frames are increasingly difficult to identify through visual inspection alone. Reports that a candidate changed glasses after an initial check highlight the limits of treating entry screening as sufficient protection. Exam security must

LS Electric is strengthening its position in North America’s AI data center power infrastructure market, with cumulative orders from U.S. power company Bloom Energy surpassing $500 million in approximately 18 months.The South Korean power equipment maker announced on October 13 that it had signed a contract worth $138.46 million (approximately KRW 185.3 billion) to supply switchgear and distribution transformers to Bloom Energy.Under the agreement, LS Electric will provide 38-kilovolt high-volta

GC Biopharma has developed a new analytical method to detect drug-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies that may trigger allergic reactions in patients receiving Hunterase, its treatment for Hunter syndrome.The South Korean biopharmaceutical company announced on October 13 that the research had been published in the Journal of Immunological Methods, an international scientific journal indexed in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE).Hunter syndrome is a rare genetic disorder caused by

Shinhan Financial Group has reorganized its Indonesian operations under a local financial holding company structure, strengthening its foothold in Southeast Asia and laying the groundwork for further business expansion.The group announced on October 13 that Shinhan Indonesia Bank had transitioned into a business holding company, officially launching Shinhan Financial Group Indonesia. The move marks the first establishment of a local financial holding company in Indonesia by a South Korean financ

CJ Olive Young is accelerating its global expansion by bringing Korean beauty brands to more international consumers through a partnership with Sephora, extending its presence beyond the United States into Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.The South Korean beauty retailer announced on October 12 that its curated retail concept, ‘OLIVE YOUNG K-Beauty Edit,’ had launched at selected Sephora stores and online platforms in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong.The latest rollout covers 48 physical

Hana Bank has received international recognition for its innovative wealth management services and private banking expertise, further strengthening its position in the global private banking market.The bank announced on October 13 that it had won the Best Private Bank for Innovation award at the 36th Global Wealth Awards 2026, organized by Private Banker International (PBI), a global financial publication specializing in private banking and wealth management. The awards ceremony was held in Sing

LS Materials is expanding into the artificial intelligence data center (AIDC) power infrastructure market after securing a major ultracapacitor (UC) supply contract with a U.S.-based hydrogen fuel cell company.LS Materials announced on October 13 that it had signed a contract worth approximately $51.5 million, or around KRW 69 billion, to supply UCs for AI data center applications. The deal represents the largest export contract ever secured by a South Korean company in the ultracapacitor indust

Microsoft has introduced power efficiency as a key competitive priority in AI semiconductors. On October 12, the company unveiled its next-generation AI accelerator, Azure Maia 300, and announced plans to expand its in-house chip systems to several gigawatts beginning in 2027. The strategy aims to reduce operating costs by delivering more AI services with limited power resources. It also signals a broader shift in AI infrastructure competition from securing chips to improving service productivit

Aston Science, a clinical-stage cancer vaccine developer, announced on October 12 that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had granted Fast Track designation to AST-301, its investigational HER2-targeted cancer therapeutic vaccine, for the treatment of HER2-expressing gastric cancer. The designation comes approximately four months after AST-301 received orphan drug designation in June.Fast Track is designed to facilitate the development of medicines for serious conditions with unmet medi

Hyosung Chemical is expanding the potential applications of its high-performance plastic, POKETONE, into humanoid robot components as it seeks new business opportunities in Europe.The company is participating in FAKUMA 2026, an international plastics processing trade fair held in Friedrichshafen, Germany, from October 12 to 16.Under the theme of automotive, robotics and medical applications, Hyosung Chemical is showcasing POKETONE-based automotive connectors, gears, drive components and medical

Kyungdong Navien is strengthening its presence in North America with the opening of Innovation Centers and Training Academies in New Jersey and Irvine, California, establishing technical hubs on both the East and West coasts as it accelerates its expansion into the U.S. heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) market.The South Korean heating and energy solutions company plans to use the facilities to develop products tailored to local housing conditions, improve technical support and qua

Dongkook Pharmaceutical is pursuing a corporate name change to “DK Centellian” as it seeks to strengthen its global presence and expand beyond its traditional pharmaceutical business into the broader health and beauty market.The company said on Oct. 12 that its board of directors had approved a plan to pursue the name change, reflecting its ambition to build on nearly six decades of pharmaceutical expertise while developing new growth opportunities in global markets.Dongkook Pharmaceutical has p

LG Electronics is stepping up its expansion into North America’s premium home appliance market as its flagship luxury brand, LG SIGNATURE, marks the 10th anniversary of its U.S. debut. The company is broadening its product portfolio, introducing differentiated design options and expanding retail access as it seeks to capture growing demand for high-end and built-in appliances.LG Electronics said on Oct. 11 that it held a gala at the Guggenheim Museum in New York on Oct. 8 local time to celebrate

LG Group is accelerating its push into the artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure market as Chairman Koo Kwang-mo’s “One LG” strategy begins to translate into more concrete business opportunities through partnerships with Microsoft and Nvidia.The South Korean conglomerate is expanding cooperation with Microsoft across AI data centers, AI transformation (AX) and physical AI, while LG Electronics and LG Energy Solution are strengthening their positions in Nvidia’s AI factory ecosystem through

Com2uS announced that SAPPYYY, a player from Toronto, Canada, has emerged as the champion of the Americas Cup at the Summoners War World Arena Championship 2026 (SWC2026), its flagship global esports tournament.Held at the Chrysalis Hall of Toronto Metropolitan University at 3 a.m. KST on October 11, the Americas Cup brought together eight players who advanced through regional qualifiers. Competing in a single-elimination bracket with best-of-five matches, the players battled for three coveted s

Dong-A ST has launched Darbecron, its second-generation anemia treatment biosimilar, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), marking the first commercial rollout of the product in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.The South Korean pharmaceutical company announced on October 12 that Darbecron, developed under the project name DA-3880, is now available in the UAE. Local regulatory approval and commercialization are being handled by Julphar, a pharmaceutical company based in the UAE.Dong-A

Police are investigating whether Hanjin Group’s holding company, Hanjin KAL, transferred treasury shares worth approximately KRW 66.3 billion to an employee welfare fund to protect Chairman Cho Won-tae’s control of the company rather than primarily to benefit employees.The investigation centers on the transfer of treasury shares to an in-house employee welfare fund, which enabled the shares to carry voting rights. Investigators are examining whether the decision was a legitimate employee welfare

Samsung SDS is expanding its AI business across data centers, cloud services and manufacturing systems. The company recently agreed to invest in U.S. AI infrastructure company Helix alongside other Samsung affiliates and is developing a platform that connects production equipment with robots. Its cloud business recorded double-digit revenue growth in the second quarter. These initiatives share a common direction: supplying the computing resources AI requires and applying the technology to enterp

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won visited a proposed semiconductor complex site in Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City on October 9, pledging to accelerate development of a semiconductor cluster in the Honam region of southwestern Korea. He said semiconductor demand was rising faster than expected and that bringing forward the full completion of the Yongin semiconductor cluster by 12 years might still be insufficient. Chey raised the possibility of building fabs simultaneously in Yongin and Jeo

Anyflo announced its emergence from stealth and the acquisition of blockchain developer Native in Singapore on October 8, outlining plans to simplify stablecoin payments for enterprises. Incubated at Mysten Labs, an initial contributor to the Sui blockchain, the startup is developing a platform to coordinate payments across multiple blockchain networks. Mysten Labs has also invested $1 million in the company. Financial terms of the Native acquisition were not disclosed.Founded and led by Lola Oy