SemiVoice

May 3

• Hanil Electric Launches Korea's First 'Detachable Head Washable Fan'

  ➀ Hanil Electric introduced Korea's first 'Washable Baby Breeze Fan' with a detachable head design, enabling easy cleaning and reassembly;

  ➁ The fan combines BLDC motor technology and 'Baby Breeze' mode, offering ultra-quiet operation (24.2dB) and low power consumption (40W) for sensitive sleep environments;

  ➂ It will be officially launched via NS Home Shopping's live broadcast on June 6.

May 2

• U.S. Navy Secretary Praises HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean, Signaling Smooth Sailing for US-Korea Shipbuilding Cooperation

  ➀ U.S. Navy Secretary John P. visited HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean, commending their advanced shipbuilding capabilities and discussing collaboration in naval vessel maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO);

  ➁ The visit highlighted potential partnerships to enhance U.S. Navy ship performance and support the revival of the U.S. shipbuilding industry, with HD Hyundai emphasizing its technological expertise;

  ➂ Hanwha Ocean showcased its MRO capabilities and plans to strengthen its North American presence, reinforcing U.S.-Korea defense ties in the Indo-Pacific region.

• Dacor Ranks 1st to 5th in U.S. Consumer Reports' Built-In 4-Door Refrigerator Evaluation

  ➀ Dacor, Samsung's premium built-in appliance brand, dominated the top 1-5 positions in the French Door (4-door) category of Consumer Reports' built-in refrigerator evaluation.

  ➁ The five Dacor models scored 82-85 points, excelling in temperature control (full marks), temperature stability, noise levels, and energy efficiency, with the DRF425300AP model praised for exceptional performance.

  ➂ Samsung is expanding Dacor's business in high-end residential markets and ultra-premium customer segments in South Korea and the U.S.

• [ET Talk] US Partner 'K Shipbuilding' Must Become a Full-Lifecycle Collaborator

  ➀ US Navy Secretary John Fellen visited HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean's shipyards to assess Korea's shipbuilding capabilities, signaling potential collaboration in naval vessel maintenance and construction;

  ➁ Korean shipbuilders demonstrated competitiveness in MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul) projects, with Hanwha Ocean gaining trust through defect detection in the US Navy's support vessel 'Wally Schirra';

  ➂ The US naval MRO market (approx. $150 billion/year) and shipbuilding market ($1.2 trillion) present opportunities for Korea to become a 'full-cycle partner' by advancing AI-driven automation, hybrid/eco-friendly vessels, and global networks.

• LG Electronics Launches Family Month Activities with Families and Neighbors

  ➀ LG Electronics organized volunteer activities for children and adolescents with disabilities at a rehabilitation center in Seoul, including interactive experiences like air bounce and face painting;

  ➁ The company is hosting family-friendly events for employees, such as a theme park day in Changwon, a science park event in Seoul, and a picnic at the Han River Park;

  ➂ These initiatives aim to celebrate Family Month and strengthen community bonds through employee and family engagement.

• LS Cable CEO Koo Bon-kyu: 'Now is the Right Time to Invest in Offshore Wind'

  ➀ LS Cable CEO Koo Bon-kyu emphasized the long-term growth potential of offshore wind power, calling it a 30- to 50-year industry and stating that now is the optimal time for investment;

  ➁ LS Cable began construction of a $7.7 billion (1 trillion KRW) submarine cable factory in Chesapeake, Virginia, aiming for completion in Q3 2027 and mass production in Q1 2028;

  ➂ The company received the 'Outstanding Supply Chain Vendor Award' at IPF 2025, becoming the first Korean firm honored for its contributions to U.S. offshore wind supply chain development through technological expertise and production expansion.

• Hanwha Semiconductor Establishes Advanced Packaging Equipment Development Center

  ➀ Hanwha Semiconductor announced the establishment of an 'Advanced Packaging Equipment Development Center' dedicated to R&D of next-generation semiconductor tools;

  ➁ The center will focus on hybrid bonding, fluxless bonding, and other advanced technologies to expand its TC bonder equipment business, crucial for HBM manufacturing;

  ➂ The reorganization aims to strengthen competitiveness in next-gen packaging solutions, aligning with growing demand for high-performance memory and AI-driven semiconductor markets.

• NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang: 'China's AI is Not Lagging Behind the U.S.... Huawei is Strong'

  ➀ NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang stated that China's AI technology is not lagging behind the U.S., acknowledging Huawei as a 'globally powerful tech company' with advanced computing and network capabilities for AI development;

  ➁ Huawei is developing AI semiconductors despite U.S. sanctions, highlighting China's resilience in the semiconductor sector;

  ➂ Huang criticized U.S. export restrictions on AI chips to China, urging policy changes to accelerate global AI technology diffusion and support domestic manufacturing.

• Dell 'Aims for AI PC Leadership in South Korea with Dell AI Factory'

  ➀ Dell Technologies aims to lead South Korea's commercial AI PC market through its 'Dell AI Factory' strategy, focusing on hardware infrastructure, partnerships with 40+ ISVs, and customized services;

  ➀ The company unveiled its 2025 client product lineup, including AI-enhanced laptops and desktops supporting up to 40 TOPS compute performance, and introduced the Dell Pro AI Studio toolkit for offline AI app development;

  ➂ Dell's Pro Max workstation series integrates NVIDIA's GB10 and GB300 AI chips, bringing data center-level AI capabilities to desktop environments to improve efficiency.

• Researcher Jeong Seo-jin from Hoseo University Wins Outstanding Paper Award at the Korea Fire Protection Association's 2025 Spring Conference

  ➀ Researcher Jeong Seo-jin from Hoseo University's Fire and Disaster Prevention Engineering Department received the Outstanding Paper Award at the 2025 Spring Conference of the Korea Fire Protection Association for her study on fire detection reliability improvement.

  ➁ The research proposed experimental design elements based on real-fire scenarios to enhance the reliability of smoke detectors, aligning with UL268 standards and providing scientific validation for current detectors.

  ➂ The study's systematic approach to analyzing fire/non-fire test conditions and detection factors was highly praised, offering a new direction for performance testing and contributing to future fire safety standards.

May 1

• Samsung TV Plus Launches First 'SMTOWN' Channel with FAST

  ➀ Samsung TV Plus partners with SM Entertainment to launch its first FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming) channel, 'SMTOWN,' featuring music, music videos, and special clips from artists like aespa, NCT, and RIIZE;

  ➁ The channel will be available in 18 countries, including the U.S., U.K., France, and India, expanding Samsung TV Plus' global reach across 30 countries with 3,300 channels and 65,000 VOD titles;

  ➂ The service is accessible on Samsung TVs and mobile devices via the Galaxy Store or Google Play Store.

• Hanwha Solutions and Hanwha Advanced Materials Win 2024 CDP Korea Awards

  ➀ Hanwha Solutions and Hanwha Advanced Materials were recognized as top performers in carbon management at the 2024 CDP Korea Awards;

  ➁ Hanwha Solutions won the 'Carbon Management Sector Honors (Materials Category)' and 'Water Security Excellence Award,' while Hanwha Advanced Materials received the 'Carbon Management Special Award';

  ➂ Both companies were praised for greenhouse gas reduction, Scope 3 emissions analysis, and climate/water risk management strategies.

April 30

• Works by First Korean 'LG Guggenheim Award' Winner Screened at New York Times Square

  ➀ Kim A-young, the first Korean recipient of the LG Guggenheim Award, showcases her 'Delivery Dancer' series, exploring AI-human interaction in a futuristic Seoul;

  ➁ LG celebrates her win by screening a congratulatory video on its Times Square billboard for a month, expecting 10 million viewers;

  ➂ The LG Guggenheim Award, under the LG-Guggenheim Art & Tech Partnership, recognizes tech-driven creativity, with plans for a New York event and public programs.

• Samsung Electro-Mechanics Reports Q1 Operating Profit of 200.5 Billion Won, Up 9% YoY

  ➀ Samsung Electro-Mechanics achieved Q1 2025 revenue of 2.7386 trillion KRW (~$21.07 billion USD) and operating profit of 200.5 billion KRW (~$1.54 billion USD), up 5% and 9% YoY respectively, driven by flagship smartphones and high-value MLCC products for AI servers/automotive applications;

  ➁ Component sales surged 19% YoY to 1.216 trillion KRW, while package solutions rose 17%, but optical solutions declined 12%;

  ➂ The company forecasts stronger demand for industrial/automotive MLCC and AI accelerator packages (e.g., FC-BGA), targeting double-digit FC-BGA sales growth via Vietnam plant stabilization.

• Hyundai Steel Proves Performance of Thick Plate Steel for Hydrogen Transport

  ➀ Hyundai Steel's high-function thick plate steel for hydrogen transport passed RINA-CSM's high-pressure hydrogen environment tests, meeting ASME B31.12 standards;

  ➁ The test involved collaboration between Hyundai Steel, Hyundai Steel Pipe, and Hyundai Metal, producing large-diameter pipes with exceptional stability and durability in high-pressure hydrogen conditions;

  ➂ This achievement underscores Hyundai Steel's global competitiveness in hydrogen infrastructure materials, with plans to expand applications in hydrogen pipelines and storage facilities.

• Doosan Enerbility Wins 130 Billion Won Fuel Conversion Project in Saudi Arabia

  ➀ Doosan Enerbility secured a 130 billion won (approximately $100 million) contract with Saudi state-owned power company Marafiq to convert the Yanbu 2 power plant from oil to gas, with completion by 2028;

  ➁ The project includes supplying combustion systems and control equipment, maintaining power capacity while reducing carbon emissions by 25%;

  ➂ Saudi Arabia plans annual fuel conversion projects (~1.4GW), and Doosan aims to strengthen its global competitiveness in low-carbon energy solutions through similar projects in Chile and Vietnam.

• EcoPro BM Turns to Profit with KRW 2.3 Billion Operating Income in Q1

  ➀ EcoPro BM reported Q1 revenue of KRW 629.8 billion (approx. $483 million), down 35.1% YoY but up 35.5% QoQ;

  ➁ Operating profit reached KRW 2.3 billion (approx. $1.77 million), a 66% YoY decline but marking a quarterly turnaround to profit;

  ➂ The results indicate sequential recovery despite annual challenges in the battery materials sector.

• LG Energy Solution Establishes Battery Recycling Joint Venture with France’s DBG

  ➀ LG Energy Solution and French recycling leader DBG have formed a joint venture (JV) to build a battery recycling plant in northern France, targeting a 2026 groundbreaking and 2027 operational launch.

  ➁ The plant will process over 20,000 tons annually of end-of-life batteries and manufacturing scrap into 'black mass' (a key intermediate material) for extracting lithium, cobalt, and nickel, which will then be supplied to LG's global production facilities.

  ➂ The JV aims to secure regional raw materials, comply with EU battery recycling regulations (mandating 16% cobalt, 6% lithium, and 6% nickel reuse by 2031), and strengthen LG’s European battery supply chain.

• LG Electronics and MediaTek Develop Next-Generation Infotainment Solution

  ➀ LG Electronics collaborated with MediaTek to create an in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) solution using a single System-on-Chip (SoC) and OS, enabling simultaneous control of different content across multiple displays;

  ➁ The solution integrates MediaTek's Dimensity Auto Platform with Google's Android Automotive OS and a Concurrent Multi-User (CMU) system, eliminating the need for separate OS instances per display while optimizing resource efficiency;

  ➂ It offers personalized user experiences through individual account settings and reduces costs for automakers via simplified system integration and maintenance.

• Murata and Rohde & Schwarz Jointly Develop RF System for Measuring Digital ET Efficiency

  ➀ Murata collaborated with Rohde & Schwarz to develop an RF system for measuring the efficiency of Digital Envelope Tracking (ET), addressing power consumption challenges in 5G/6G devices;

  ➁ Digital ET outperforms traditional Envelope Tracking by enabling dynamic voltage control for broadband signals, significantly reducing power consumption;

  ➂ The system integrates Murata's FPGA, PMIC, power amplifier and Rohde & Schwarz's SMW200A signal generator/FSW analyzer to synchronize and validate RF signal transmission.

• Samsung Electronics Sells 100,000 Units of 'Bespoke AI Combo' All-in-One Washer-Dryer

  ➀ Samsung's Bespoke AI Combo all-in-one washer-dryer surpassed 100,000 cumulative sales domestically within one year of launch, averaging over 230 units sold daily;

  ➁ The 2025 model introduces a 18kg capacity (35% increase), 20-minute faster drying through improved heat exchanger design, and an AI Home Screen with Bixby integration;

  ➂ Key AI features include Custom+ for personalized laundry management, Auto Open Door+ for post-cycle ventilation, and AI Detergent Auto-Dosing for optimal cleaning.

April 29

• At Home's Minix Rebrands as a Brand that Enhances Space and Quality of Life

  ➀ At Home's appliance brand Minix underwent a comprehensive rebranding, updating its logo, packaging design, and official website to align with its new identity as a lifestyle brand focused on enhancing space and quality of life;

  ➁ The rebranding introduced the core value of 'Mindful,' emphasizing thoughtful design, delightful experiences, and meaningful fulfillment;

  ➂ The revamped logo features a bold, minimalist style, while the website now includes intuitive customer review sections and an active community board to strengthen consumer engagement.

• Samsung Heavy Industries Secures Order for 2 Container Ships Worth KRW 561.9 Billion

  ➀ Samsung Heavy Industries secured a KRW 561.9 billion (approx. $432 million) order for two container ships from an Asian client, with delivery by January 2028;

  ➁ The company has achieved 27% of its 2024 annual order target of $9.8 billion, with 18 vessels (including LNG carriers, shuttle tankers, and ethane carriers) totaling $2.6 billion contracted this year;

  ➂ Expanding its portfolio amid aging fleets and environmental regulations, Samsung plans to focus on selective bidding and secure floating LNG (FLNG) contracts to balance shipbuilding and offshore plant projects.

• KoELSA Chairman Ko Sung-kyun Visits Inspection Site... Urges Communication with Field Workers to Prevent Safety Accidents

  ➀ Ko Sung-kyun, Chairman of KoELSA (Korea Elevator Safety Agency), visited elevator safety inspection sites in Daegu to emphasize accident prevention and worker safety;

  ➁ He highlighted improvements in working conditions for inspectors and urged preparations to prevent heat-related illnesses during summer, including adequate hydration and rest;

  ➂ Chairman Ko reaffirmed KoELSA's commitment to public safety, pledging regular on-site visits to monitor inspection processes and support field staff.

• LG Electronics Launches 2025 LG QNED TV Globally

  ➀ LG Electronics officially launched its 2025 QNED TV lineup globally, featuring sizes from 43 to 100 inches, including wireless models, with prices ranging from ₩4.99 million (≈$3,840) to ₩8.9 million (≈$6,846);

  ➁ The TVs incorporate advanced Nano Particle technology for 100% Color Volume certification, wireless 4K/144Hz transmission (with AMD FreeSync Premium), and five AI-driven features like AI Concierge and Voice ID;

  ➂ Powered by the upgraded Alpha 8 processor, the lineup delivers 70% improved AI performance, positioning LG to strengthen its premium TV leadership alongside OLED models.

• SK Chemicals Presents Comprehensive Circular Recycling Solutions at 'Automotive Parts Industry ESG/Carbon Neutrality Expo'

  ➀ SK Chemicals showcased its end-to-end circular recycling solutions for the automotive industry at the expo, including the 'Car-to-Car' process that chemically recycles discarded airbag components into new products using depolymerization technology;

  ➁ The company introduced materials like SkyPet CR (recycled PET) and CR PBT, which maintain durability and hydrolysis resistance equivalent to petroleum-based materials, for use in car interiors, safety belts, and airbags;

  ➂ Emphasizing compliance with EU's ELV regulations, SK Chemicals plans to expand collaborations to enhance recycling efficiency and meet automotive industry demands for high-performance materials, having already commercialized depolymerization-based recycling in 2023.

• HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Showcases Export Submarine at Peru SITDEF... Full-fledged Entry into Latin American Market

  ➀ HD Hyundai Heavy Industries participated in the SITDEF 2025 defense expo in Peru, showcasing its next-generation submarines and escort ships for the Peruvian Navy;

  ➁ Signed a submarine joint development agreement (MOA) with Peru's SIMA Shipyard and an MOU with the National University of Engineering (UNI) to enhance cooperation in maritime defense and industry education;

  ➂ Received DNV design approval for its 1,500-ton HDS-1500 submarine, expanding its K-submarine export lineup in the global market.

• Canon Korea Partners with Korea Tourism Organization to Promote Domestic Tourism

  ➀ Canon Korea collaborates with the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) to produce travel content for domestic destinations, aiming to revitalize tourism;

  ➀ The initiative involves the 'Travel Leader' program, a university student journalist group under KTO, which will create photo and video content using Canon's cameras like the EOS and PowerShot V series;

  ➂ Canon Korea provides free camera rentals, photography training, and collaboration opportunities with professional photographers to enhance the quality of tourism promotion materials.

• LX International Holds 'Family Day' Event Inviting Employees' Families

  ➀ LX International hosted a 'Family Day' event at its Seoul headquarters, attended by over 300 employees and family members, emphasizing that employee capabilities thrive due to familial support;

  ➁ The event featured office tours, family photo sessions, face painting, magic shows, and raffles, utilizing all company spaces to create memorable experiences;

  ➂ The company has maintained its 'Family-Friendly Enterprise' certification for five years and offers childcare support, parental leave, and flexible work policies to balance family and work life.

• Doosan Enerbility and KEPCO KDN Collaborate on 'Digital Transformation in the Energy Sector'

  ➀ Doosan Enerbility and KEPCO KDN signed a partnership to accelerate digital transformation in energy, focusing on AI development, cybersecurity, and power system control technologies;

  ➁ The collaboration combines Doosan's digital expertise in power plants with KEPCO KDN's ICT capabilities to enhance AI adoption and global competitiveness;

  ➂ Doosan's predictive diagnostic tool 'Prevision' has improved power plant stability and is being deployed in domestic and overseas markets like Thailand and India.