KH Explains In series
Major issues broken down to the basics.
#Explained
# Issues
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KH Explains In series
Major issues broken down to the basics.
Would you like to subscribe?
Allies under fire: Why do Trump tariffs target Korea, Japan first?
South Korea and Japan were taken aback last week when US President Donald Trump took aim at two of America’s longtime Asian allies, dashing any expectation of preferential treatment regarding his "reciprocal" tariffs. In nearly identical letters sent to the leaders of the two neighbors, Trump announced 25 percent tariffs to start Aug. 1, unless Korea and Japan each dismantle what he described as unfair trade barriers. Though Trump sent similar tariff letters to 12 other countries that day, his c
July 14, 2025 - 14:18:04
Tesla deepens CATL ties to reshape ESS rivalry in US
Tesla dropped a bombshell by recently sharing a video clip on X showing drone footage of its lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cell manufacturing facility for energy storage systems in the US state of Nevada. The post read, “Nearing completion” of its first-ever LFP cell production site in North America. While the electric vehicle giant is known for pioneering cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells for cars, Tesla’s venture into LFP cells sends a warning signal to Korean battery manufacturers,
July 13, 2025 - 10:07:58
Who gets Korea’s cash handouts? Rules for foreign residents explained
Foreign residents living with Korean nationals may be eligible for South Korea’s new cash handout program, which aims to revive consumer spending and bolster household income starting July 21. Backed by a supplementary budget of 31.8 trillion won ($23.3 billion), the program offers a one-time payment of at least 150,000 won (about $110) to all Koreans residing in the country as of June 18. "The purpose of the ‘consumption coupons’ is to stimulate sluggish spending, revitalize the local economy,
July 6, 2025 - 13:16:02
Huawei’s 3,000 km EV battery claim met with skepticism in solid-state race
Huawei is making bold claims in the race for next-generation electric vehicle batteries, but are they too good to be true? The Chinese tech giant, already a high-profile newcomer in the EV component market, has filed a patent for a sulfide-based all-solid-state battery that reportedly enables a driving range of up to 3,000 kilometers and ultrafast charging in just five minutes, according to Chinese media outlet CarNewsChina. If true, the battery would far exceed the capabilities of any EV batter
June 26, 2025 - 10:29:01
SMRs return to Korea’s energy mix amid AI-driven power surge
Small modular reactors or SMRs are reemerging in the national energy conversation as South Korea reevaluates its energy strategy, driven by a sharp rise in electricity demand from artificial intelligence and data center expansion. The new liberal administration under President Lee Jae Myung, who took office earlier this month, has expressed cautious support for SMRs. This marks a shift from the Democratic Party of Korea’s stance under the Moon Jae-in administration, which pursued a nuclear phase
June 25, 2025 - 14:33:52
Korea’s bad bank returns: Who it helps, who it hurts, and why now?
The South Korean government’s plan to launch a “bad bank” to ease the burden on individuals struggling with loan or debt repayment has drawn mixed reactions. Some view the initiative as a safety net for the financially vulnerable and a means to reduce the strain of bad debt on the broader financial system. Others raise concerns over moral hazard and potential fiscal pressure on the economy. A bad bank is not a traditional bank; it is a special-purpose financial entity created to acquire and mana
June 22, 2025 - 10:26:00
Woori seeks to narrow investor gap with reforms, strategic expansion
While foreign investors have poured into South Korea’s major banking stocks over the past year, Woori Financial Group remains an outlier. Unlike peers KB, Hana and Shinhan— whose foreign ownership ranges from 60 percent to nearly 80 percent — Woori is the only top-tier financial group with less than 50 percent foreign ownership. As of Tuesday, foreign investors' total stake in Woori stood at 46 percent, compared to KB Financial Group’s 78 percent and Hana’s 67 percent. The gap, despite a broad r
June 17, 2025 - 15:16:09
Won-based stablecoin plans gain ground under new president
South Korea is poised to create its own stablecoin, backed by growing support for a won-pegged version under newly-elected President Lee Jae-Myung, even as debate continues over early adoption risks and fears of lagging behind. Stablecoins have become a major focus in financial circles, capturing the attention of commercial banks, fintech firms, central banks and lawmakers alike, as momentum builds for a version pegged to the Korean won. A stablecoin is a type of crypto asset linked to the value
June 15, 2025 - 14:05:44
Why won likely to stall above 1,300
The Korean won has been staging a sharp rally, reaching its strongest levels in seven months in June. However, further appreciation beyond the 1,300-per-dollar threshold appears limited as economic headwinds persist. Earlier this year, the won weakening past 1,400 per dollar was considered the “new normal.” But the local currency has since gained ground, with its average exchange rate in May standing at 1,390.7 won per dollar, dipping below 1,400 for the first time since November. On Thursday, t
June 8, 2025 - 15:33:14
K-beauty wears US crown — Can it survive tariff test?
It's now clear that Korean beauty has far outgrown its modest local beginnings. Last year was truly a banner year for the industry, with cosmetics exports surging 20.3 percent to $10.2 billion, ranking third globally behind the US ($11.19 billion) and France ($23.26 billion), according to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Zooming in on US-bound exports last year, Korea’s stature continues to rise: The country is not only in the top three in global exports, it ranks first in the world’s large
June 2, 2025 - 11:06:32
Spinoff or stay? Samsung’s foundry dilemma back in spotlight
Samsung Electronics is again facing speculations that it may spin off its foundry business from the broader semiconductor division, amid concerns over the same conflicts of interest that drove Samsung Biologics to split its biosimilar business and contract drug manufacturing. Last week, Samsung Biologics, the biotech arm of Samsung Group, announced it will spin off its biosimilar subsidiary Samsung Bioepis into an independent entity. Once the deal is completed, Samsung Biologics will only retain
May 29, 2025 - 15:27:56
Could glass help Samsung crack next semiconductor conundrum?
Glass substrates, long viewed as a promising next-generation component in advanced chip packaging, are now nearing real-world deployment, as Samsung Electronics signals a transition away from conventional silicon interposers. According to industry sources Wednesday, Samsung plans to adopt glass substrate interposers for its advanced semiconductors by 2028 to “meet customer demands.” While the company neither confirmed nor denied the development, it stated, “We are investing in (research and deve
May 28, 2025 - 14:47:36
S. Korea’s accelerating political swings: Will pendulum move again?
Since South Korea’s democratization in 1987, power has swung back and forth between conservative and progressive forces with a certain rhythm — roughly every decade. These shifts have often been triggered by public discontent over corruption, economic crises, and leadership scandals. In more recent years, however, that rhythm has noticeably accelerated, signaling an era of increasingly unpredictable and chaotic politics. The upcoming snap presidential election, set for June 3, is taking place ju
May 28, 2025 - 14:14:13
BOK pilots digital currency, but what is it like to use?
Signaling a new chapter in digital finance, the Bank of Korea last month launched "Project Han River," a pilot program for its central bank digital currency, or CBDC. Running from April through June, the trial invites 100,000 individuals to test tokenized deposits, with roughly 60,000 participating as of Monday, according to the BOK. The Korea Herald also took part to see how the system works in practice. The first step involved opening a digital wallet through one of seven participating banks,
May 20, 2025 - 13:04:05
What SK Telecom USIM leak means for you
SK Telecom, South Korea’s largest telecommunications provider, confirmed on April 22 that its internal systems were breached in a hacking attack, raising concerns over a possible data leak involving universal subscriber identity module (USIM) cards. As public anxiety continues to grow, the company has rolled out a three-tier protection plan that includes an upgraded fraud detection system, its existing USIM protection service and free USIM card replacements upon request. Since the free replaceme
May 4, 2025 - 16:00:00
