AGP Executive Report

Samsung E&A Expansion in Saudi Arabia: Samsung E&A won a $3.5bn EPC contract for SABIC Agri-Nutrients’ SAN-7 fertilizer project in Jubail, targeting completion in 2030 and building an ammonia-to-urea complex. K-Beauty Investor Interest: Japan’s Daiwa Securities sent brokers on a two-day “Daiwa K-Beauty Insight Tour,” visiting Korean ingredient makers and brands including Kolmar Korea, Cosmax, APR and Amorepacific. Central Asia Summit Push: President Lee Jae-myung will host South Korea’s first Central Asia summit in Seoul next week, aiming to deepen ties on energy and critical minerals and diversify supply chains. Seoul Market Mood: Seoul shares slid as oil topped $100 and bond yields rose, while KOSPI pressure returned with the 7,000 level under threat. Housing & Taxes Fight: Parties clashed over capital gains tax as Seoul housing starts fell, adding to uncertainty for households and investors. Corporate/Finance Watch: More than 500,000 won in MMFs reportedly flowed out as cash shifted toward stocks, signaling a cautious risk tilt. Entertainment & Legal: Kim Soo Hyun won a KRW 577m advertising lawsuit, and Artist Company secured an appeal in a KRW 4.4bn damages case tied to management control. Energy-Security Headline: Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb risks are again raising global shipping and oil-price concerns that could spill into Korea’s import costs.

AI Chip Shock to Korea’s Memory Makers: DeepSeek’s claim it can run models with far less memory sent Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix down more than 3% in Seoul, reviving worries that AI demand for high-bandwidth memory may not be as strong as investors hoped. Digital Safety & Compliance: South Korea is reviewing Google’s potential liability after sensitive data tied to digital sex-crime removal requests was leaked to a third-party site, with regulators demanding details back to 2018. Labor Market Shift: A new study finds the regular vs nonregular employment gap is widening, with one in three young workers (born 1989–1998) starting in nonregular jobs and early job tenure falling sharply. Finance Leadership Change: KB Financial Group picked Vice Chairman Lee Jae-keun as next chairman, aiming for a generational shift as regulators push for shorter tenures. Urban Services: Seoul expanded phone-based taxi access for digitally vulnerable residents via a direct automated route to the 120 Companion Call Taxi center. Semiconductor Education Demand: Applications to semiconductor contract-based degree programs hit an all-time high in the 2027 admissions round, reflecting strong interest in guaranteed chipmaker jobs. Global Markets Watch: Oil stayed above $100 and bond yields rose, pressuring regional risk sentiment including South Korea’s Kospi.

Markets & Rates: Asian stocks slid as oil pushed above $108 and bond yields climbed toward 5%, dragging sentiment; South Korea’s Kospi fell with Samsung and SK hynix. Oil & Refining: Diesel prices rose faster than crude on Middle East supply fears and Russian export disruptions, lifting export margins for Korean refiners. Exports Boom: South Korea’s exports jumped 82.6% in the first 10 days of September to $34.97B, led by semiconductors (+270.1%) tied to AI infrastructure spending. Policy & Trade: PM Han Seong-sook said talks on a $350B US investment commitment are progressing and stressed Seoul won’t discriminate by nationality. Tech & Security: LG denied “spy TV” claims but admitted its smart TVs can scan local networks for connected devices; Seoul AI Hub signed a Taiwan MOU to help startups validate markets. Finance Market Plumbing: KRX will launch after-hours trading from Sept. 14 (4pm-8pm) with broader stock coverage and real-time execution. Corporate/Legal: Supreme Court ruled affiliate points redeemed at stores count as price reductions excluded from VAT base; prosecutors rejected an arrest warrant request for lawmaker Kim Byung-kee. Defense Industry: Hanwha Aerospace won a €411.8M Croatia deal for Chunmoo MRLS systems and support through 2030. Cyber & Social: Seoul expanded real-time stalking monitoring via ankle-tag tracking; Gender minister said Google must take responsibility for a data leak involving digital sex-crime victims. Real Economy Watch: Airport food prices at Korea Airports Corporation rose up to 45% in five years, highlighting cost pressure.

Logistics & Investment: Blackstone bought a majority stake in Sanha Logistics Park II, a 334,000-sq-m dry-storage project under construction in South Korea, aiming to deepen its East Asia logistics footprint; completion is expected in 2028. Port Infrastructure: South Korea-linked regional trade talk also surfaced as Subic Bay pushed port expansion and modernization to boost the Luzon Economic Corridor’s logistics role. Disaster Response: Seoul will send a second overseas emergency relief team to Nepal for flood recovery, shifting from search-and-rescue to reconstruction after nine Koreans went missing at a hydropower site. Semiconductors & AI Supply Chain: Samsung agreed to support OpenAI on next-generation chip work, while SK Hynix shares pulled back after a strong AI-driven rally tied to memory demand optimism. Corporate Tech & Regulation: Korea PIPA’s AI training data law is set to become enforceable, and Seoul is moving to strengthen penalties for large-scale data leaks. Defense & Industry: Croatia signed for Hanwha Aerospace Chunmoo rocket launchers, underscoring continued defense procurement demand for Korean systems. Energy & Markets: Global oil and rate jitters kept investors cautious as markets digested inflation and bond-yield moves.

Korea-Africa Finance: Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank) signed an MOU with the African Development Bank to expand funding cooperation on AI/digital transformation, critical minerals supply chains, and renewable energy, aiming to open more project and supply-chain opportunities for Korean firms. Economic Outlook: Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said the odds of hitting $40,000 per-capita GNI this year have improved, pointing to strong 2Q growth and improving employment and household income. Trade Policy: Trade Minister Kim Jung-kwan urged EU officials to reflect Korea-EU supply chain ties in the EU Industrial Accelerator Act, pushing deeper industrial and competitiveness cooperation. Monetary Policy Watch: A Bank of Korea board member said the central bank will assess internal and external conditions, including the impact of the last two rate hikes, before deciding on further tightening pace and timing. Market Pulse: Seoul stocks extended losses as oil prices stayed high amid Middle East tensions, with KOSPI down and tech and autos leading declines; bond yields also rose after back-to-back hikes. Corporate/Consumer Tech: CatchTable topped 15 million users and 30,000+ restaurants, while Chipotle’s first Seoul outlet drew hourslong lines, underscoring how fast global brands can test Korea’s appetite. Antitrust: The Fair Trade Commission began deliberations on Korean Air cases, including alleged obstruction of an investigation tied to the Asiana takeover. Energy Prices: Korea’s average gasoline and diesel prices edged down, according to Opinet.

Semiconductor & AI Deals: OpenAI and Samsung deepened their next-generation chip partnership, with Samsung set to produce a custom AI chip for OpenAI, adding a second manufacturing partner to a race still dominated by Nvidia and TSMC. Energy & Power: South Korea and the U.S. agreed on a $22.3bn Texas gas power plant deal (Encinal) aimed at feeding AI data centers, with the project starting with 1.4GW turbines and expanding to 4.9GW combined-cycle. Consumer & Regulation: The government moved to expand class action lawsuits beyond securities to all industries, while labor unions warn the plan could hit small firms hard. Corporate Governance: A Seoul court ordered Smilegate founder Kwon Hyuk-bin to pay a record divorce settlement of 2.55tn won to his ex-wife, transferring 35% of unlisted shares. Capital Markets & Risk: Brent pushed above $100 amid U.S.-Iran tensions, lifting yields and weighing on global equities. Tech & Media Compliance: A (G)I-dle Miyeon medical checkup video sparked scrutiny over possible medical advertising; producers said it was not sponsored and blurred clinic branding. Industrial Expansion: Hyundai Steel and POSCO began construction of a $5.8bn Louisiana steelworks to supply U.S. automakers starting in 2029.

Labor & Tech: Unionized workers at Naver Z, the metaverse affiliate of Naver, staged a partial walkout over a wage freeze, with escalation threats if talks fail. Corporate Governance: Korea Zinc elected audit committee members aligned with Chairman Choi Yun-birm, tightening his control in the MBK Partners–Young Poong battle. Consumer Policy: The government will spend an extra 90 billion won on Chuseok food discounts, extending the campaign and adding fishery supply. Economy & Jobs: South Korea’s employment rose 184,000 in August, the biggest year-on-year gain in five months, though manufacturing and construction kept shedding jobs. Business Performance: Bank of Korea data showed Q2 sales growth and better profitability, led by chipmakers and petrochemical firms. Regulation: Korea’s fair trade watchdog fined six paper makers a combined 3 billion won for bid rigging in agricultural newspaper tenders. Energy & Markets: Oil prices pushed toward $100 a barrel on Middle East tensions, lifting inflation worries and keeping Asian trading cautious, while Seoul’s Kospi still edged up. Seoul–Finance Link: LinqAlpha and KOSCOM signed an MOU to expand access to Korean market data for global investors using AI.

Korea-France Dealmaking: South Korea and France signed multiple pacts at President Lee Jae Myung’s Paris summit, including an upgrade to military secret information protection and steps toward mutual logistics support, plus a Samsung–Mistral AI investment deal aimed at protecting Samsung semiconductor know-how. Health Insurance Freeze: Korea froze next year’s national health insurance premium rate at 7.19% despite a likely deficit, citing reserves and higher revenue from the semiconductor boom. Education Watch: An OECD PISA 2025 report shows Korean 15-year-olds’ reading scores fell sharply over three years, with digital and social media use flagged as a likely factor. Shipping & Arbitration: Hanwha Ocean faces a new SIAC arbitration claim of about $1B from Arctic LNG 2 over three ice-breaking LNG carriers tied to Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 project. Retail Expansion: Twosome Place, a major South Korean cafe chain, plans its first U.S. store in Alexandria, Virginia, as it pushes overseas growth. Markets & Oil: Risk sentiment stayed fragile as oil prices rose on Middle East tensions, dragging equities; Korea’s won also moved with global rate expectations.

Semiconductor Trade Tensions: China unveiled preliminary anti-dumping measures on Japanese semiconductor chemical dichlorosilane, demanding cash deposits up to 99.2% from Sept. 8, escalating a wider Japan–China dispute. Markets & FX: The yen extended gains as traders bet on further Bank of Japan rate hikes; Seoul stocks rose on renewed AI optimism even as oil prices climbed on Middle East risk. Growth Snapshot: South Korea’s nominal GDP jumped 26.4% y/y in Q2 (real GDP +0.6% q/q), with exports supported by semiconductors and machinery. Banking Watch: Analysts flagged warning signs in top commercial banks as non-performing assets deepen and loan quality risks rise after rate hikes. Data Privacy: Cosmetic procedure platform Gangnam Unni said a breach exposed sensitive consultation records of about 220,000 users, raising phishing concerns. Corporate Moves: Emart is accelerating its conversion to Starfield Market formats, while HMM signed a 25-year iron ore shipping deal with Vale worth KRW4.7 trillion. Regional & Security: Korea and France agreed to set up a strategic industrial dialogue; North Korea and Russia opened their first cross-border road bridge over the Tumen River. Labor & Social Safety Net: Unpaid wages hit a record KRW2.07 trillion last year, renewing calls for stronger protections.

President Lee in France: South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung left Nice for Paris for talks with Emmanuel Macron, with film-industry cooperation high on the agenda. Film & AI policy: At the Lumière Summit, Lee pushed a partnership to link local creators with global platforms, while Macron warned against AI replacing creators; France and South Korea also announced a €1bn, five-year screen-industry financing plan. Markets & chips: With thin holiday trading in Europe and Wall Street shut for Labor Day, Asian stocks jumped; South Korea’s KOSPI surged about 4.6% on semiconductor-led optimism. Tokenized securities push: Hanwha Investment & Securities’ tokenized-securities platform is ready on Avalanche, aligning with South Korea’s push to enable tokenized markets under a February 2027 legal deadline. AI “for all” rollout: South Korea selected SK Telecom, KT and Kakao-led consortiums for a government-backed “AI for All” program aiming for free, unlimited access and agent-like services by end-2026. Hormuz risk to business: Iran warned Seoul that any military or economic involvement in securing the Strait of Hormuz could trigger “serious consequences,” as Seoul weighs options amid U.S. pressure. Youth labor stress: A survey highlighted burnout among unemployed young Koreans, with career anxiety and long job-search timelines driving the problem.

Markets & Rates: Asian shares were mixed but Seoul and Tokyo led gains as chipmakers rallied, even as investors digested hotter US jobs data and braced for US inflation. Energy & Shipping: Oil stayed elevated on renewed US-Iran tensions, keeping pressure on inflation expectations and diesel-sensitive costs. AI & Semiconductors: Goldman lifted its KOSPI target on AI hardware demand, while South Korea’s chip stocks jumped after OpenAI’s Astra rollout talk. Trade: Korea’s exports to India rose 30.8% (Jan-Aug) on semiconductor demand, with KOTRA pushing CEPA upgrades and a $50B trade goal by 2030. Corporate Expansion: CJ CheilJedang opened a Singapore technical center to expand APAC seasoning ingredients. Cybersecurity: Weverse and Tving suffered major breaches affecting tens of millions of accounts/records, renewing scrutiny on platform security. Household Finance: The Bank of Korea warned heavily indebted homebuyers face higher default risk as rates rise. Policy/Regulation: Regulators moved toward a roadmap for tokenized securities via stablecoin markets, while lawmakers sparred over mega industrial zone bill process. Business Climate: KDI said the recovery is improving on AI-linked investment, but real wages and consumption remain sluggish.

South Korea Exports Surge: South Korea’s exports hit a new record pace, reaching $709.4B so far this year and putting the country on track to cross $1T in early December, with semiconductors and electronics demand doing the heavy lifting. Tokenized Securities Push: Regulators and policymakers are moving toward a stablecoin-based tokenized securities market, with a roadmap targeting a 2027 launch and a broader push to modernize Korea’s capital markets. Housing Shift to Monthly Rent: Global investors are increasingly eyeing Korea’s rental market as jeonse gives way to monthly rent, with a survey ranking Korea among the top Asia-Pacific residential destinations and signaling more institutional capital inflows. Jeonse-to-Rent Capital Flows: A related theme is corporate and overseas interest in rental stability, as the deposit-based model weakens and monthly structures become more investable. Nepal Flood Response Ties: South Korea is continuing rescue and reconstruction support after Nepal’s Himalayan floods, including ongoing searches for missing Korean workers and coordination with Nepali authorities. Energy & Risk Watch: A geothermal project in South Korea was shut down after an earthquake triggered injuries and widespread structural damage, highlighting the operational risk side of geothermal expansion. Corporate/Finance Signals: Korea’s financial sector is also in focus, with reports of banks tightening household loan growth and investors watching market stabilization amid global uncertainty.

Trade & Growth: South Korea’s exports are on pace to beat the record annual total, with cumulative shipments reaching $709.4bn through Saturday and a possible $1tn run by early December, driven by semiconductors. Macro & Public Finance: Deficit government debt is projected to top 1,300 trillion won by 2030, with interest costs rising sharply as the burden ultimately lands on taxpayers. FX & Banking Flows: Corporate dollar deposits at major banks hit a record $76.98bn as the won strengthens, reflecting exporters delaying conversion and importers buying dollars in installments. Corporate & Industry Moves: Hyundai is pushing deeper into the US supply chain with a planned Louisiana steel mill aimed at lower-carbon output, while Hyundai Mobis opened a 32,000+ sqm EV powertrain R&D center in Korea. Housing Policy: The government is accelerating housing supply under the prime minister’s weekly site checks, as Seoul’s property tax net could expand beyond Gangnam by 2030. Business Climate & Compliance: Complaints against a justice minister nominee over alleged drug-industry lobbying raise the risk of a fresh probe. Global Diplomacy: President Lee’s France state visit will cover security, AI, nuclear energy, and potential Strait of Hormuz coordination, alongside business talks with about 20 firms. Disaster Response: Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is in Nepal to press for faster search-and-rescue for nine missing Koreans after floods and landslides.

Tokenized Markets Push: South Korea’s Financial Services Commission pledged to move stocks, bonds and funds onto blockchain infrastructure by Feb. 2027, with on-chain stablecoin settlement as the end goal, pending legislation still stuck in the National Assembly. Capital Markets Tech: The plan is framed as a full capital-market value chain upgrade—issuance through settlement—signaling regulators want blockchain as core market plumbing, not a side experiment. Hormuz Tensions: Iran warned Seoul that any South Korean troop deployment to the Strait of Hormuz would be treated as joining a war, as Seoul weighs options amid U.S. pressure. Trade & Energy Backdrop: Oil prices steadied in thin trading as U.S.-Iran fighting raised supply concerns, keeping shipping risk front and center for the region. Korea-Nepal Response: Foreign Minister Cho Hyun began a Nepal visit to press for faster search-and-rescue for nine missing South Koreans after the floods, as rescuers pulled additional survivors from hydropower tunnels. Defense Industry: Hanwha Aerospace unveiled a K9 howitzer concept that links VTOL fire-guidance drones directly into the gun’s targeting system to speed up strike timelines.

Steel & Trade Talks: South Korea’s industry minister urged the U.S. to ease tariffs on equipment and materials needed for Hyundai-POSCO’s $5.8 billion electric-arc furnace steel mill in Louisiana, arguing it will strengthen supply-chain cooperation; the plant is set to start construction in Q4 and target commercial operations in 2029 with 2.7 million tons annual capacity. Corporate Expansion: Hyundai Steel broke ground in Louisiana and Hyundai Group chair Chung Euisun said the output could eventually serve far beyond autos, even for industrial robots and aerospace uses. AI/Robotics Investment: Samsung SDS will unveil its robotics business plan at Real Summit 2026, including an integrated robot execution framework aimed at linking robots with manufacturing systems. Venture & Security Tech: Korea plans a 50 billion won state-backed venture investment arm modeled on the CIA’s In-Q-Tel to fund advanced national-security technologies like AI, semiconductors, space and defense. Retail Strategy: Korean retailers are turning concerts, travel and pop-ups into sales channels, shifting commerce toward experience-driven content. Energy & Costs: Gasoline and diesel prices fell for a 16th straight week, while global oil price pressure remains tied to Strait of Hormuz risks. Crime & Finance: A man was sentenced to five years for spying for North Korea, using crypto-linked operations and Telegram instructions.

SDV & AI Push: Hyundai Motor Group is building a “data flywheel” to continuously collect fleet data and improve software-defined vehicle features, starting with its Grandeur in Korea using Pleos Connect and the new Gleo generative in-car assistant. Biopharma Deal: BioMarin converted a patent dispute with Ascendis into a royalty-bearing license for Yuviwel, securing 20% U.S. royalties (and 18% in EU, Brazil and South Korea) through May 2030. Finance Labor Tension: Korea Financial Industry Union members rallied against plans to relocate policy lenders and other public financial bodies out of Seoul. Tourism Strategy: Pata and EATOF backed a “Super 10” model to grow East Asia tourism via shared marketing, product development and workforce efforts, while also signing on to “Net Zero Tourism” and AI-enabled smart travel. Shipping & Geopolitics: Dorian LPG ordered three gas carriers worth about $345M from Hanwha Ocean, citing higher charter rates after Strait of Hormuz closure. Payments Innovation: NEC linked face recognition payments to PayCAS for card/QR-free checkout in a Japan trial. Tokenization Roadmap: Regulators advanced plans to tokenize stocks, bonds and funds in stages, targeting a 2027 rollout. Workweek Reform: Seoul and the Democratic Party discussed a “white-collar exemption” that could ease the 52-hour workweek cap for high earners and R&D staff, after labor input. Hormuz Options: The presidential office said Korea could have “room to maneuver” on Hormuz support, while defense officials review possible deployment motions. Real Estate/Logistics: ESR Kendall Square sold Pyeongtaek Logistics Park to a Samsung SRA Asset Management vehicle backed by NPS.