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Korean Industrial Insight No. 29 of AI, Semiconductors, Batteries, Electric vehicles, Robot, and Bio |
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KH |
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2026-10-01 |
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Ⅰ. AI INDUSTRY TRENDS
1. “Managing Heat in AI Data Centers” … Samsung and LG Electronics Expand HVAC Production Hubs
- Heat management emerges as a key challenge for AI data centers
- Surge in demand for cooling solutions… Competition to expand production hubs
Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are accelerating the expansion of their heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) businesses in response to the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure.
In particular, anticipating a surge in demand for cooling solutions in the AI data center (DC) market, they have begun expanding their global production bases.
Samsung Electronics is expanding its production bases centered on Flakt Group, a global HVAC specialist it acquired late last year.
On the 21st, the company held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Flakt Group’s HVAC production line at the third campus of its Gwangju facility.
Samsung Electronics is investing approximately 240 billion won to build an HVAC production line with a total floor area of 21,800 square meters (approximately 6,600 pyeong).
The new production line will serve as a key production hub for South Korea and the East Asian region.
Last month, a new Flakt Group production line was completed in Pune, Maharashtra, India.
This facility, along with the existing production facility in Noida, will serve as a key production base for rapidly supplying HVAC solutions to customers in India and the Asia-Pacific region.
Samsung Electronics anticipates growing demand for HVAC systems in AI data centers, advanced manufacturing facilities such as semiconductor and battery plants, and large-scale commercial facilities, and is expanding its production facilities to meet this demand.
Going forward, the company plans to produce key cooling and central air conditioning equipment, including chilled water distribution units (CDU), fan wall units (FWU), computer room air handlers (CRAH), and air handling units (AHU) for large buildings.
LG Electronics is moving forward with plans to establish overseas production bases to expand production of chillers, which are cooling systems.
A chiller is a cooling system that circulates chilled water through a heat exchanger to supply cool air.
As the computational load of AI data centers has exploded, “heat dissipation” has emerged as a key challenge, and the market for chillers—which are ultra-large cooling units—is booming.
While LG Electronics has been meeting global demand at its chiller plant in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, it is now considering plans to build a new chiller production plant in the U.S. to accommodate growing demand from North American AI data centers.
LG Electronics’ Eco Solutions (ES) Business Division is accelerating its cooling solutions business for AI data centers, based on its two core pillars: chillers and liquid cooling.
In the liquid cooling sector, the “coolant distribution unit (CDU),” a key component, has secured successive approvals for compliance with NVIDIA’s specifications.
2. ‘Claude’ Solidifies Its Position as No.2 AI App in Korea… ChatGPT Remains No.1
Anthropic’s generative AI service “Claude” has solidified its position as the No. 2 app in the domestic mobile AI app market, trailing only ChatGPT in both monthly active users and new installations.
Last month, Claude ranked second with 1,499,096 monthly active users in South Korea for AI apps across Android and iOS, trailing OpenAI’s “ChatGPT” (17,099,052 users).
This marks the third consecutive month from June through August that Claude has ranked second in monthly active users in South Korea.
It was followed by SK Telecom’s A. (1,149,684 users), Perplexity (603,474 users), and Grok (546,315 users).
In terms of new installations, Claude also ranked second with 286,823, trailing only ChatGPT (647,439). Based on new installations, Claude has maintained the No. 2 spot for five consecutive months since April.
Last month, Google Gemini ranked third with 204,672 new installations. Grok followed in fourth place with 121,605 installations, and the AI character chat app PolyBuzz took fifth place with 67,945 installations.
This survey tallied the usage of AI and artificial intelligence apps in the productivity category among Android and iOS users in South Korea last month.
3. 85% of Social Media Users Say “Clear Disclosure of AI Use in Content and Ads Is Necessary”
More than 8 out of 10 social media users believe that content and ads created using artificial intelligence (AI) should clearly indicate whether AI was used. Analysts attribute this sentiment to growing fatigue as content generated by generative AI technology surges.
According to OpenSurvey’s “Social Media Trend Report 2026” released on the 26th, a survey of 900 YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok users found that 85.6% of respondents said AI content should be labeled on social media. A majority (54.1%) stated that such labeling is absolutely necessary.
By platform, YouTube users recorded the highest percentage, with 88.0% stating that AI labeling is necessary. This was followed by Instagram at 85.3% and TikTok at 83.3%.
This demand from users is believed to stem from a sense of unease toward AI-generated content.
When asked how they feel when encountering AI-generated content on social media, nearly half of the respondents (49.9%) said it “feels artificial or awkward.”
This was followed by overwhelmingly negative reactions in the following order: △ doubting whether the content or information is factual (39.0%); △ feeling deceived if the use of AI is not disclosed (33.8%); and △ being confused about whether the people, products, or scenes are real (23.7%). Positive evaluations, such as “creative” (11.4%), “interesting” (10.4%), and “novel” (9.6%), remained at around 10%.
Resentment toward the advertisements was also prominent. Among the reasons cited for memorable negative ads, “feels exaggerated” (20.8%) and “repeated exposure” (18.7%) were followed by “it feels like it was made by AI” (13.2%) in third place.
Consequently, users are seeking more specific disclosures than simply attaching an “AI” label.
A survey on the information needed to alleviate discomfort with AI-generated ads and review content revealed the following widely requested measures: △Clear indication of AI usage (54.7%) △Specific disclosure of which parts were generated by AI (37.8%) △Disclosure of whether the content is an ad or sponsored (33.7%) △Notification of staged or exaggerated elements that differ from reality (32.6%) △Separate provision of actual product photos and information (27.9%) △Provision of information sources and supporting evidence (26.3%) were widely requested.
Ⅱ. SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY TRENDS
1. AI Memory Demand Too High for HBM Alone… ‘CXL’ Rapidly Gains Ground
- Moving KV cache and large-volume data externally… The spread of shared and pooled memory
- HBM advances in I/O and bandwidth… Reshaping next-generation AI server architectures
High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) is becoming increasingly important in the AI server memory market. This is due to the rapid increase in the computational performance of accelerators, including Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), which requires a timely supply of data.
Given this situation, questions are arising as to whether it is really necessary to adopt Compute Express Link (CXL) and overhaul the computing architecture. The argument is that if the issue can be resolved by simply continuing to improve HBM’s performance, why add new memory devices, interconnects, and even the software to manage them. In fact, with each new generation of HBM, both capacity and bandwidth are increasing. As we transition to HBM4 and HBM4E in the future, the input/output (I/O) performance for exchanging data with computing devices could also improve significantly.
Nevertheless, CXL continues to be discussed because the amount of memory required by AI is growing at such a rapid pace. Just as quickly supplying data to accelerators is crucial, so too has the need for space to store the massive amounts of data generated by large AI models and during the inference process become critical. This has created another problem that cannot be easily solved by simply improving HBM performance.
HBM is a type of memory that vertically stacks multiple DRAM chips and exchanges large amounts of data with the GPU via wide I/O interfaces. It offers significantly higher bandwidth than conventional DRAM, making it well-suited for reducing memory bottlenecks in AI computations. The recent increase in HBM stack height—from 8 layers to 12 layers, and soon up to 16 layers—is driven not only by the need for higher bandwidth but also by the demand for greater capacity to store more data.
The problem is that there are limits to how much HBM capacity can be increased. While stacking DRAM higher or placing more HBM around the GPU can increase capacity, this also leads to increases in package area, power consumption, and manufacturing complexity. It is also significantly more expensive than standard DRAM. Although storing all the data used by AI in HBM is advantageous in terms of performance, it inevitably creates a burden in terms of cost and system design.
This is where CXL comes into play. CXL is an interconnect technology that enables high-speed connections between different devices, such as CPUs, GPUs, and memory. By utilizing CXL, memory capacity can be expanded by placing separate DRAM modules inside or outside the server, in addition to the HBM directly attached to the GPU. It also allows for the creation of a structure where multiple accelerators share a single, large memory space.
Simply put, this eliminates the need to store all data in the fastest and most expensive HBM. Data immediately needed for computations is stored in HBM close to the GPU, while data for which relatively fast access is less critical is stored in DRAM connected via CXL. This is known as “memory tiering,” where each type of memory is assigned the tasks it performs best.
A prime example is the key-value (KV) cache, which has grown increasingly important in recent AI inference. A KV cache is a space that stores intermediate results so that generative AI does not have to recalculate what it has already computed. As conversations grow longer and the number of users processed simultaneously increases, the KV cache grows accordingly. If all of this were stored in HBM, it could reduce the available space for the data actually needed for fast computations.
Consequently, research is actively underway to store only the necessary KV cache in HBM and move the rest to CPU DRAM or CXL memory. This approach involves using CXL to temporarily move some data out of the GPU’s local memory, only to retrieve it again when needed. It is an attempt to fill the capacity gap with relatively inexpensive DRAM without sacrificing HBM’s high bandwidth.
In fact, there are already signs that such research is becoming a reality. Primemas and Micron unveiled “Abaco,” a CXL-based shared memory system, at FMS in August 2026. This system, to be deployed at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) under the U.S. Department of Energy, is designed to provide over 100 terabytes (TB) of CXL-based shared and pooled memory within a single rack. It features a structure where CPU and GPU clusters jointly utilize hundreds of TB of DDR5 memory.
The “SLiM”, unveiled alongside “Abaco,” targets the rapidly expanding KV cache in AI inference processes. It allows multiple servers to access shared DRAM on the order of tens of TB, thereby reducing the capacity burden previously borne by local memory such as HBM. This marks the beginning of efforts in real-world AI infrastructure to distribute memory based on data characteristics rather than concentrating all memory around accelerators.
The spread of this architecture does not mean that HBM’s role will diminish. On the contrary, if CXL handles large-capacity memory expansion, HBM can focus more on its inherent strengths, which are high bandwidth and fast data delivery. Rather than HBM being responsible for all the memory capacity required by AI systems, its role as “high-speed memory” for processing data that the GPU needs to compute immediately becomes even more distinct.
The direction of HBM’s technological development aligns with this trend. HBM4 has doubled the number of I/O connections to the computing unit from 1,024 to 2,048. Development of HBM4E is continuing with a focus on further increasing the data rate processed by a single pin. This signifies that the competition in HBM is centered not only on how many layers of DRAM are stacked but also on how much data can be delivered to the accelerator in the same amount of time.
Of course, it is unlikely that CXL will be adopted in all AI servers immediately. It offers slower data access speeds than HBM and requires the implementation of new hardware and software systems. If performance and cost requirements can be met with existing architectures that incorporate sufficient HBM, there is no compelling reason to complicate the system.
However, the situation could change if AI models and inference data continue to grow. This is because it may be more efficient to distribute data across multiple types of memory based on its importance and frequency of use, rather than storing all data in the fastest HBM. The reason CXL is gaining attention is not so much as a replacement for HBM, but because it provides this kind of flexibility.
Ultimately, the relationship between CXL and HBM is closer to a division of labor than competition. HBM handles high bandwidth close to the accelerator, while CXL expands limited memory capacity and enables multiple devices to share it. As related research moves into the commercialization phase starting next year, it will be interesting to see how computing architectures evolve in the future.
2. SK Hynix’s Solidigm Aims for U.S. IPO Next Year… Valuation Could Reach Up to KRW 204 Trillion
- IPO as early as 2027… Considering raising KRW 20 trillion
- Enters “bake-off” with investment banks… If successful, it would be the largest U.S. semiconductor IPO
- Valuation soars amid surge in enterprise SSD demand driven by AI data centers
Solidigm, SK Hynix’s U.S.-based NAND flash subsidiary, is pursuing a U.S. stock market listing as early as next year. With demand for enterprise solid-state drives (SSDs) surging due to the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, forecasts suggest its enterprise value could reach up to $150 billion (approximately 203.85 trillion won).
On the 25th (local time), Startup Fortune, a media outlet specializing in global technology and startups, reported, citing Reuters, that Solidigm has recently been in discussions with investment banks regarding an initial public offering (IPO).
Solidigm held so-called “bake-off” meetings this week with investment banks competing to serve as lead underwriters for the IPO. The IPO could take place as early as 2027, with the company’s valuation estimated at up to $150 billion (approximately 203.85 trillion won) and the fundraising target at approximately $15 billion (approximately 20.385 trillion won).
If the currently discussed valuation holds, it could become the largest semiconductor IPO in U.S. history. This would significantly exceed the valuations of approximately $54 billion (about 73.386 trillion won) that Arm Holdings was valued at during its 2023 IPO and the approximately $56 billion (about 76.104 trillion won) that Cerebras Systems recorded during its IPO this year.
However, details such as the scale and timing of the IPO are still in the early stages of discussion and are subject to change depending on market conditions.
Solidigm is a U.S. subsidiary launched in 2021 by SK Hynix following its decision in 2020 to acquire Intel’s NAND and SSD businesses for approximately $9 billion (about 12.231 trillion won). Headquartered in Rancho Cordova, California, the company primarily manufactures enterprise SSDs.
With the recent surge in investment in AI data centers, enterprise SSDs have emerged as Solidigm’s key growth driver. Startup Fortune reported, citing market research firm TrendForce, that enterprise SSDs have surpassed client SSDs and smartphones to become the largest application segment in the NAND market this year.
In particular, Solidigm has focused on ultra-high-capacity QLC-based SSDs, which are well-suited for storing the massive amounts of data generated during AI training and inference processes. The company currently supplies 60TB and 122TB models and is preparing to launch a 244TB model.
SK Hynix’s enterprise SSD business, centered on Solidigm, recorded revenue of $4.64 billion (approximately 6.3058 trillion won) in the first quarter of this year. According to TrendForce, SK Group’s market share in the enterprise SSD market stood at 30.2% as of the fourth quarter of last year, ranking second globally behind Samsung Electronics.
3. Former Development Team Leader and Competitor CEO Both Sentenced to Prison for Leaking Semiconductor Trade Secrets
- Competitor lacking development capabilities simply modified communication modules for delivery… No remorse or restitution leads to prison sentences.
A former team leader who stole the control program for semiconductor component manufacturing equipment used at his previous workplace and used it without authorization at his new company, along with the CEO of the firm who conspired with him, were both sentenced to prison terms in the first trial.
Judge Kang Young-sun of the Suwon District Court’s Criminal Division 14 sentenced former development team leader A to one year in prison on charges of breach of trust in the course of business and violations of the Unfair Competition Prevention Act (including disclosure of trade secrets).
Mr. B, the CEO of a competing firm who conspired in the crime, was sentenced to eight months in prison, and the company was fined 75 million won.
Mr. A, who was the head of the equipment development team at a semiconductor component manufacturer, was indicted on charges of failing to return process control (PLC) programs and other materials upon resigning in September 2017, instead removing them without authorization, and then joining Mr. B’s competing company, where he used them without permission.
The program, which contained specific process procedures such as equipment temperature and gas injection rates, was reportedly a core asset of the victim company.
Although Mr. B’s company lacked the capability to develop its own programs, the investigation revealed that it modified only certain communication modules of the PLC program Mr. A had took out without authorization, installed the modified version—which was more than 90% identical to the original—into electronic equipment, and reaped unfair profits, including securing a supply contract worth 410 million won.
During the trial, the defendants denied the charges, arguing, “The program in question is merely a copy of another company’s technology that the victim company had copied in the past, so it is not a trade secret.”
However, the court ruled that even if the victim company had previously referenced another company’s blueprints, it had subsequently invested substantial costs and manpower over several years to independently develop a program optimized for its own equipment, and therefore the program constituted a clear trade secret.
The court also acknowledged the company’s measures to protect its technology, such as requiring employees to sign non-disclosure agreements.
Ⅲ. BATTERY AND ELECTRIC VEHICLE INDUSTRY TREND
1. Batteries, Like Semiconductors… Is an Era of Separate Design and Production Approaching?
- Co-development and joint production coexist… Complete division of labor remains a challenge due to intertwined materials and processes.
The roles of automakers and battery manufacturers surrounding batteries—a core component of electric vehicles—are changing. This shift comes as automakers, which previously relied on suppliers for finished batteries, are expanding their scope by directly designing cell performance and structure while entrusting actual mass production to specialized battery manufacturers. Analysts note that a new division of labor structure, resembling the semiconductor industry’s “fabless (design)–foundry (production)” model, is emerging in the battery industry as well.
According to industry on the 26th, Hyundai Motor Company is finalizing a strategy to strengthen its battery cell design capabilities while entrusting mass production to specialized partners.
At the “2026 CEO Investor Day” held last month, Hyundai Motor unveiled a high-performance battery cell developed in-house. The product delivers more than double the power output of the high-nickel cells previously used and reduces charging time by 40%; it is scheduled to be first applied to the extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) set to launch in the first half of next year.
At the event, Hyundai Motor explained that it is pursuing a “fabless-foundry” model, in which batteries for EREVs that are designed in-house are produced through partner companies. Rather than entering the battery manufacturing business directly, Hyundai plans to define the specifications, structure, and performance of cells optimized for its vehicles and leverage the mass-production capabilities of specialized battery companies for manufacturing.
The company is also increasing investment to internalize battery technology. Hyundai Motor Group is investing approximately 1.2 trillion won to build the “Future Mobility Battery Campus” in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province. Scheduled for completion by the end of this year, the facility will conduct research not only on cell design but also on process technology integrated with vehicle control systems. The structure involves conducting verification tests in the research facility that closely mimic actual production processes, followed by mass production in collaboration with specialized battery manufacturers.
This trend is not unique to Hyundai Motor. Global automakers are also moving beyond simply purchasing products made by battery manufacturers and are becoming deeply involved from the cell development stage onward.
General Motors (GM) is developing cell chemistry and structures at its own battery research facilities while expanding joint development efforts with companies such as LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI. GM and LG Energy Solution plan to jointly develop lithium-manganese-rich (LMR) prismatic batteries and begin mass production in the U.S. in 2028. This approach combines LG Energy Solution’s materials and mass-production technologies with GM’s LMR technology, which the automaker has been researching since 2015.
Last month, GM and Samsung SDI also agreed to jointly develop next-generation prismatic batteries incorporating high-energy-density and fast-charging technologies. Interestingly, at the same time, GM transferred its stake in the U.S. battery joint venture it had been pursuing with Samsung SDI to Samsung SDI. This marks a shift toward scaling back direct joint ownership of production facilities while continuing technical cooperation at the product development stage.
Mercedes-Benz also conducts cell chemistry development, product design, and small-scale pilot production at its “e-Campus” battery research facility in Stuttgart, Germany. The company plans to apply the cell design and process technologies secured there to mass-produced battery cells from its partners in the future.
Not all automakers are outsourcing production. Volkswagen has gone a step further by establishing its battery subsidiary, PowerCo, and adopting a vertical integration strategy that brings everything from cell design to production in-house. PowerCo began producing its own cells at its Salzgitter plant in Germany last December. This marked the first instance of a European automaker independently developing and producing battery cells.
Cost and vehicle performance are the driving forces behind automakers’ decision to get directly involved in battery design. Batteries account for a significant portion of electric vehicle manufacturing costs and determine key product attributes such as driving range, charging speed, power output, and safety. From an automaker’s perspective, defining the performance and price requirements for each vehicle model directly, rather than purchasing finished cells from external suppliers, allows them to gain greater control over product development and cost management.
Changes in relationships with battery manufacturers are also inevitable. If automakers take control of cell specifications and core design, the role of battery manufacturers could expand from simply developing and selling their own products to producing cells that meet customer specifications with high yield and low costs. At the same time, if automakers can commission multiple battery manufacturers to produce cells with identical or similar specifications, this could give them an advantage in diversifying their supply sources and negotiating prices.
However, the industry view is that it will be difficult for the battery industry to completely separate design and manufacturing, as is the case in the semiconductor industry. While the semiconductor industry has established a structure where different foundries produce products based on design blueprints, in the battery sector, everything from the combination of materials for the cathode, anode, and electrolyte to manufacturing processes such as coating, assembly, and activation directly affects final performance and safety. Process technology that ensures yield and quality during mass production is also a core competitive advantage for battery manufacturers.
2. Korean Battery Orders Ride a Tailwind Amid North American ESS Boom
- ESS demand rises thanks to data center expansion
- Three major battery companies expand LFP production in North America
- Accelerating the shift to non-Chinese supply chains, including materials
As the global energy storage system (ESS) industry experiences rapid growth centered on North America, positive signs are emerging for the South Korean battery cell industry as it targets the local market. This is because all South Korean battery cell companies are strengthening their production bases in North America while securing a series of large-scale orders. Given that the ESS market is experiencing structural growth driven by demand for AI data centers, business opportunities are expected to expand further in the future.
According to market research firm SNE Research on the 22nd, global battery shipments for ESS in the first half of this year reached 461 GWh, a 71% increase compared to the same period last year. Annual shipments are also projected to rise to 984 GWh this year and 1,150 GWh next year, driven by continued growth. By 2035, shipments are projected to reach 1,870 GWh, nearly doubling the market size compared to this year.
The North American ESS market is cited as a key driver of this growth. As local big tech companies accelerate the expansion of AI data centers, they are simultaneously expanding ESS infrastructure to support stable power demand. In fact, the industry expects ESS demand in North America to grow at a rate of nearly 20% annually through 2030.
This is seen as positive news for the three South Korean battery cell manufacturers—LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, and SK On—that are targeting the North American ESS market. These companies are securing a series of global orders by diversifying their local production bases while expanding their customer base. In particular, they are responding to local demand by strengthening their production capabilities for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which are considered suitable for ESS applications due to their price competitiveness and long lifespan.
LG Energy Solution has secured five production bases to target the North American ESS market. Last month, it began full-scale operations at its Lansing, Michigan, plant, which produces LFP products for ESS, to expand its market opportunities. As of the end of last year, the company had secured an ESS order backlog of approximately 140 GWh, primarily in North America, and secured new orders totaling over 3 trillion won in the first half of this year alone.
Samsung SDI is also converting part of a production line at its StarPlus Energy Plant 1 in Indiana, U.S., into a production line for LFP batteries for ESS, with operations set to begin in the fourth quarter of this year. It has also secured large-scale orders, including a supply contract worth around 2 trillion won with a U.S. energy infrastructure development and operations company. Based on its current order backlog, the company expects a significant portion of its production capacity to be utilized through 2029.
SK On has established a local production base that includes its standalone plants SK Battery America and SK On Tennessee, as well as the HSBMA joint venture with Hyundai Motor Group. Following a 1 GWh ESS order from renewable energy developer Flatiron last September, the company recently signed a supply contract with U.S. ESS firm Neovolta Power for 9 GWh of LFP batteries for ESS.
An industry official stated, “As the ESS market grows rapidly, particularly in North America, domestic battery manufacturers are simultaneously expanding their LFP production capacity and securing orders,” adding, “Recently, this has even led to supply contracts for LFP cathode materials with domestic materials companies, so the push to establish non-Chinese supply chains not only for battery cells but also for core materials is expected to accelerate further.”
3. Chinese EV Maker BYD Secures Spot Among ‘Big 4’ Imported Car Brands… ‘Value-for-Money Consumption’ by South Koreans in Their 40s and 50s Proves Key
- 17,523 units sold from January to August, ranking 4th among imported cars… Surpassing Lexus, Volvo, and Audi
- 65.28% of customers in their 40s and 50s… Dolphin and Sea Lion 7 models drive 76% of sales
It has been revealed that individual consumers in their 40s and 50s have driven the growth of Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD, which is causing a sensation in the domestic imported car market.
An analysis of data from the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association (KAIDA) shows that the cumulative number of new BYD passenger car registrations in South Korea from January through August of this year totaled 17,523.
This figure accounts for 7.16% of the total number of imported cars registered during the same period (244,825 units).
BYD ranked fourth overall among imported car brands, trailing Tesla (76,776 units), BMW (51,863 units), and Mercedes-Benz (37,772 units).
This achievement surpassed traditional import powerhouses such as Lexus (10,133 units), Volvo (9,198 units), and Audi (9,082 units).
Initially, the prevailing view in the industry was that corporate demand, such as for rental cars and company vehicles, would drive sales, given consumers’ psychological resistance to Chinese brands.
However, an analysis of the actual registrants revealed a different picture.
Of the BYD vehicles purchased from January through August, corporate purchases accounted for only 2,315 units (13.21%), while 15,208 units, which is 86.79% of the total, were confirmed to have been purchased by individual consumers.
This stands in stark contrast to major premium brands such as Mercedes-Benz (46.56%), BMW (46.36%), and Porsche (59.30%), which rely heavily on corporate sales.
Among actual buyers, middle-aged and older adults accounted for the overwhelming majority.
Among individual purchases, those in their 40s accounted for 5,367 units (35.29%) and those in their 50s for 4,561 units (29.99%), with these two age groups together making up 65.28% of all individual purchases.
In contrast, the combined share of purchases by those in their 10s and under (4 units, 0.03%) and those in their 20s (653 units, 4.29%) totaled just 4.32%. Those in their 30s accounted for 2,655 units (17.46%).
This sales growth was driven by the brand’s value-oriented lineup and family SUV models.
The “Dolphin,” a compact urban hatchback, sold a cumulative total of 6,977 units, accounting for 39.82% of total sales and meeting demand for commuter and second cars.
Following that, the midsize coupe-style electric SUV “C-Lion 7,” priced at 44.9 million won and equipped with an 82kWh battery, registered 6,356 units (36.27%), capturing demand for value-oriented family cars.
These two core models alone accounted for 76.09% of total sales.
The industry attributes this to the growing number of consumers in their 40s and 50s who prioritize value for money and practicality over brand image.
Analysts suggest this reflects a utilitarian consumer trend amid persistently high inflation and interest rates where vehicle specifications and practicality take precedence over others’ perceptions or brand prestige.
Ⅵ. ROBOT INDUSTRY TRENDS
1. ‘Atlas’ to Start Work at Hyundai Motor Plant; 30,000 Robots to Be Produced Annually
- Robot test bed opens at HMGMA in Georgia
- To be expanded 10-fold by next year
- Phased expansion starting with logistics and parts sorting
Boston Dynamics, a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Group, announced on the 21st (local time) that it had opened the “Robotics MetaPlant Application Center (RMAC)” at Hyundai Motor Group’s MetaPlant America (HMGMA) in Georgia, U.S., and had begun operations. The RMAC serves as a testbed where Boston Dynamics’ humanoid robot “Atlas” learns the tasks required for deployment in Hyundai Motor Group’s automotive manufacturing facilities.
Boston Dynamics stated on the 22nd, “Atlas learns various tasks required for manufacturing sites, such as preparing for logistics operations and sequencing tasks to arrange automotive parts in the correct assembly order, in an environment identical to an actual workplace.”
Boston Dynamics plans to expand Atlas’s scope of work to include parts assembly by 2030. In the future, the company intends to broaden its applications to include high-intensity tasks that require repetitive motions or the lifting of heavy loads. Hyundai Motor Group plans to sequentially deploy 25,000 Atlas units across Hyundai and Kia’s global facilities over the next few years.
Hyundai Motor Group also plans to build a new production facility in the U.S. capable of producing 30,000 robots annually. RMAC, which began pilot operations last June, is now entering full-scale operation, and the group envisions expanding its capacity to approximately 10 times the current level next year by establishing a separate facility on the HMGMA site.
Through RMAC, Boston Dynamics is continuing to train and validate Atlas for application in automotive production environments, while also exploring potential uses in other industrial sectors. Boston Dynamics is continuing discussions with customers across various industries including manufacturing, aerospace, semiconductors, logistics, food and beverage, and life sciences that currently utilize its Spot and Stretch robots.
Zachary Jakowski, Chief Product and Technology Officer (CPTO) at Boston Dynamics, said, “We are delighted to be pioneering enterprise-scale physical AI alongside a dedicated partner like Hyundai Motor Group.” He added, “The two companies have established a strategy to optimize Atlas’s capabilities in supply chain, production, testing, and deployment. He added, “RMAC is a space that reinforces our shared vision of realizing a future where robots perform tasks more safely and productively, thereby expanding human potential.”
2. “Is Chinese Roborock’s Dominance Over?”… Samsung and LG Electronics Launch a “Major Counteroffensive” in the Korean Robot Vacuum Market
- “Samsung’s market share up 50% in June–July… Roborock in the 30% Range"
- Initial sales of LG’s new product triple those of its predecessor
- China strengthens competitiveness in security and after-sale service… “We can’t let our guard down”
The domestic robot vacuum cleaner market, which had long been dominated by China’s Roborock with more than half of the market share, is showing signs of change.
Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are boosting sales by emphasizing cleaning performance and enhanced security, signaling that domestic companies are mounting a full-scale counterattack.
According to industry sources on the 24th, it is estimated that Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics’ market share in the domestic robot vacuum cleaner market has risen sharply recently.
Until now, Roborock had held the top spot in the domestic market, with Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics trailing behind.
However, Samsung Electronics reportedly surpassed Roborock for two consecutive months in June and July, recording an average domestic market share of over 50% during that period.
Roborock’s market share is estimated to have fallen from the 50% range to the 30% range.
Samsung Electronics held a “Gratitude Festival” from June through July, offering a 20% rebate on product purchases in the form of digital Onnuri gift certificates, and analysts believe this campaign served as a catalyst for the significant increase in sales.
In addition, the enhanced cleaning performance and security features of this year’s new models appear to have attracted domestic consumers.
The suction power of the “2026 Bespoke AI Steam,” launched by Samsung Electronics last March, has been improved to up to twice that of its predecessor, and it features the ability to clean along walls and in corners.
It also features enhanced security through the integration of “Knox Matrix” and “Knox Bolt.”
LG Electronics is also reported to have seen a noticeable increase in its domestic market share, which was previously estimated to be in the 10% range, thanks to its new products.
Sales of LG Electronics’ new robot vacuum, the “LG HomeBot AI Ronnie,” in June (the month following its launch) were three times higher than those of the previous model, which combined vacuuming and mopping functions.
The company states that this represents the highest initial sales volume among its existing robot vacuum models.
LG Electronics has equipped Ronnie with a 100-degree Celsius (℃) steam function on both the main unit and the charging station—a world first.
The company stated that it developed this new product to suit Korean households, where people often sit on the floor.
It also emphasized that it has minimized security threats by incorporating its proprietary security system, “LG Shield,” which encrypts collected data and stores encryption keys separately.
After-sales service (AS), an area where both companies have a relative advantage over Chinese firms, is also believed to have influenced consumer choice.
However, it remains to be seen whether the recent shifts in market share will become permanent.
Chinese companies such as Roborock and Ecovacs are strengthening their competitiveness in security and after-sales service, which were the areas where they previously fell short, so domestic companies cannot afford to be complacent. If Chinese companies demonstrate significant growth not only in performance but also in security and after-sales service, the market could shift to Chinese dominance at any time.
Roborock operates a Security Assurance Center in Korea to manage its overall security policies, including hardware and communication security, as well as privacy-by-design.
Last month, Ecovacs announced its “2026 Data Security Innovation Plan” and stated its intention to strengthen its product data processing and security systems. The company has also launched an integrated service that combines delivery, installation, and after-sales service.
An industry insider stated, “As the performance gap between robot vacuum models narrows, localization strategies tailored to the needs of domestic consumers will become even more important.”
3. Samsung Electronics President Roh Tae-moon, “We Will Leap Forward as a Leading Robotics Company”
- Tech forum held in Silicon Valley, U.S.
- “Expanding new RX business based on AI experience”
Roh Tae-moon, President and CEO of the Device Experience (DX) Division, gathered top-tier global developers in Silicon Valley to share his vision of becoming a leader in the robotics industry.
According to Samsung Electronics on the 20th, President Roh attended the “2026 Tech Forum” held at Samsung Research America in Mountain View, California, and emphasized, “We will leap forward as a company leading the robotics experience (RX) by providing artificial intelligence (AI) experiences to customers.”
This marked another global declaration of the vision, which aims to fully expand the AI capabilities built through Galaxy devices, including smartphones, into the robotics sector. In July of this year, the company established the “RX Business Promotion Office,” a dedicated organization reporting directly to President Roh to drive new robotics initiatives. President Roh stated, “AI is an unstoppable trend,” adding, “It is the driving force behind delivering intelligent and hyper-personalized experiences in every space where consumers’ daily lives unfold, and leading innovation that transcends physical limitations.”
Samsung Electronics President Yoon Janghyun, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), also delivered a keynote speech titled “Samsung Electronics’ AI Leading the Future,” presenting a new paradigm that will emerge from the convergence of next-generation AI technology and robotics. President Yoon concurrently serves as the head of both the hardware (HW) development team and the AI software (SW) development team within the RX Business Promotion Office.
The Samsung Electronics Tech Forum is an annual event that invites technology professionals to introduce the company’s key business directions and research areas and discuss the latest technology trends. This year, approximately 80 people attended, including Presidents Roh and Yoon, as well as Lee Won-jin, President of the Visual Display Business Division; Choi Won-jun, President and COO of the Mobile Experience (MX) Business Division; and senior developers from global information technology (IT) companies.
A Samsung Electronics spokesperson stated, “We plan to continue hosting various events to strengthen networking and technological exchange with top global talent.”
Ⅴ. BIO INDUSTRY TRENDS
1. Discovering New Drugs, Nurturing Startups… K-Bio Expands Collaboration
- Yuhan Corporation and SK Biopharm pursue development by introducing external candidate compounds
- Celltrion and Samsung Biologics foster domestic and international bio startups
Domestic pharmaceutical and biotech companies are acquiring new drug candidates from external sources and expanding their collaborations with domestic and international biotech startups and research institutions.
Yuhan Corporation and SK Biopharm are focusing on discovering and acquiring candidate compounds, while Celltrion and Samsung Biologics are stepping up efforts to nurture promising companies, thereby increasing opportunities for the development of next-generation new drugs.
◇ Yuhan Corporation and SK Biopharm: New Drug Development Through External Candidate Acquisition
According to the pharmaceutical and biotech industry on the 26th, Yuhan Corporation is strengthening its collaboration not only with domestic and international biotech companies but also with universities and public research institutions.
A prime example of this is the Yuhan Innovation Program (YIP), which links and supports early-stage ideas from university laboratories as new drug development projects and facilitates follow-up research.
In addition, the company is expanding its pipeline by conducting joint research with research infrastructure institutions and biotech startups, while continuing to make equity investments.
Yuhan Corporation’s anticancer drug “LECLAZA” is cited as a flagship achievement resulting from its open innovation strategy.
In 2015, Yuhan Corporation acquired an early-stage compound from Genosco, a subsidiary of Oscotec, and after conducting its own clinical trials, launched LECLAZA in the domestic market in 2021 as the first domestically developed anticancer drug.
In 2018, the company licensed the global development and marketing rights for LECLAZA to Janssen, and LECLAZA subsequently received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), establishing itself as the global standard of care for lung cancer treatment.
SK Biopharm [326030], which has recently been acquiring candidate compounds in quick succession, made headlines this month by signing a licensing agreement with First BioTherapeutics worth up to 430.8 billion won.
Under the agreement, SK Biopharm secured the rights to develop and commercialize FirstBio’s new drug candidate for Parkinson’s disease.
This agreement also marks the first instance of a candidate drug acquisition led by SK Biopharm’s Open Innovation Center (OIC).
Following this agreement, the Open Innovation Center plans to identify and validate promising new drug candidates across Asia and link them with SK Biopharm’s commercialization capabilities.
In June, SK Biopharm opened “SK Life Science Links,” an open innovation space in the U.S., and announced its commitment to supporting Korean pharmaceutical and biotech companies in entering the U.S. market and achieving local growth.
◇ Celltrion and Samsung Biologics to Foster Biotech Startups
Celltrion [068270] has partnered with the Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster (KBIC), Japan’s largest biotech cluster, to foster promising biotech startups.
Celltrion will operate the “KBIC-Celltrion Global Scale-up Program” to provide participating companies with mentoring and technical advice on pharmaceutical research and development (R&D), regulatory approval, production, and global commercialization.
The companies also plan to explore joint research opportunities and achieve collaborative results, including the discovery of next-generation pipelines.
Samsung Biologics has agreed to operate “Lilly Gateway Labs Incheon” (C-Lab Outside) in partnership with Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly).
Lilly Gateway Labs Incheon is a platform that provides biotech companies with research space, facilities, and consulting services, and is set to open around July of next year at Samsung Biologics’ Second Bio Campus in Songdo, Incheon.
Samsung Biologics and Lilly plan to officially begin recruiting tenant companies in January of next year.
A Samsung Biologics spokesperson stated, “In addition to establishing C-Lab Outside, we plan to continue pursuing various initiatives to support the K-Bio ecosystem.”
Pharmaceutical and biotech companies can reduce the cost and time required for drug development and diversify their pipelines through open innovation strategies.
Furthermore, collaboration between companies can lead to growth across the entire industry and enhanced competitiveness.
Consequently, industry observers expect to see an increase in collaborations between domestic pharmaceutical and biotech companies and domestic and international institutions and biotech firms.
A pharmaceutical industry official said, "As the complexity of new drug R&D increases and the demand for technology convergence, such as AI-driven drug development, grows, the limitations of independent development are becoming increasingly apparent," adding, "Strategic collaboration among pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, and academia is expected to expand."
2. K-Bio’s Technology Exports to Exceed KRW 21 Trillion This Year… Aiming for KRW 30 Trillion Amid Flood of Major Contracts
- 11 publicly announced deals totaling 21.6637 trillion won … 80.6% of last year’s record-high performance
- AriBio, Alteogen, and Hanmi Pharmaceutical account for a combined 18.6232 trillion won
- Repeated exports of platform technologies and expansion into areas such as dementia, obesity, and autoimmune diseases
- Demand for technology acquisition driven by Big Pharma patent expirations … Next challenge is “completing development”
The cumulative value of technology exports by domestic pharmaceutical and biotech companies this year has surpassed 21 trillion won. The 11 deals for which contract values were disclosed alone totaled 21.6637 trillion won, accounting for 80.6% of last year’s record-high performance. With trillion-won-scale deals continuing to be signed, led by AriBio, Alteogen, and Hanmi Pharmaceutical, there is speculation that annual technology exports could exceed 30 trillion won if additional major deals are finalized before the end of the year.
According to the Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association, domestic pharmaceutical and biotech companies have signed 13 technology export contracts this year. Of these, the cumulative value of the 11 contracts for which the amounts were disclosed totaled 21.6637 trillion won.
Last year, domestic pharmaceutical and biotech companies set a record by signing 20 technology export contracts worth approximately 26.8898 trillion won. Although the number of contracts this year is lower than last year’s, a series of large-scale contracts in the trillions of won has already pushed the total value past 80% of last year’s performance.
The companies leading this year’s technology exports are AriBio, Alteogen, and Hanmi Pharmaceutical. The contracts signed by these three companies alone total 18.6232 trillion won, accounting for approximately 86% of all disclosed technology export deals.
The largest deal was the technology transfer for “AR1001,” an oral Alzheimer’s disease treatment candidate, which AriBio signed with China’s Fosun Pharma in May. The contract is valued at $4.7 billion (approximately 7 trillion won).
AriBio had previously transferred regional rights to AR1001 to pharmaceutical companies in the Middle East, including Arcera. Including this year’s contract with Fosun Pharma, the cumulative value of global technology export contracts signed for AR1001 alone has reached approximately 10 trillion won.
Alteogen is achieving distinctive results through the repeated export of its platform technologies. This year alone, the company has signed four technology export agreements totaling 6.2259 trillion won based solely on “ALT-B4,” the core technology of its subcutaneous (SC) formulation conversion platform.
ALT-B4 is the core technology of the Hybrozyme platform, which converts intravenous (IV) biopharmaceuticals into subcutaneous (SC) formulations. Alteogen signed contracts worth 420 billion won with Tesaro, a subsidiary of GSK, in January; 867.5 billion won with Biogen in March; and 521.9 billion won with an undisclosed company in August. This month, the company added a contract with Novartis worth up to $3.223 billion (approximately 4.4165 trillion won).
This approach involves applying the same platform to different drugs developed by multiple global pharmaceutical companies. This signifies that domestic technology exports are expanding beyond the traditional model of transferring rights to a single drug candidate to a business model that generates recurring revenue opportunities through a single platform.
Hanmi Pharmaceutical also secured two technology export deals worth trillions of won this year. In June, it licensed “sonefpeglutide,” a candidate drug for the treatment of short bowel syndrome, to Eli Lilly for up to $1.26 billion (approximately 1.8973 trillion won).
Last month, the company signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Genentech, a subsidiary of the Roche Group, for “HM17321,” a drug candidate for obesity and metabolic disorders. The total contract value is up to $2.3 billion (approximately 3.5 trillion won).
HM17321 utilizes a non-incretin mechanism distinct from existing GLP-1 agonists and is being developed with the goal of becoming the first-in-class drug in its class that reduces body weight while preserving muscle mass. This demonstrates that even in the highly competitive field of obesity and metabolic diseases, where global pharmaceutical companies vie intensely, the early research achievements of a domestic company are translating into major technology exports.
The scope of technology exports is also expanding. Successes are spreading beyond existing anticancer drugs to include Alzheimer’s disease, obesity and metabolic disorders, autoimmune diseases, ophthalmic diseases, rare diseases, and infectious diseases.
Curacle and MabTics transferred the rights to “MT-103,” a bispecific antibody candidate for retinal diseases, in a deal valued at approximately 1.5636 trillion won. Oscotec exported the rights to “cevidoplenib,” a treatment for autoimmune diseases, in a deal valued at approximately 1 trillion won.
NeoImmuneTech has transferred the rights to develop and commercialize “NT-I7” in the U.S. and Europe to U.S.-based Tolerance Bio for indications related to thymic hypofunction, such as immune reconstitution in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The deal is valued at up to $260 million (approximately 366.9 billion won). Instead of a cash upfront payment, the company will receive a 4% fully diluted equity stake in Tolerance Bio.
3. SK Biopharm Obtains New Drug Approval in Japan for Epilepsy Treatment ‘Cenobamate’
SK Biopharm announced on the 16th that its partner, Ono Pharmaceutical, had received marketing approval from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) for “cenobamate” (Japanese product name: Equiscupri), an innovative new drug for epilepsy.
Japan is the world’s second-largest epilepsy market by country, following the United States, with an estimated 1 million people living with epilepsy. Of these, approximately 30% are known to not achieve sufficient seizure control even with existing antiepileptic drugs. With this approval, Cenobamate is expected to provide a new treatment option for Japanese epilepsy patients, who face significant unmet medical needs.
This approval was based on the results of a multinational Phase 3 clinical trial conducted in adult patients with partial-onset seizures in South Korea, China, and Japan whose seizures were not controlled despite treatment with existing antiepileptic drugs. In this trial, Cenobamate as an adjunctive therapy significantly reduced seizure frequency compared to placebo, met the primary endpoint, and demonstrated a manageable safety profile.
With this approval in Japan, SK Biopharm has secured new drug approvals for Cenobamate in all three Northeast Asian countries—South Korea, China, and Japan—through its regional partners. The company obtained approvals in South Korea and China in November and December 2025, respectively, and the drug was officially launched in China this past March, with the first prescriptions issued. In Japan, following the submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) by Ono Pharmaceutical in September 2025, the company has now secured approval for the new drug, laying the groundwork for its entry into the Japanese market.
In October 2020, SK Biopharm signed a technology export agreement with Ono Pharmaceutical for the development and commercialization of Cenobamate in Japan. Following this approval, the company will receive milestone payments as stipulated in the agreement; the specific amounts will not be disclosed in accordance with the terms of the contract. The company also plans to receive royalties proportional to Cenobamate sales in Japan, and its contribution to medium- to long-term earnings is expected to grow as commercialization in the Japanese market gains momentum.
Cenobamate has currently been approved in more than 45 countries and regions worldwide, including the U.S. and Europe, as a treatment for partial-onset seizures in adults. In the U.S., it is sold directly by SK Life Sciences, SK Biopharm’s local subsidiary. SK Biopharm plans to expand the global growth foundation for Cenobamate by simultaneously increasing prescriptions in major markets and commercializing the drug in new markets, leveraging both direct sales in the U.S. and regional partnerships as its two main pillars.
Along with expanding Cenobamate’s global market presence, SK Biopharm is also pursuing the expansion of its indications and target age groups. In Japan, Ono Pharmaceutical is conducting a Phase 3 clinical trial for adolescents and adults with partial-onset tonic-clonic seizures (PGTC), and a Phase 3 clinical trial for pediatric patients with partial seizures is also currently underway.
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The Ministry of Intellectual Property (MOIP) will issue a legislative notice of a partial amendment to the Enforcement Rules of the Korea Design Act.(News Letter No. 585)
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