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China Factor In series
An analytical series on how China’s rise is reshaping competition across Korea’s key industries
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China Factor In series
An analytical series on how China’s rise is reshaping competition across Korea’s key industries
Would you like to subscribe?
Inside NIO's AI factory, where cars build themselves
HEFEI, China — On the body assembly line of NIO’s F2 electric vehicle plant in Hefei, China, there are no people. Only the sharp hum of machinery and the synchronized choreography of orange robotic arms fill the vast space. German-based KUKA robots converge on an aluminum vehicle body: One lifts a door into place, a second one measures alignment through sensors, while others complete the welding process in seconds. Human hands never touch the process. In this 100 percent automated process, where
June 29, 2026 - 10:04:49
Korea, Shanghai airports team up to expand regional air links
Korea Herald correspondent SHANGHAI, China -- Korea Airports Corporation is seeking closer ties with Shanghai Airport Authority, known as Avinex, to expand the aviation network connecting Korean regional airports and Shanghai amid the rapid recovery of Korea-China air travel demand. According to KAC, it signed a memorandum of understanding with Avinex on Tuesday at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, one of two airports the state-owned operator manages in Shanghai alongside Pudong Airport. Under the agre
June 23, 2026 - 17:00:00
Inside China's race for tech self-reliance
Korea Herald correspondent HEFEI, China — Far from slowing China's technological rise, US sanctions and export controls have accelerated Beijing's drive for self-reliance, pushing Chinese companies to build domestic alternatives across industries. Landlocked Anhui province, west of Shanghai, has emerged as one of the clearest examples of that effort. Home to a growing cluster of artificial intelligence, electric vehicle, battery and renewable energy companies, the province has transformed itself
June 23, 2026 - 14:19:32
Korea's AI ambitions run into power problem
South Korea's bid to stay competitive in artificial intelligence is running into a constraint that cannot be solved by chips alone: electricity. As the US and China pour hundreds of billions of dollars into AI infrastructure, experts say Korea's biggest challenge is no longer securing Nvidia GPUs but ensuring it has enough power, grid capacity and suitable sites to run the data centers those chips require. The pressure is mounting as the world's largest economies accelerate investment in AI infr
June 15, 2026 - 11:02:50
Korea's OCI, Hanwha stand to benefit from US solar supply chain shift
Washington's escalating restrictions on Chinese solar power equipment are creating an opening for South Korean manufacturers as alternative suppliers for US developers. The US government has tightened trade restrictions on Chinese solar materials and technologies in recent months through a combination of tariffs, trade investigations and rules on tax credits. US solar companies and project developers are now seeking non-Chinese suppliers to avoid regulatory risks and preserve eligibility for fed
June 9, 2026 - 10:46:49
Ford reshapes battery strategy, moves from SK On to CATL
Ford Motor's decision to deepen ties with China's CATL while repurposing assets from its former battery partnership with SK On is drawing scrutiny from South Korea's battery industry as the US automaker pivots aggressively into energy storage. At a time when Washington is seeking to reduce dependence on Chinese battery supply chains, Ford is embracing CATL's battery technology to accelerate its push into the energy storage system, or ESS, market — a sector increasingly fueled by booming demand f
June 4, 2026 - 15:01:34
Chinese EV retreat opens window for Hyundai in Canada
Major Chinese electric vehicle makers, including BYD, Chery and Geely, are scaling back their expansion into Canada — a strategic entry point to North America beyond the US market, where intensifying anti-China trade policies have effectively shut out Chinese EVs. Experts indicate the shift could help Hyundai Motor Group to defend its ground in the profitable market, where demand for high-margin SUVs and eco-friendly vehicles remains strong. According to a recent report by Automotive News Canada
May 25, 2026 - 16:36:33
China’s silicon wafer rise adds pressure in AI chip race
China is accelerating its silicon wafer self-sufficiency drive, aiming to source more than 70 percent of its advanced wafers domestically by 2026 as AI-driven chip demand surges. Though the push is unlikely to disrupt the global chip industry immediately, experts said it signals China is steadily strengthening one of the most critical layers of the semiconductor supply chain as the AI boom sharply increases wafer demand. “The world’s top five wafer suppliers are unlikely to face a serious threat
May 12, 2026 - 15:21:05
Why Europe has become CATL’s next big bet
CATL, the world’s largest maker of electric vehicle batteries, is doubling down on Europe after raising $5 billion in Hong Kong, with US restrictions effectively shutting it out and as China’s domestic market grapples with oversupply. The strategic pivot underscores how critical Europe has become, despite rising regulatory hurdles. Korean battery-makers also have their eyes locked on Europe, where EV demand is showing signs of a gradual rebound — unlike the slower recovery in the US. As both sid
May 11, 2026 - 11:36:06
Chinese EV makers’ aggressive Korea push challenges Hyundai, Kia
Chinese electric vehicle makers are rapidly expanding into Korea, with premium EV brand Zeekr emerging as a new challenger to Hyundai Motor’s Ioniq lineup in the premium mainstream segment, while BYD intensifies price competition against mass-market models from Kia. On Friday, Zeekr Korea celebrated its debut, with the opening of its brand showroom in Gangnam, Seoul, attended by key officials, including Zeekr Korea CEO Lim Hyun-ki, Zeekr International Chief Operating Officer Jeff Cao and Zeekr I
May 8, 2026 - 15:05:41
Chinese chains have entered Korea before. But not with this impact
How Koreans feel about China is one thing. How they eat and drink is another. Chinese brands are settling deeper into Korea, with milk tea chains and hot pot franchises now occupying prime spots in major commercial districts nationwide. Their presence is nothing new, but the latest wave competes less on origin than on offer. "With malatang, milk tea, and hot pot winning over younger consumers, the image of Chinese food has shifted considerably," one industry official said. “Many of these brands
May 6, 2026 - 15:21:07
Chinese EVs surge, Japan retreats in Korea’s shifting auto rivalry
South Korea's import vehicle market is experiencing a dramatic reshuffle, as Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers expand aggressively while Japanese carmakers retreat, reshaping competition in one of the world's most demanding auto markets. Honda Motor announced on April 23 that it will discontinue automobile sales in South Korea after more than two decades, citing the changes in the global and local automotive environments. The move follows the exits of other Japanese stalwarts, including Nis
May 4, 2026 - 15:37:12
Korea’s takeaway from China’s robotics surge
China has emerged as the world’s leading force in humanoid robotics, while Korea, the US and other rivals race to catch up in what is quickly becoming the next frontier of advanced manufacturing. Behind the country’s dominance lies years of coordinated policy support, academia-driven research and tightly integrated industrial ecosystems — a playbook that mirrors its rise in electric vehicles. “China’s progress is not driven by a single factor,” said Li-Wei Zhang, a professor of mechanical engine
May 3, 2026 - 14:53:25
Korea’s OLED market share rises for first time in years
South Korea’s share of the global OLED market rose for the first time in nearly a decade in 2025, as domestic display makers strengthened their lead in high-end technologies despite intensifying competition from China. According to the Korea Display Industry Association on Tuesday, citing data from Omdia, Korea’s OLED market share reached 68.7 percent in 2025, up 1.5 percentage points from a year earlier. The gain marks the first increase since China entered the OLED market in 2015. Korea has le
April 28, 2026 - 14:34:57
How Samsung, Apple are overcoming China’s smartphone chip crunch
A tightening memory chip supply is reshaping the global smartphone market, squeezing Chinese vendors while lifting shipments at Samsung Electronics and Apple. According to market tracker International Data Corp. on Tuesday, global smartphone shipments fell 4.1 percent on-year to 289.7 million units in the first quarter, marking the first decline for the January-March period since 2023. Samsung ranked first with shipments of 62.8 million smartphones and a 21.7 percent market share. Apple followed
April 28, 2026 - 14:22:55
