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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?
China's EVs level up, as global rivals scramble to adapt
BEIJING — Chinese automakers are rapidly shedding their reputation as budget electric vehicle producers, unveiling high-performance, software-driven models at the country's premiere auto show, while foreign rivals rush to localize their strategies to remain relevant in the world's largest automotive market. At the Auto China 2026 trade show, Chinese manufacturers are showcasing breakthroughs in battery technology, autonomous driving, artificial intelligence and in-car digital systems, reflecting
April 27, 2026 - 15:55:46
Hyundai turns to local tech partners in China comeback
BEIJING — In unveiling the Ioniq V in China, one of the biggest changes for Hyundai Motor has been a shift toward deep localization, with the South Korean automaker tapping local partners across key technologies from batteries to advanced driver-assistance systems. Hyundai Motor President and CEO Jose Munoz said such partnerships with top companies are critical to delivering competitive vehicles at accessible price points, as Hyundai seeks to win over Chinese consumers amid intensifying rivalry
April 26, 2026 - 09:27:42
Hyundai’s Chang vows to 'rise again' in China with Ioniq V
BEIJING -- Hyundai Motor Group Vice Chair Chang Jae-hoon said Friday that the launch of the Ioniq V electric vehicle will spearhead the company’s efforts to stage a comeback in China — a market he described as the most difficult. Speaking to reporters following Hyundai's press showcase during Auto China 2026 — the world’s largest auto show that opened Friday and runs through May 3 in the Chinese capital — Chang said Hyundai is focused on successfully rolling out its all-electric Ioniq brand in C
April 24, 2026 - 18:26:16
Ioniq lands in China as Hyundai targets EV revival
BEIJING — Hyundai Motor is "tripling down" on China, launching the China-specific Ioniq all-electric sedan and pledging 20 localized models in five years to regain ground in the world's largest automotive market. The new electric vehicle made its global debut at Auto China 2026, the world's largest auto show that opened Friday and runs through May 3 in the Chinese capital. The launch marks the first time the South Korean automaker has formally introduced its Ioniq brand in China, underscoring Hy
April 24, 2026 - 15:25:54
Hyundai Motor goes all-in on China EV comeback
Gone are the days when Hyundai Motor Group was known in China primarily for affordable, gasoline-powered vehicles. The South Korean auto giant is gearing up for its most ambitious transformation in more than two decades, seeking to reinvent itself as a maker of electric and software-driven vehicles in the world's largest automotive market. Hyundai plans to use Auto China 2026, the world's largest auto show by scale, opening in Beijing on Friday, to formally launch its Ioniq brand in China and re
April 23, 2026 - 08:31:00
C-commerce tightens grip on Korea’s retail market
Chinese e-commerce platforms, or C-commerce, are tightening their grip on South Korea’s retail market, turning it into a cross-border price war playing to households feeling the pinch. AliExpress and Temu sit at the forefront, with user bases that rank among the largest in Korea’s e-commerce market. Data from WiseApp Retail shows that in the January-March period, AliExpress and Temu drew 8.57 million and 8 million monthly active users, respectively. Barring Coupang, the two platforms have alread
April 22, 2026 - 14:34:31
Laptop OLED is next phase of display battle with China. Korea is winning it for now
When Apple unveils its rumored 2026 MacBook Pro refresh this fall, the expected thinner, lighter design and M6 Pro silicon chip will get the headlines. But the more consequential change sits beneath the glass. The Pro models are reportedly moving from mini-LED, the backlit technology Apple introduced in 2021, to OLED — the first fundamental display shift in nearly two decades. OLED pixels light themselves individually, delivering deeper blacks, higher contrast and thinner panels. Apple adopted O
April 19, 2026 - 15:01:03
Why China’s EUV ambitions are unlikely this decade
US-led export controls are pushing China to accelerate efforts to develop its own extreme ultraviolet lithography tools, but experts say turning early prototypes into mass-production systems within this decade remains highly unlikely. China is reported to have built a prototype EUV machine by reverse-engineering older equipment from Dutch supplier ASML, with ambitions to begin mass production by 2028. While a lab-level demonstration is plausible, industry observers say bridging the gap to commer
April 15, 2026 - 15:32:02
Why Hyundai cannot give up China: Its high-stakes Ioniq bet
Hyundai Motor is making its boldest attempt in years to win back Chinese consumers, betting on China-tailored Ioniq electric vehicles to fuel a comeback in the world’s largest automotive market. Last week, Hyundai officially introduced its flagship EV brand Ioniq to the Chinese market, unveiling two concept cars at a brand launch event: the Ioniq Venus sedan and the Earth sport utility vehicle. Hyundai is gearing up to roll out a broader electrification strategy and debut its mass-production Ion
April 14, 2026 - 14:57:10
BYD charges into Korea’s EV market, a rare win for China brands
Riding the wave of rising oil prices and aggressive pricing strategies, China's largest electric vehicle maker BYD is making bold inroads into South Korea, a market traditionally dominated by Hyundai Motor and German luxury marques. Just 15 months after entering the market in January 2025, BYD has emerged as one of the fastest-growing imported car brands. BYD sold 1,664 vehicles here in March, ranking fourth among imported brands behind Tesla, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, according to data compiled by
April 12, 2026 - 10:53:51
C-beauty comes knocking on K-beauty’s turf
It might take nerve for an overseas brand to press its case on the Korean beauty industry's home turf, more so for Chinese players still dogged by doubts over quality. Yet for the moment, Chinese beauty brands, or "C-beauty," are the challengers du jour. Imports of Chinese cosmetics into Korea climbed to a record $71.76 million last year, up 84 percent from a year earlier, according to the Korea Customs Service. A telling vignette came last October, when Chinese color cosmetics brand Flower Know
April 12, 2026 - 10:00:01
China winning in gaming race as Korea stumbles on policy
China’s ascent in the global gaming industry is no longer a projection but a reality reshaping competitive dynamics across markets worldwide, where Korean developers once held an edge. From sheer market size to global export strength, Chinese game companies are rapidly consolidating influence while Korean firms find themselves battling not only foreign competition but also a domestic regulatory environment many argue has yet to fully evolve in line with industry-leading standards. According to t
April 8, 2026 - 14:43:45
China's YMTC closes in on NAND leaders as Korea moves upmarket
China’s Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. is rapidly closing in on the world’s top makers of NAND flash memory, scaling production and advancing into higher-layer chips at a faster-than-expected pace. Korean chipmakers, long dominant in the market, are accelerating their shift to advanced nodes to defend their technological lead against a fast-rising Chinese challenger once seen as a clear underdog. According to industry sources on Tuesday, YMTC has pulled forward the timeline for its third-phase
April 7, 2026 - 15:13:38
US moves to curb China robots, opens door for Hyundai
The US is moving to curb China’s rise in humanoid robotics with a proposed law that would effectively shut China-made robots out of federal procurement on national security grounds. For Hyundai Motor, the shift could open a strategic window. As Chinese rivals face restrictions in the US market, the focus is now turning to whether the curbs will extend beyond finished robots to components and materials — potentially reshaping the entire robotics supply chain. On March 26, two US senators — one Re
April 6, 2026 - 14:01:35
LG Energy Solution escalates patent fight with China’s Sunwoda
LG Energy Solution is widening its patent offensive to automakers, stepping up pressure across the EV supply chain as it moves to enforce core battery technologies, industry sources said Sunday. The company recently filed for an injunction against Volvo Car Korea, alleging patent infringement in batteries used in the electric SUV EX30. The model uses prismatic nickel-cobalt-manganese batteries supplied by China’s Sunwoda, the apparent target of the legal push. At the same time, LG Energy Solutio
April 5, 2026 - 13:37:01
