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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?
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
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
