South Korea

벼랑끝 철근부터 손질 나선다…정부, 철강산업 구조조정 ‘차등 처방’

Maekyung | Local Language | News | Nov. 6, 2025 | Regulation

The South Korean government has introduced differentiated measures to address structural issues in the steel industry, focusing on companies’ voluntary business restructuring and promoting high value-added steel products. These measures are tailored by product type, recognizing varying supply-demand conditions and industry characteristics. Support is directed especially at companies with plans to reduce facilities, like Hyundai Steel and Dongkuk Steel, including financial aid and employment maintenance incentives. Regions affected by industrial crises may receive additional designation and support.

For products with low foreign import penetration, such as rebar, the government aims to encourage voluntary restructuring by companies, taking cues from the petrochemical sector. In contrast, for steel products with high import shares like hot-rolled, cold-rolled, and galvanized steel, the government plans to prioritize trade measures, including crackdowns on origin labeling violations, anti-dumping investigations, and mandatory quality inspection certificates to curb unfair imports. Financial support is being expanded through programs like the “export supply chain strengthening guarantee,” supplying 570 billion won, with contributions from POSCO, IBK Industrial Bank, and Korea Trade Insurance Corporation.

To ease raw material costs, tariff quota eligibility will be broadened next year to cover more steel raw and auxiliary materials. Additionally, a 200 billion won R&D support fund will concentrate on high value-added products such as special carbon steel and electrical steel sheets. Despite these efforts, the steel industry faces ongoing challenges with declining profitability, weak demand, and increasing excess capacity ratios. The operating rates of major steelmakers have decreased, and the structural overcapacity remains significant, indicating pressure for more rapid restructuring.

Legislative support in the form of the “K-Steel Act,” designed to provide tax incentives and other benefits to the industry, remains stalled due to partisan disagreements despite being adopted as policy by major political parties. The delay in passing this bill risks postponing vital financial support measures in the next government budget cycle, amplifying industry anxieties amid persistent market and structural headwinds.

칼 뽑아든 미국…중국·러시아 위협 막을 우주 신무기 띄운다

Hankyung | Local Language | News | Nov. 6, 2025 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

The United States is activating an electronic warfare weapons system designed to target the satellite surveillance networks of China and Russia. This move signals a recognition of outer space as a strategic battlefield and aims to establish information dominance by disrupting adversaries' intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) satellites.

The U.S. Space Force is set to deploy two new weapons called "Meadowlands" and "Remote Modular Terminal." Meadowlands, developed by L3Harris, is in the final stages of training and tactical development and is expected to be operational within the current fiscal year. The Remote Modular Terminal, created by Northstrat and CACI International, is already being deployed overseas and is in a limited operational capability phase, meaning it can be used in real-world missions. The U.S. plans to purchase 32 Meadowlands units and 24 Remote Modular Terminals.

Additionally, the U.S. Space Force is establishing a Space Electromagnetic Tactical Operations Center to coordinate disruption operations. This center will utilize the "Bounty Hunter" surveillance system to detect electromagnetic interference attacks and track adversary spacecraft. The initiative responds to China's fleet of about 1,200 satellites, including 510 ISR satellites capable of tracking U.S. military movements, and concerns about Russia's development of nuclear weapons with high-altitude EMP capabilities that could disable satellites and communication networks.

Once the new weapons are deployed, the U.S. will have three space response systems, including the existing Counter Communications System jammers, enhancing its ability to counter threats from China and Russia in space.

Yonhap | English | News | Nov. 6, 2025 | UndeterminedTech Development/Adoption

South Korea has formed a quantum industry alliance consisting of 34 major companies, including Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor, Hanwha Ocean, Samsung Biologics, KB Kookmin Bank, and Shinhan Bank. The initiative aims to accelerate growth in the quantum technology sector, which is expected to drive a technological revolution.

The alliance will focus on identifying practical applications across various industries, refining standards and regulations, and promoting the sector’s global expansion. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources also announced plans to localize key quantum technology components, such as superconducting quantum processing unit packaging and cryogenic cooling systems.

Additionally, the government will launch a project to develop quantum software designed to address industrial challenges. Vice Industry Minister Moon Shin-hak emphasized the commitment to supporting domestic quantum companies to ensure they capitalize on the timely industrialization of the technology and integrate into the global value chain.