SK Bioscience will join global partners in a U.S. government-funded project to develop and produce a vaccine against the Bundibugyo virus, a strain of Ebola spreading in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Korean vaccine maker said Thursday. The project, carried out with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), a global nonprofit biomedical research organization, and Singapore-based Hilleman Laboratories, will receive up to 130.9 billion won ($99 million) from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). BARDA is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response. Initial funding of $36 million has been confirmed. The money will go toward clinical and regulatory work, including a Phase 1 trial, which tests a vaccine’s safety in a small group of people, as well as outbreak-response vaccine production and supply. Development of an upgraded vaccine based on variant strains is also planned. The Congo outbreak has reached 10,060 confirmed cases and 4,887 deaths as of Sunday, making it the s

Ananti has opened a new clubhouse at Ananti Jeju, integrating "gotjawal," Jeju Island’s distinctive forest ecosystem shaped by volcanic terrain, into a contemporary architectural setting. Opened on July 22, the clubhouse combines the island’s natural landscape with architecture, golf and dining, offering guests a place to unwind while experiencing Jeju’s unique environment. Located in Gujwa-eup in northeastern Jeju, Ananti Jeju sits in an evergreen forest area about 80 to 130 meters above sea level. Despite its proximity to the coast, the property is surrounded by the dense woodland characteristic of gotjawal. Rather than treating the forest as a scenic backdrop, Ananti has incorporated the natural surroundings into the clubhouse’s design. The building connects the island’s sky, water, land and woodland with its golf courses, creating a seamless transition between architecture and nature. Golf remains central to the property, which features 36 holes across two courses: the 18-hole Halla Course and the 18-hole Kimnyeong Course. Dense woodland lines the fairways, while distinct l

Korea's antitrust watchdog said Thursday it will impose a 630 million-won ($469,000) fine on Celltrion Inc., a biotechnology firm, for unfairly canceling orders and failing to provide a subcontractor with required documents on time. The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) said it will also issue a corrective order against the company over violations related to COVID-19 test kits with a local subcontractor. Of the total fine, 590 million won will be imposed for unfair order cancellations and 40 million won for failing to meet documentation requirements. According to the FTC, Celltrion placed seven orders for COVID-19 test kits between September 2021 and January 2022. The company failed to issue legally required documents when changing the types of products in two orders and delayed issuing documents for another. In one case, Celltrion changed some of the point-of-care (POC) test kits for medical professionals to over-the-counter (OTC) kits for general consumers before switching some of those kits back to POC products. The FTC said the Fair Transactions in Subcontracting Act requires prime contracto

Gaon Cable, a Korean power cable maker, said Thursday it has secured a 120 billion-won ($90 million) cable supply deal with a U.S. cloud company. LS Cable USA (LSCUS), Gaon Cable's U.S. manufacturing subsidiary, will supply a medium-voltage power distribution cable system to the customer by the first half of next year, the company said in a press release. The company did not disclose the customer's identity. "The order will support Gaon Cable's efforts to expand its presence in the North American artificial intelligence data center (AIDC) power infrastructure market," a company official said, adding that it plans to expand production and broaden its customer base. Gaon Cable is 81.62 percent owned by LS Cable & System, Korea's leading wire and cable manufacturer.

Renault Korea is combining French design sensibilities with Korean consumers’ practical needs, blending distinctive driving pleasure with spacious interiors, quiet cabins and advanced convenience features. The approach reflects Renault's philosophy of “voitures a vivre,” or cars for living, which views vehicles as spaces where drivers and passengers spend part of their daily lives, rather than simply as means of transportation. Under this concept, exterior styling is only one part of the design process, alongside interior usability, passenger comfort and intuitive technology. Alexandre Malval, Renault's vice president of design, has outlined four core design values: Designed to be Loved, Crafted Space, Electrified by Passion and People-first Tech. The principles emphasize creating vehicles that appeal emotionally while improving the everyday experiences of those inside them, according to Renault Group. Korean consumer preferences play a key role in translating these principles into products. Demand for generous rear-seat space, passenger comfort, multimedia functions and convenient

Samsung SDI returned to operating profitability in the third quarter of 2026, driven by strong demand for energy storage system (ESS) batteries and growing sales of small batteries for artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. The battery maker reported Thursday an operating profit of 407.8 billion won ($285 million) for the July-September period, compared with an operating loss of 591.3 billion won a year earlier. The figure nearly doubled from 203.8 billion won in the previous quarter, marking its highest quarterly operating profit since the third quarter of 2023, when it recorded 496 billion won. Revenue rose 52.6 percent year-on-year to 4.69 trillion won, up from 3.07 trillion won a year earlier and 20.9 percent from the previous quarter. The battery business generated 4.41 trillion won in revenue, up 55.3 percent from a year earlier, while operating profit reached 361.9 billion won. Strong ESS and battery backup unit (BBU) sales amid the expansion of the global AI data center market, along with increased sales of cylindrical batteries for power tools and electric vehicles (EVs), d