Yonhap News Summary

Yonhap News Summary

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday.

■ (LEAD) Lee hails homegrown KF-21 fighter jets as leap forward into world's top 4 defense powerhouse

SEOUL -- President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday touted the country's first mass-produced homegrown KF-21 fighter jets as a symbol that embodies "aspirations for self-reliant defense," vowing to make South Korea one of the world's top four defense powers.

Speaking at a ceremony for the first delivery of the fighter jets, which came after years of development and prototype testing, Lee also pledged to invest more in high-end aircraft technologies.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260325007251315?section=national/politics

President Lee Jae Myung delivers a speech at a ceremony marking the rollout of the first mass-produced KF-21 fighter jets at the Korea Aerospace Industries headquarters in Sacheon, 296 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on March 25, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

■ (2nd LD) Cheong Wa Dae, PM's office to launch emergency economic teams to oversee response to Mideast crisis

SEOUL -- Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said Wednesday that two emergency economic teams will be launched at Cheong Wa Dae and his office to oversee the government's response to the Middle East crisis.

Kim said at a briefing that an emergency economic situation room will be created at Cheong Wa Dae, while an emergency economic headquarters will be set up under his office due to the widening impact of the ongoing war involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260325002252315?section=national/politics

■ (2nd LD) SK hynix says is taking steps for listing on U.S. stock market

SEOUL -- SK hynix Inc. said Wednesday it has begun taking steps for listing on the U.S. stock market as the chipmaker aims to improve access to global investors amid its artificial intelligence (AI) drive.

The South Korean chipmaker filed a "confidential submission" to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) the previous day, with a goal to have its American depositary receipts (ADRs) listed on the U.S. stock exchange within the year, it said in a regulatory filing.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260325001353320?section=economy-finance/economy

■ S. Korea likely to face LNG price volatility due to suspended supply from Qatar: officials

SEOUL -- Seoul may see increased volatility in liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices after Qatar reportedly declared force majeure on its long-term LNG supply contract with South Korea, but the impact on the supply will likely be limited, officials here said Wednesday.

"We have already excluded (LNG) shipments from Qatar from our calculation for this year's (LNG supplies)," Yang Ghi-wuk, deputy minister for trade, industry and resource security, said in a daily briefing on resources supplies amid the Mideast crisis, stressing that the country has sufficient LNG supplies to last throughout this year, even excluding shipments from Qatar.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260325006100320?section=economy-finance/economy

■ (LEAD) Samsung Group to join government's energy-saving drive, employ 10-day vehicle rotation system

SEOUL -- Samsung Group said Wednesday it will join government-led energy-saving efforts, voluntarily introducing a 10-day vehicle rotation system, as the country braces for a potential energy shortage amid prolonged tensions in the Middle East.

The 10-day rotation system will be implemented across all of its domestic operations staring Thursday, Samsung Group said in a statement.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260325008551320

(END)