Economy · July 2026

South Korea, July 22, 2026 – Samsung launched its latest foldable smartphones, the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Flip 8, along with the Galaxy Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2, available from August 7. The foldables feature design updates and a 200-megapixel camera on the Ultra model, while the smartwatches focus on improved battery life. Samsung is also reportedly considering a multibillion-dollar investment in French AI startup Mistral, signaling an expansion beyond hardware into artificial intelligence. Samsung said smart glasses privacy concerns need an industrywide fix. Hyundai claimed its humanoid robot plan is not part of talks with striking workers. South Korea is trying to tame market swings, but analysts aren’t sure it will work. Korean stocks jumped as brokers said the margin unwind is nearing an end. The return of high-risk bets that burned traders adds to Korea's woes.