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Two newly launched automotive refinish coating products from SP Samhwa's "Karokle Premium" lineup. / SP Samhwa

SP Samhwa (formerly Samhwa Paints) announced on the 12th that it has launched two new automotive refinish coating products, "Karokle Premium," designed to reduce fatigue for repair technicians and improve process efficiency.

The company plans to expand its market share in the automotive refinish coating market by leading with a high-performance lineup tailored to real-world repair conditions.

As newer vehicles increasingly adopt premium, lightweight exterior materials, the use of various materials beyond steel — including plastics — has been on the rise. This has driven growing demand at auto repair shops for high-performance coatings that reduce work fatigue while shortening process times and improving job turnover.

Reflecting this feedback from the field, the company introduced two products forming a core lineup for undercoat work: "Karokle Premium 1K Surfacer" and "Karokle Premium Bumper Primer."

Karokle Premium 1K Surfacer is a one-component surfacer. Surfacers are an essential product that fills minor imperfections on a vehicle's painted surface and smooths it out to help the paint achieve proper color development. It offers ultra-fast drying performance, curing in just 2-5 minutes under infrared drying.

Karokle Premium Bumper Primer is the first coat applied to a vehicle's plastic components, improving adhesion for the subsequent layers — sealer, basecoat, and clearcoat. It's characterized by strong bonding, a smooth application feel, and an even coating thickness.

The company has been building market trust by developing products that meet environmental regulatory standards. Both new products achieve volatile organic compound (VOC) content below the legal limit, combining performance with eco-friendliness.

An SP Samhwa official said, "We will continue to introduce products that reflect feedback from the field, strengthening our competitiveness in the automotive refinish market and realizing shared value with our repair shop customers."

                                                                                                                Lee Soo-il