[CES 2021] Tech boundaries crushed as innovations rush in

A notable trend at this year’s CES is that the boundaries between different sectors of technology are not just being blurred, but crushed, as the pandemic accelerates the pace of innovation. With the all-digital CES 2021 heading into its third day, many viewers have been taken by surprise by unexpected presentations from major companies, such as conventional automaker General Motors, auto parts maker Bosch and camera company Canon. GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra proclaimed during her

Jan. 13, 2021

[CES 2021] More Robots and AI from South Korean tech giants at CES 2021

At the ongoing Consumer Electronics Show, South Korean companies have presented more robots and artificial intelligence-based products and solutions that promise to make our daily lives easier in the near future. LG Electronics brought its AI-based virtual human character Reah Keem to the fore, who unveiled the company’s latest line of LG CLoi UV-C robots. The robot, designed to use ultraviolet radiation to reduce harmful germs in public and personal areas, was presented for the first ti

Jan. 13, 2021

Telegram, Signal user numbers soar after WhatsApp’s controversial privacy update

Messaging apps Telegram and Signal saw a surge in the number of app downloads and active users amid a backlash over competitor WhatsApp’s new privacy policy. Telegram added 25 million new users in the last 72 hours to reach the 500 million active users milestone, according to the messaging app’s official Twitter account on Wednesday. Signal collected 7.5 million downloads from Apple’s App Store and Google Play period from Wednesday through Sunday, an equivalent to a 4,200 p

Jan. 13, 2021

S. Koreans spend more time on mobile devices in 2020: report

South Koreans spent an average of 4.4 hours on mobile devices a day last year, up 19 percent from the previous year amid the pandemic, a report showed Wednesday. The country's increased use of mobile apps was in line with last year's global daily average of 4.2 hours, up 20 percent over the same period, according to the report from mobile data tracker App Annie. App Annie said the time South Koreans spent on financial apps last year especially increased, with the country's top five financial a

Jan. 13, 2021

Samsung unveils Exynos 2100 ahead of Galaxy S21 Unpacked

Samsung Electronics on Tuesday unveiled its new mobile application processor Exynos 2100 through an online event ahead of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Unpacked event this week. The Exynos 2100, which is expected to power the upcoming Galaxy S21 series, is Samsung’s first mobile application processor integrated with a 5G modem. Manufactured on Samsung’s 5-nanometer extreme ultra-violet process node, the new processor comes with the most cutting-edge central processing unit and graphic

Jan. 13, 2021

[Herald Interview] Korea’s COVID-19 response overlooks patients’ well-being

This interview is the first installment in a three-part series in conversations with the former directors of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- now the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency -- as the country looks back on a year of the COVID-19 pandemic. -- Ed. Good health care should not be sidelined in efforts to find and isolate people with COVID-19 and their contacts, says respiratory disease specialist Dr. Jung Ki-suck. Jung is the immediate predecessor o

Jan. 12, 2021

[CES 2021] ‘AI would matter more in life after COVID-19’

Artificial intelligence would take on a bigger role in people’s lives after the COVID-19 pandemic, according to forecasts by industry researchers at the Consumer Electronics Show 2021 Tuesday. During an online press conference held on the first day of the annual tech tradeshow, researchers at the event’s organizer US-based Consumer Technology Association, pinpointed AI being at the center of changes occurring across industries since the virus outbreak and will gain more growth mo

Jan. 12, 2021

[News Focus] Foul-mouthed chatbot Luda brings belated lesson in AI ethics

A social media-based artificial intelligence chatbot has been suspended in South Korea after stirring a series of controversies with discriminatory and vulgar language, leaving lessons for all parties involved in the related sectors dealing with AI. The chatbot Lee Luda, developed by local startup firm Scatter Lab, was introduced last December to run on Facebook Messenger. Designed to mimic a 20-year-old woman, it has attracted more than 400,000 users via Facebook so far. It, however, became

Jan. 12, 2021

Samsung introduces first-ever water purifier

Samsung Electronics Co. on Tuesday introduced its first-ever water purifier as the tech giant enters the fast-growing home water purifier market amid the pandemic-induced stay-at-home trend. Samsung unveiled the BESPOKE water purifier that is highlighted by space-efficient design and easy care features at its media event for the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2021. The new water purifier will be launched in South Korea in the first quarter of year, the company added. Samsung's BESPOKE wat

Jan. 12, 2021

[CES 2021] Samsung, LG put home at center of innovation under pandemic

The first-ever all-digital Consumer Electronics Show kicked off Monday against the backdrop of the unrelenting COVID-19 pandemic, virtually gathering tech giants around the world to showcase new technologies and innovations. It is the first time that the world’s biggest tech trade show is being held online, since its inception in 1967. South Korea’s Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, the biggest participants in CES 2021, kicked off the four-day event by holding online press co

Jan. 11, 2021

Samsung’s chip business to grow further in 2021

Samsung Electronics is expected to rack up strong earnings in 2021 on the back of the “semiconductor supercycle,” according to local analysts Monday. Demand for 5G communication chips, mobile applications processors and image sensors will be strong for the next two to three years, aiding the South Korean chipmaker, they said. Foundry Samsung Electronics is expected to continue its strong performance in the foundry sector, backed by increasing demand from the makers of high-pe

Jan. 11, 2021

A US stock soared 1,100% on Elon Musk’s tweet

A single comment from Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Twitter led a small company’s stock price, which had nothing to do with the comment itself, to multiply 12-fold in just two days. The phenomenon is being predictably attributed to investors’ great trust in Musk, as well as enormous liquidity released on the recent stock market. Musk posted a message on Twitter on Thursday saying, “Use Signal.” The message was later revealed as meaning to encourage the use of encrypted messeng

Jan. 11, 2021

Drug Ministry warns against using steroids for muscle growth

Steroids should not be used to build stronger muscles or improve sports performance, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said in a press release on Sunday. The ministry said steroids, including anabolic steroids, should be used strictly for treating osteoporosis or poor growth under a doctor’s care. But there have been reports of illegal uses of steroids to maximize the effects of exercise in a short time. The ministry warned that if steroids are misused or abused, men can suffer side

Jan. 11, 2021

340 Korean tech firms take part in 2021 CES

South Korea would be the biggest participating country after the United States at this year’s CES, with more than 300 tech companies set to exhibit their latest products and technologies. The event’s organizer, Consumer Technology Association, said Sunday that as many as 340 firms from South Korea would be taking part in 2021 CES, which kicks off Monday, making Korea the second-biggest participating country after the host nation which will have 567 companies taking part. A total

Jan. 10, 2021

LG unveils bigger, advanced OLED TVs for 2021

LG Electronics on Sunday unveiled its full lineup of TVs for 2021, including the first 83-inch organic light-emitting diode TV model with advanced self-emissive lights, to cement its leadership in the growing OLED TV market. Dubbed “OLED evo,” the new model features an upgraded OLED panel that boasts better contrast ratios and picture quality due to improved lights. It marks the third advancement in LG’s OLED TV technology since its launch in 2013. LG announced 4K High Dyn

Jan. 10, 2021

LG Electronics operating profit hits all-time high of W3tr in 2020

LG Electronics logged a record-high operating profit in 2020, surpassing 3 trillion won ($2.75 billion) for the first time in its history, the company said in its regulatory filing Friday. Its operating profit for the whole of last year has been estimated at 3.19 trillion won, breaking the previous record of 2.7 trillion won in 2018. Compared with a year earlier, the 2020 figure was an increase of 31 percent, the regulatory filing showed. The South Korean electronics maker’s gross an

Jan. 8, 2021

Samsung Electronics’ Q4 operating profit reaches W9tr

Samsung Electronics continued its strong performance in the fourth quarter last year, the company said in its regulatory filing Friday. Samsung Electronics estimated its Q4 operating profit at 9 trillion won ($8.2 billion), up 26.7 percent on-year. The company’s operating profit for the whole of last year is estimated at 35.9 trillion won accordingly, an increase of 29.4 percent from 27.7 trillion won in 2019. Compared with a quarter earlier, when the firm delivered an earnings surpris

Jan. 8, 2021

Video streaming services focus on original content in S. Korea amid new competition

Video streaming services in South Korea are headed for heated competition this year as local media companies and global giants alike splurge on original content to take a solid position in the booming local market. Earlier this week, local media giant CJ ENM Co. said it is partnering with production company JTBC Studios to operate its over-the-top (OTT) service Tving. CJ ENM said the new joint venture will invest 400 billion won ($365.3 million) in production costs over the next three years in

Jan. 8, 2021

SKT reshuffles AI division, pushes digital transformation

SK Telecom has relocated its artificial intelligence service division under the company’s main business that operates mobile networks and information technology solutions, in a gesture to add full momentum to digital innovation, the company said Thursday. “The latest corporate reshuffle has reflected SKT CEO Park Jung-ho’s will to marry AI technology with the company‘s all mobile network services and solutions,” SKT explained. The AI service division -- AI&CO

Jan. 7, 2021

LG acquires controlling stake in US data firm Alphonso for $80m

LG Electronics announced Thursday the South Korean tech giant has acquired a controlling stake of more than 50 percent in US data analytics firm Alphonso, in an $80 million deal for its TV business. Based in Silicon Valley, Alphonso is a data analytics startup that specializes in TV commercials and various media content. With the latest investment, LG plans to accelerate its digital transformation strategy that aims to deliver better customized services for LG TV users. The company plans

Jan. 7, 2021