[News Focus] Is Vietnam an attractive place for Samsung chip plant?

Is Vietnam a good place for chipmakers to consider building a high-tech plant? In light of a request by the Vietnamese head of state to Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest chipmaker, many in South Korea are asking whether it is a viable business move.In a private meeting held in Seoul on Thursday, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong to consider building a chip manufacturing facility there. The Korean tech giant already has pr

Dec. 1, 2019

New LG Electronics chief likely to get tougher on 8K TV war with Samsung

With LG Electronics welcoming a new chief executive officer, the Korean tech giant is likely to get tough on an ongoing dispute over 8K TVs with its archrival Samsung Electronics, according to industry officials Friday.Kwon Bong-seok, who replaces Jo Seong-jin, the vice chairman of LG Electronics, is the one who made a public denouncement of Samsung’s quantum dot light-emitting diode TV that it is only a sort of LCD TV at a press conference in March. Kwon taking the leadership of LG Electr

Nov. 29, 2019

LG Group taps younger leaders in pursuit of change

LG Group, the fourth-largest family-run conglomerate in South Korea, said Thursday it has changed the group’s top brass and tapped young leaders in their 30s as new executives at affiliates in a bid to respond more swiftly to market changes, in its annual organizational reshuffling. Jo Seong-jin, vice chairman and CEO of LG Electronics, stepped down from the top position of one of Korea’s main tech firms as the group intends to choose change over stability. LG Electronics is the flag

Nov. 28, 2019

LG Electronics chief to step down as group seeks change

Jo Seong-jin, vice chairman and CEO of LG Electronics, is expected to step down from the top position of one of South Korea’s main tech firms as LG Group intends to choose change over stability in the upcoming organizational reshuffling, according to industry sources Thursday. According to local news reports, the 63-year-old vice chairman has tendered his resignation as he requested LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, 41, to pass the leadership baton onto the next generation and seek a major c

Nov. 28, 2019

KT enters global OTT competition with AI-equipped Seezn

KT, South Korea’s second-largest mobile carrier, announced Thursday the launch of artificial intelligence-equipped 4K over-the-top media service, declaring its intention to enter global markets. Dubbed as Seezn -- a new combination of words see and citizen -- the KT OTT service uses a AI-based content recommendation feature that recognizes facial expressions of users and analyses the movements to suggest customized content in line with their mood. Users can also personalize the service by

Nov. 28, 2019

Exhibition highlighting biological resources of Mekong region opens

BUSAN -- A special exhibition highlighting the rich ecology surrounding the Mekong region and various uses of the biological resources, such as in skin care and cosmetic products, commemorating the 1st Mekong-ROK Summit in Busan that opened Wednesday for a monthlong run. “Life on the Mekong; Connecting People, Creating a New Future,” held by the National Institute of Biological Resources, under the Ministry of Environment, kicked off Wednesday at Nurimaru APEC House in Busan on the s

Nov. 27, 2019

[ASEAN-Korea summit] KT to support AI-driven transformation of ASEAN countries

KT, one of South Korea’s leading mobile carriers, said Tuesday it is preparing solutions to support the artificial intelligence-driven transformation of ASEAN countries based on its high-tech capabilities. The company is currently working to build AI-enabled hotels in various Southeast Asian countries including the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. It also plans to introduce 5G AI factory and autonomous driving solutions that will facilitate the region’s transformation. KT

Nov. 26, 2019

[ASEAN-Korea summit] SK Telecom CEO proposes TEAM project for Asian content biz with 5G

SK Telecom CEO Park Jung-ho on Monday proposed a technology-driven entertainment project for growth of Asia’s culture and economy at the Culture Innovation Summit during the ASEAN-Korea Summit in Busan. The head of Korea’s No. 1 telecom company suggested creating an association for the content industry across Asia, which he named “TEAM” to stand for “tech-driven entertainment for Asian movement.” “Korea is the third-largest content exporter after the Uni

Nov. 25, 2019

[ASEAN-Korea summit] LG CNS taking lead in Korea’s smart city projects

LG CNS, an information and communications technology solutions affiliate of LG Group, is taking the lead in the ongoing efforts to build smart cities across South Korea by offering secure solutions, according to the company on Monday.The LG unit is currently participating in multiple smart city projects led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and by provincial governments. Among others, LG CNS is providing consultations on government-led smart city projects in Sejong and B

Nov. 25, 2019

GS E&C develops big data-based smart home system

South Korea’s GS Engineering and Construction said Monday that it has built a big data and artificial intelligence-based smart home system that could bolster security and add convenience for local apartment residents. The Xi AI platform, co-developed with its real estate development subsidiary Xi S&D, is programmed to offer customized living conditions for its users based on its analysis of relevant data. It has the ability to provide clean air by measuring the level of fine dust, cont

Nov. 25, 2019

Korea’s memory industry to start recovering in 2020

After a brutal downturn this year, South Korea’s memory chip industry is expected to start recovering in 2020, led by growth in demand for 5G-enabled devices and the resumption of investments in data centers, according to industry observers on Sunday.“The fundamentals of the semiconductor industry are showing signs of improving in 2020,” said Lee Su-bin, an analyst at Daishin Securities. The DRAM market is projected to reach a balance in supply and demand, as prices are expecte

Nov. 24, 2019

[Graphic News] S. Korea ranks among top OECD member countries in treatment of cancer: data

　South Korea ranks as one of the leading members among the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in the treatment of cancer, medical data showed.　The 2019 Health at a Glance report released by the Paris-based organization said Asia’s fourth-largest economy had the highest five-year survival rate for colorectal, rectal and stomach cancers among the 32 member states checked, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, which examined the data, said.　The cancer survival rate, which is

Nov. 21, 2019

Trump hints at tariff exemptions for Apple, citing Samsung

Chances are good that the United States may exempt Apple from China tariffs, with President Donald Trump citing competition from Samsung for the local smartphone market, news reports suggested Thursday. During his Wednesday visit to Apple’s laptop manufacturing facility in Austin, Texas, Trump hinted at the need to adjust tariffs for Apple amid lagging trade talks between the US and China. “The problem we have is Samsung is a great company but is a competitor of Apple,” Trump s

Nov. 21, 2019

With Samsung’s lead, Korean TV makers dominate global market

South Korean manufacturers claimed nearly half of the global TV market as of the third quarter of this year with Samsung Electronics’ solid lead in the large premium TV segment, according to market data on Wednesday. Recent data from market researcher IHS Markit showed that Samsung and LG accounted for a combined 46.2 percent of the global market in terms of sales value in the third quarter. The combined share of the two Korean TV makers stood at 48.1 percent in the second quarter. Samsung

Nov. 20, 2019

Samsung SDI pledges to reduce wage gap with contractors

Samsung SDI said Wednesday it will help reduce the wage gap between the company and its contractors as part of efforts to seek co-prosperity. South Korea’s leading lithium-ion battery maker, an affiliate of Samsung Electronics, will run a 132.2 billion won ($113 million) worth program to support its contractors to increase wages of their employees. It has signed a trilateral agreement for this with suppliers and Korea Commission for Corporate Partnership.  “Through the agreement

Nov. 20, 2019

Moon’s top policy aide urges businesses to embrace ‘labor-friendly’ initiatives

President Moon Jae-in’s top policy aide urged business leaders on Wednesday to support a government bill drafted to expand the scope of the 52-hour-week system, amid growing concerns that the administration’s policies are imposing a financial burden on them.“The government will continue to advocate labor rights. Such a policy stance won’t change,” said Kim Sang-jo, chief policy secretary for the president, at a meeting with members of Korea Employers’ Federati

Nov. 20, 2019

Samsung, LG ramp up outsourcing of smartphone models

With the smartphone market mirroring the PC industry, South Korean tech firms Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are banking on outsourcing production to other global manufacturers to boost their sales overseas, according to industry sources Tuesday. The country’s two biggest phone makers are seeking to increase production by third-party original development manufacturers in countries like India and China. It may be bad news for contractors here, but may be appreciated by overseas vend

Nov. 19, 2019

Too much time on smartphone poses health threat

More people are falling ill from spending too much time on mobile screens.Last month Rep. Kim Kwang-soo of the National Assembly’s health and welfare committee said “smartphone maladies” are taking a toll on public health, calling for a government-level response. The lawmaker said South Korea has the highest rate of smartphone ownership in the world, citing a 2018 report by US-based think tank the Pew Research Center, which in turn has led to an increase in health problems aris

Nov. 18, 2019

Samsung helps 200 students land software jobs

Around 200 students who have received training at Samsung Software Academy for Youth since December last year landed jobs in the software sector, the South Korean tech giant said Monday. Known as SAFFY, the software academy is a training institution for students who are seeking jobs in the software field. Four centers were opened in Seoul, Daejeon, Gwangju and Gumi at the end of last year as part of Samsung Electronics’ plan to support the country’s software talent. A total of 500 jo

Nov. 18, 2019

KT aims to expand 5G technology into medical sector

　South Korean mobile carrier KT has pledged to develop a virtual reality surgery platform with a local software company in a push to expand the use of the fifth-generation wireless network into the medical industry. 　According to the telecom firm on Sunday, it had signed a strategic partnership with Coreline Soft to integrate the 5G network into medical surgery. The signing ceremony was held Thursday at KT’s research center located in Seoul. 　The memorandum of understanding included cooper

Nov. 17, 2019