YouTube trumps KakaoTalk, Naver as South Korea’s longest-used app

YouTube has emerged as South Korea’s star mobile app, with Korean smartphone users spending the longest amount of time on the video-sharing platform than any other app.　Seoul-based app analytics firm WiseApp on Wednesday released data that counted and compared the minutes Korean Android users spend on four top-used apps here: KakaoTalk, YouTube, Naver and Facebook. (123RF)WiseApp monitored the monthly app usage time of 3,712 Android users above the age of 10 over two years, from March 2016 to Fe

March 7, 2018

[Herald Interview] Who will be first 5G provider? No one has advantage yet, says Intel engineer

While mobile operators and equipment builders around the world say their fifth-generation network solutions and services are ready for commercialization, Robert J. Topol, in charge of 5G technology at Intel, does not think anyone has an advantage now in the absence of international standards. “We are all targeting 2019 for having a lot of solutions ready,” said Topol in an interview with The Korea Herald at Intel’s booth during the Mobile World Congress 2018 in Barcelona last week. “But I don’t

March 6, 2018

[News Focus] Will Korea’s Kakao pursue reverse ICO to create new source of funds?

Kakao Corp., the operator of South Korea’s most widely-used mobile messenger, is foraying into the blockchain technology business, with possible plans to raise new capital by launching and offering for sale its own cryptocurrency.　In doing so, Kakao is joining the herd of other major internet technology firms that have embraced blockchain and crypto coins as promising businesses and methods of fundraising.　Kakao on Monday announced that it is planning to launch a new subsidiary focusing on block

March 6, 2018

LG hopes to lead premium AI TV era with 2018 OLED TVs

LG Electronics is hoping to lead the era of artificial intelligence-powered TVs with its new lineup of household sets powered by its AI platform ThinQ, the company’s home entertainment chief said Monday.At a launching event showcasing LG’s premium TV lineup for this year at LG’s R&D center in southern Seoul, Brian Kwon, president of LG’s Home Entertainment Co., told reporters, “In addition to our TVs’ perfect black and perfect visual quality, this will be a year for us to take the next step with

March 5, 2018

[Health-tech Korea] The Wave Talk seeks real-time bacteria detection with laser sensor

The Korea Herald is publishing a series of articles highlighting South Korea’s promising startups in the emerging sectors of digital health care and next-generation medical devices. This is the 16th installment of "Health-tech Korea". - Ed.Despite persistent public campaigns by municipal governments to promote clean tap water, South Koreans are known to refrain from drinking it or even using it for cooking. Their heavy reliance on bottled water for consumption shows the lack of trust in water st

March 4, 2018

Samsung SDI to provide battery modules for Kauai ESS project

Samsung SDI will be providing 13,000 battery modules for an energy storage system project on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, the company said Sunday.The Lawai Solar and Energy Project, run jointly by the American AES Group affiliate Distributed Energy and the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, will install a 28-megawatt solar photovoltaic system and a 100 megawatt-hour five-hour duration ESS on Kauai. Samsung SDI will be providing approximately 13,000 battery modules for the ESS.“The project will p

March 4, 2018

[Exclusive] SKT CEO calls Huawei cause of concern in choosing 5G partners

Ahead of selecting suppliers of equipment for its fifth-generation network in June, South Korean mobile carrier SK Telecom’s chief is unsure about whether to consider China’s Huawei over security issues. “Huawei is a concern,” SKT CEO Park Jung-ho told The Korea Herald last week during the Mobile World Congress 2018 held in Barcelona, Spain. “We are at a crossroads when it comes to the decision, whether (to make it from the standpoint of) the government or customers.”Huawei's booth at Mobile Wor

March 4, 2018

Samsung Galaxy S9, LG V3 initial preorders fall shy of expectations

Initial preorders in South Korea for the latest smartphones by Samsung Electronics Co. and its smaller rival LG Electronics Inc. have fallen shy of expectations, industry watchers said Thursday.Samsung and LG both started accepting orders for their latest flagship models, the Galaxy S9 and the V30S ThinQ on Wednesday. Market watchers said the number of preorders for the S9, the larger Galaxy S9 Plus and the V30S ThinQ during the first six hours on the first day did not reach those of their immed

March 1, 2018

[MWC 2018] Samsung network head turns to US after India success

BARCELONA, Spain -- Samsung Electronics will focus on the US to seek growth opportunities in the upcoming fifth-generation network market after its success in India with Long Term Evolution network equipment, said the chief of Samsung’s network business Tuesday.“We are aggressively starting to enter the US market with Verizon,” said Kim Young-ki during a press conference at Mobile World Congress 2018 in Barcelona. “We provided some main equipment for 4G in the US in partnership with Verizon and

March 1, 2018

[Exclusive] SKT CEO discusses upcoming wearable tech with Nokia Bell Labs

BARCELONA, Spain -- SK Telecom CEO Park Jung-ho discussed upcoming wearable technology that will be enabled by the fifth-generation telecom network with Nokia Bell Labs on Tuesday at the Mobile World Congress 2018. Park held a private meeting with Bell Labs Chief Technology Officer Marcus Weldon at Nokia’s booth at the MWC to talk about Nokia’s undisclosed wearable technology dubbed “The Sleeve,” according to an industry source.  SK Telecom CEO Park Jung-ho (SK Telecom)The extent of their potent

Feb. 28, 2018

[MWC 2018] Samsung promotes latest non-memory chips at private MWC booth

BARCELONA, Spain -- As part of its efforts to boost its system chip business, Samsung Electronics on Tuesday promoted its latest system chip products at a private booth at Mobile World Congress 2018. The world’s top memory chip provider is shifting its focus from the mainstay memory products from non-memory chips that are seeing growing demand in the “fourth industrial revolution” and Internet of Things era. The MWC, the biggest mobile industry tradeshow, has been considered an optimal opportuni

Feb. 28, 2018

Naver to improve outdated online dictionaries for 11 languages

South Korean internet giant Naver said Wednesday that it has partnered with the Seoul-based Hankuk University of Foreign Studies to improve and update its online dictionaries for 11 languages over the next four years.　The move comes as part of Naver’s pledge made in 2016 to invest 10 billion won ($9.24 million) toward upgrading and expanding its online dictionaries for five years.(123RF)　Under the partnership, Naver will fund HUF’s efforts to upgrade outdated definitions, fix existing errors and

Feb. 28, 2018

Pearl Abyss launches ‘Black Desert Mobile’ in Korea

South Korean video game company Pearl Abyss officially released its latest open-world mobile role-playing game “Black Desert Mobile” in Korea on Wednesday, with servers crashing due to user traffic overload.“Black Desert M” is a mobile remake of the hit massively multiplayer online role-playing game “Black Desert” by Pearl Abyss. The original game was launched in December 2014, and has more than 8.5 million registered users worldwide, including those in Asia as well as the US and Europe. Prior t

Feb. 28, 2018

[Graphic News] Korea ranks 7th in science, technology capabilities

　South Korea’s science and technology capabilities ranked seventh last year among the 34 member states of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, according to a state-run think tank.　The Korea Institute of S&T Evaluation and Planning said the evaluation was based on five categories: research environment; support from both public and private sectors; the quality of work carried out by scientists and engineers; the results of research; and overall network capabilities.　The US ca

Feb. 27, 2018

Seven out of 10 Koreans have tried Korean medical treatments: data

Roughly seven out of 10 Koreans have received traditional Korean medical treatment, a study showed Tuesday. The Ministry of Health and Welfare put out the results of their study conducted on a total of 6,914 citizens. Results showed that 90.6 percent of those in their 60s or older have used Korean medicine, followed by those in their 50s (86.1 percent) and in their 40s (77.7 percent).Acupuncture was the most popular method of treatment for patients going to clinics specializing in Korean medicin

Feb. 27, 2018

Naver founder Lee Hae-jin leaves company board

Lee Hae-jin, the founder of South Korean internet giant Naver, has officially stepped down from the company’s board, Naver said in a disclosure Monday.During an internal board meeting held the same day, Naver decided not to extend Lee’s board membership that expires next month. Naver’s executive director Choi In-hyuk will be filling in Lee’s position, according to the firm.With the change, Lee will only retain his position as global investment officer, focusing on Naver’s global expansion and in

Feb. 27, 2018

[MWC 2018] New LG flagship phone set for H1 release: LG mobile chief

The next flagship smartphone from LG Electronics is set for release in the first half of 2018, according to the top executive of LG‘s mobile division.At Mobile World Congress 2018, LG did not roll out a new flagship smartphone as Samsung did with its Galaxy S9, but rather introduced new artificial intelligence capabilities on its V30S ThinQ.According to Hwang Jeong-hwan, who heads up the mobile business at LG, the company’s focus now is on improving core competitiveness. Hwang Jeong-hwan, head o

Feb. 27, 2018

[MWC 2018] Samsung not in rush for next phone after Galaxy S9 series

BARCELONA, Spain -- Confessing that they were obsessed with being the first to release the newest technologies, Koh Dong-jin, head of Samsung Electronics’ mobile business, said Monday the South Korean tech firm was now more committed to developing products that can deliver meaningful value to consumers.The message came at a press conference for Korean reporters after the Galaxy S9 Unpacked in Barcelona, as Koh once again confirmed that Samsung will launch next-generation foldable display phones

Feb. 27, 2018

Samsung set to showcase Bixby 2.0 via new Galaxy Note this year

Samsung Electronics Co. said Tuesday it plans to showcase a new edition of its artificial-intelligence program, Bixby 2.0, as early as the second half of this year through the presumed Galaxy Note 9 phablets.During a press conference held at this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, Koh Dong-jin, head of the IT & Mobile Communications Division, said Samsung is currently testing the beta version of Bixby 2.0 with some 800 partners. "Considering the current speed (of development), the

Feb. 27, 2018

LG Electronics to focus on ABCDs to revitalize ailing smartphone biz

LG Electronics Inc. said Tuesday it will focus on audio, batteries, cameras and displays, referred to by the acronym ABCDs in South Korea, to beef up its smartphone division, which has been suffering losses for nearly three years.During the meeting with reporters at the Mobile World Congress, which is being held in Barcelona, Spain, Hwang Jeong-hwan, who leads the company's mobile business, said LG plans to regain its market credibility by meeting customer demands."It is regrettable that LG Elec

Feb. 27, 2018