Will KakaoTalk kill off text messaging services?

　Despite South Korean mobile carriers’ efforts to rekindle the use of text messages, the prospects of the once-lucrative business continue to look grim.　The country’s three biggest telecom firms -- SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus -- have upgraded their text message services with advanced features like group chatting and video sharing in recent years. 　But the moves have so far failed to draw users away from the popular messenger service KakaoTalk. While the chatting app has seen a dramat

Sept. 26, 2019

SKT previews Microsoft’s xCloud game-streaming service for 5G users

　South Korea’s telecom giant SK Telecom said Wednesday that it is inviting online applications for free trials of Microsoft’s upcoming cloud-based game-streaming service Project xCloud.　According to SKT, Android-based smartphone users who subscribe to its 5G wireless service can sign up until Oct. 8.　Those selected to take part will get a glimpse of Microsoft’s game-streaming service next month, SKT said. Trials in the United States and the United Kingdom are scheduled to run s

Sept. 25, 2019

LG Electronics sues 3 European rivals over patent infringement

LG Electronics said Wednesday it has filed lawsuits against three European home appliance manufacturers with a court in Munich over allegations that they infringed LG’s ice-making patents for side-by-side refrigerators. The accused companies are Arcelik, Beko and Grundig, affiliates of Turkey-based Koc Group, which sell home electronics in European markets.LG claimed that the three firms have violated its patents related to an ice-making system built into the door of a freezer. The Korean

Sept. 25, 2019

Global e-scooter companies flock to Korea

Global electric scooter operators are entering South Korea’s micro-mobility market, intensifying competition in the bike-sharing market. According to industry sources, US-based e-scooter and bike company Lime is gearing up for its debut in Korea. The company is expected to announce the launch on Oct. 1 in Seoul. Lime has been preparing to enter the Korean market and has been recruiting local employees since earlier this year. Currently, the company is operating in more than 120 cities in o

Sept. 25, 2019

LG Chem procures cathode materials from Europe’s top supplier

Korea’s leading battery maker LG Chem said Tuesday the company has secured cathode materials for electric vehicles from Europe’s top supplier Umicore with a plan to ramp up its battery production in the region next year. The company signed a contract with the Belgium-based material supplier to procure 125,000 tons of cathode materials -- one of the four key materials for lithium-ion batteries -- starting next year.  The amount of purchased materials is equivalent to manufacturin

Sept. 24, 2019

LG chief highlights speed in preparing for the future

LG Group Chairman and CEO Koo Kwang-mo on Tuesday presided over a meeting of executives of group affiliates for the first time, during which he ordered the top brass to be swifter in preparing for the future. At the annual workshop held for the CEOs of LG affiliates, Koo emphasized that the current crisis facing businesses is different from previous crises, so it is imperative that the group move faster in seeking changes.  “The current L-shape economic downturn is new to us, and we h

Sept. 24, 2019

Samsung SDI to supply EV battery cells for Germany’s Akasol

Samsung SDI said Tuesday it has been picked by German firm Akasol to supply battery cells and modules for commercial vehicles’ power systems. The South Korean battery maker signed an agreement with Akasol, the leading manufacturer of high-performance lithium-ion battery systems in Germany at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt for two large orders for global commercial vehicle makers. Under the agreement, Samsung SDI will supply its battery cells and modules with a total volume of 13

Sept. 24, 2019

Efforts pick up to help senior citizens use tech in daily lives

　The government and companies are seeking to help senior citizens benefit from technological innovations, in light of concerns they might be left behind amid fast-changing digital trends. 　The Seoul Metropolitan Government said earlier this month it would make its high-tech welfare program available to more senior citizens. Using internet of things technology, the program helps deal with emergencies by monitoring the temperature of houses and physical movements. 　Meanwhile, mobile carrier SK Tel

Sept. 24, 2019

Naver aims to create massive ecosystem for online cartoons

South Korea’s internet giant Naver on Tuesday announced its plan to boost online cartoon business’ global market presence by establishing a massive ecosystem for diverse contents and talented artists. Speaking at a press conference in Seoul, Naver Webtoon’s chief Kim Jun-koo unveiled the company’s global market strategy and content creation plans. After its launch in 2004, global services began in 2014.To attract more users to its online cartoon platform, the company

Sept. 24, 2019

Samsung vs. LG TV spat expands to other home appliances

The war of words between Samsung and LG Electronics has expanded from 8K TVs to home appliances, with the former taunting its crosstown rival in online videos.Two updated video clips on Samsung’s YouTube channel feature its lineup of home appliances enabling clothing care, such as the air dresser and laundry dryer. Regarding the steam closet system, the company made an indirect comparison of its Air Dresser and LG Styler, presumably criticizing the technique used to remove dust from clothe

Sept. 23, 2019

Naver, Kakao in battle over Korea’s mobile payment market

　South Korea’s biggest internet search company Naver has finalized its plan to launch a financial subsidiary by November, presenting a challenge to the country’s leading messenger app operator Kakao in the mobile payment market. 　During a meeting with stockholders on Friday, Naver decided to change the status of its in-house venture company Naver Pay to a separate entity. Named “Naver Financial,” the new subsidiary is to be officially launched Nov. 1.　To expand its platfo

Sept. 22, 2019

[News Focus] Korean chipmakers expect to bottom out in H2

 The semiconductor firms in South Korea are holding their breath at the current market conditions, hoping they have avoided the worst. “Starting with NAND, memory chip prices are showing signs of a rebound,” said an industry insider. “DRAM prices also stopped falling last month, which we hope is a sign of bottoming out finally.”  The price of three-dimensional high-spec NAND rose for two months in a row, while the most widely used memory DRAMs halted their price

Sept. 22, 2019

Samsung heir in Tokyo again at invitation of Japan’s biz community

Amid ongoing trade disputes between South Korea and Japan, Samsung Electronics’ de facto leader, Lee Jae-yong, visited Tokyo again at the invitation of the neighboring country’s business community, officials said Friday.The vice chairman of the Korean tech giant visited Tokyo to take part in the opening ceremony of the Rugby World Cup, one of the world’s three largest sports events along with the Summer Olympics and the FIFA World Cup. This is the first Rugby World Cup to be he

Sept. 20, 2019

Samsung leaders to announce future vision at SDC 2019 in October

Samsung Electronics will hold its annual gathering of tech leaders around the world, known as Samsung Developer Conference, in San Jose next month, where it is expected to outline its next move in the tech world. Samsung on Friday announced its lineup of keynote speakers for the SDC 2019 event, slated for Oct. 29, which included the tech giant’s executives to take the center stage. The company’s smartphone business chief Koh Dong-jin, the CEO of IT& Mobile Communications Division

Sept. 20, 2019

[News Focus] Look into Samsung-LG 8K TV spat

The war of words between Samsung and LG Electronics over the picture quality of their 8K TVs, undermining each other’s technological prowess, has baffled South Korean consumers.In their latest spat, the most often used term is CM, or contrast modulation, the level of distinction between the luminance of white and black colors on a screen. A higher CM leads to a clearer distinction between the colors, producing sharper images.LG first raised the issue at IFA -- the world‘s leading tra

Sept. 19, 2019

[Herald Interview] Once labor-intensive, shipbuilders in race for digital transformation

SINGAPORE -- Traditional methods for cost efficiency in the labor-intensive field of shipbuilding and marine engineering will give way to digital solutions that are already quietly permeating the industry, Craig Hayman, CEO of UK industrial software developer Aveva, said in a recent interview with The Investor.“Shipbuilding firms are now focused on reducing labor (costs) associated with the construction and the number of hours put into designing them,” Hayman said, adding that South

Sept. 19, 2019

Samsung heir discusses investment with Saudi prince in Jeddah

Lee Jae-yong, vice chairman and heir apparent of Samsung Electronics, met with Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the crown price of Saudi Arabia, to discuss investment opportunities, according to the company on Wednesday. During the meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday, Lee and the Saudi prince touched on various topics including technology, industry, construction, energy and smart cities, reported the Saudi Press Agency. “They discussed investment opportunities in the Kingdom and cooperation bet

Sept. 18, 2019

Samsung aims to offset decline in China with 5G phones

Samsung Electronics is aiming to recover its declining market share in China with a diverse lineup of 5G-enbaled localized devices, including the latest hit Galaxy Fold, according to industry sources Wednesday. Starting with the Galaxy Note 10 series that was launched last week, Samsung hopes to restore its declining status. “The Galaxy Note 10+ 5G is just the start for China’s 5G market,” a Samsung official said during the launch event. “We hope our new products will hel

Sept. 18, 2019

LG CNS to develop AI-based language education app

　South Korean tech company LG CNS said Wednesday it has agreed to work with foreign-language education firm YBM NET to develop a mobile language-learning app using artificial intelligence technology. 　The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation on the AI-based foreign-language education service. The signing ceremony was held at LG CNS’ headquarter in the Magok district of western Seoul. 　Combining LG CNS’ voice recognition and machine learning technologies

Sept. 18, 2019

Despite high youth unemployment, small companies face labor shortage: survey

　Despite worsening youth unemployment in South Korea, more than two-thirds of small and medium enterprises here appear to have trouble hiring young people, a survey showed Wednesday. 　Online recruiting company JobKorea surveyed 526 companies with less than 300 staff and found that 67 percent of the companies suffered from labor shortages. 　The result appears to be in contrast to reports about worsening employment among young people. According to 2018 data from the Korean Education Development In

Sept. 18, 2019