UNIST team develops world’s first ternary semiconductor

A research team led by Kim Kyung-rok at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology successfully implemented the world’s first ternary semiconductor design on a large wafer, which will help development of low-power and high-computing microchips in the future, according to Samsung Electronics on Wednesday.  The ternary semiconductor architecture is expected to contribute to developing high-computing chips that are essential for artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, the in

July 17, 2019

[Herald Interview] How Facebook addresses beautification

　Over the past few years since tech companies introduced a series of camera apps, beautification apps have become some of the most sought-after items for smartphone users around the world, users in South Korea being no exception. 　With special effects filters and colorful stickers, the advanced camera technology can make us over for the small screen, allowing us to project the image we want. But some of the features, such as skin whitening, have prompted criticism over biased beauty standards. 　

July 16, 2019

LG launches world’s first capsule-type beer brewing machine

LG Electronics announced on Tuesday the commercial launch of the world’s first capsule-type automated beer maker in line with the growing home-brewing trend. The LG HomeBrew machine will be rolled out with a retail price tag of 3.99 million won ($3,390) in South Korea, including the price of receiving after-sales service for up to three years and 10-year warranty for the core inverter compressor. After inserting one capsule and water into the double-metal cylindrical machine, consumers can

July 16, 2019

SKT launches ‘world’s first’ 5G roaming service

 　After South Korea became the first country to launch commercial services of the 5G wireless network in April, the country’s biggest mobile carrier has taken it a step further by working with a Swiss counterpart to launch international roaming service on the platform. 　SK Telecom announced Tuesday that it will launch “the world’s first” 5G roaming service with Switzerland’s biggest mobile carrier, Swisscom. Those visiting Switzerland will be able to use the se

July 16, 2019

S. Korean biz groups in emergency mode as Korea-Japan feud drags on

South Korea’s major business groups are shifting to emergency mode, setting detailed contingency plans for a variety of scenarios amid concerns that the restrictions on exports of key tech materials from Japan to Korea could stay in place for a long time, according to the industry on Monday. The leaders of the country’s five biggest conglomerates -- Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor Group, SK Group, LG Group and Lotte Group -- are tightening their reins on the groups’ operatio

July 15, 2019

S. Korean business card app launches LinkedIn-like service

The maker of South Korean business card app Remember launched a new business networking service Monday, targeting corporate recruiters and job seekers in hopes of competing with LinkedIn in the country’s hiring market.Drama & Company, the Seoul-based tech firm that developed the Remember app, said it was introducing Remember Career to connect companies’ PR managers with Remember app users. Once the users post their job profiles and resumes on Remember Career, recruiters can

July 15, 2019

KT seeks to leverage 5G tech in global fight against diseases

　After South Korea became the first country to launch commercial service for the fifth-generation network in April, hopes are high that the hyperspeed network will transform everyday lives. 　Ranging from ultrafast downloading of lengthy movies to driving autonomous vehicles on connected urban highways, the 5G network is expected to enable futuristic technologies. 　With telecom companies around the world seeking to maximize benefits of the advanced network technology, Korea’s leading mobile

July 14, 2019

Samsung heir’s extended Japan trip raises concerns

Concerns about the impact of the latest export restrictions imposed on South Korean companies by Japan are growing more intense as Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong’s trip to Tokyo has gone on longer than many had expected, industry sources said Friday. Lee hopped on a jet to Tokyo on Sunday to meet with major suppliers of the three key materials for which new orders placed after July 4 will be scrutinized by the Japanese government. It was widely expected that the Samsung hei

July 12, 2019

Japan’s curbs aimed at containing S. Korea’s semiconductor industry: report

The latest restrictions on exports of key chip-making materials imposed by the Japanese government could be aimed at containing South Korea’s thriving semiconductor industry, a report claimed Friday. Park Sang-hyun, analyst at HI Investments & Securities said in a report that the rising tensions between Japan and Korea could be based not only on diplomatic issues but also the widening gap between the competitiveness of the Japanese and Korean semiconductor industries. “The Japan-

July 12, 2019

IT firms aim to be in limelight at FINA championships

More than 2,000 athletes from around the world are flocking to Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul, to compete in the 2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships from Friday to July 28. While the athletes vie for medals, electronics and telecom companies will try to gain global attention during the biennial international event. As one of the main sponsors for the FINA championships, South Korea’s leading telco KT will showcased its latest fifth-generation technologies, ranging from advanced

July 11, 2019

Hanwha to invest in US air taxi startup

South Korean defense company Hanwha Systems said Wednesday that it would join the emerging mobility business by investing $25 million in a US startup that specializes in flying taxis. 　Tentatively named K4 Aeronautics, the US firm will work with Hanwha Systems to develop the necessary technology to produce personal aerial vehicles. The Korean company said it would increase its investment after acquiring a certain stake in K4 Aeronautics. 　According to Hanwha Systems, K4 Aeronautics has obtained

July 11, 2019

Japan curbs blight Samsung’s system chip vision

Samsung Electronics’ goal of becoming the top logic chip provider by 2030 might be seriously hampered by Japan’s restrictions on exports of hi-tech materials, if the two governments fail to ease the diplomatic tensions soon, according to industry sources Thursday. The tech giant’s April announcement to be the world’s No. 1 in the system-on-chip market beyond memory chips is the first official task of its de facto leader Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong. However, the latest Japa

July 11, 2019

LG Display expects limited impact from Japan's exports curbs

Japan's tougher regulations on exports of key materials to South Korea will have a limited impact on LG Display's production of OLED panels, a senior company official said Tuesday, vowing to secure alternatives as part of its contingency plan.Last week, Japan began adopting a stringent approval process for exports to South Korea of high-tech materials, including fluorinated polyimides used to make flexible OLED displays, as well as resist and etching gas needed in the semiconductor fabrication p

July 9, 2019

LG Chem CEO vows to make firm global top 5 chemical biz

Shin Hak-cheol, vice chairman and CEO of LG Chem, vowed Tuesday to make the company one of the world’s five biggest chemical companies in the next five years by doubling its revenue by 2024.  “LG Chem will reach 30 trillion won ($25.4 billion) in sales this year for the first time and 59 trillion won by 2024, becoming a global top five company,” Shin said during his first press conference since he took office in February. Shin is the first CEO of LG’s petrochemical a

July 9, 2019

Kakao suspends popular emoji sales amid plagiarism row

South Korea’s top mobile messenger app operator Kakao said Monday it has suspended sales of its highly sought-after emoji, amid plagiarism allegations by a Japanese developer. According to the firm, its “DDingdongs Day” emoji is no longer available on its Kakao Talk app store. After it was launched last year, the emoji gained popularity after some K-pop fans spotted popular boy band BTS members using it. Japanese developer Yuki Kanai has claimed that Kakao’s emoji plagiar

July 8, 2019

Korean firms fear disruption of digital transformation

　Digital transformation has become a buzzword for various industrial sectors around the world – and South Korea is no exception. Ranging from tech giants to small factories, companies here are scrambling to embrace solutions for better business. 　While digital transformation means different things to different firms, it broadly refers to the use of digital technology to improve productivity. It can be applied to manufacturing processes, marketing strategies and corporate organizations.　So

July 7, 2019

SoftBank chief considers joint investments on AI with Korean tech leaders

Masayoshi Son, chairman of Japanese conglomerate SoftBank, said Thursday he will make new investments in promising artificial intelligence businesses together with South Korean tech giants, hopefully this year. The IT business tycoon discussed plans to expand cooperation and investments on AI with the leaders of five top Korean tech companies, including Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, at Korea Furniture Museum in Seongbuk-dong, northern Seoul. In response to a question about the

July 5, 2019

Samsung Q2 earnings guidance shows slight improvement

Samsung Electronics’ earnings for the second quarter of 2019 are forecast to show a slight improvement from the previous quarter due to recovery in the display business, according to its earnings guidance announced Friday. The South Korean tech giant is expected to post 56 trillion won ($47.8 billion) in sales with operating profit of 6.5 trillion won during the April–June period, the guidance showed. The figures hovered above market expectations that had estimated Samsung to registe

July 5, 2019

SoftBank chief highlights investment for Korea’s AI

Son Masayoshi, chairman of Japanese IT conglomerate SoftBank, highlighted the importance of investments in leading artificial intelligence businesses for Korea to become an advanced AI-powered country during a meeting with President Moon Jae-in on Thursday. In response to President Moon’s acknowledgement that Korea is a latecomer in the AI technology industry, Son said, “AI should (be) the top priority for Korea, and the country needs to focus on related education, policies, investme

July 4, 2019

Korea starts work on Japan WTO case

The South Korean government said Wednesday that it has started a legal review for filing a complaint with the World Trade Organization over Japan’s export restrictions -- widely seen as the neighboring country’s retaliation against the ruling by Korea’s top court on wartime forced labor.Trade officials here believe that Japan’s move to limit exports of key materials used to produce semiconductor and displays violates the WTO’s ban on states’ control of exports

July 3, 2019