[Photo News] Korean delivery startups promote motorcycle safety

MOTORCYCLE SAFETY PROMOTION -- Seoul Metropolitan Policy Agency Commissioner Lee Ju-min (center) hands a reflective sticker to a Barogo motorcycle rider (right) during a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony Tuesday in Seoul. Woowa Bros, the operator of delivery startups Baedal Minjok and Barogo, signed a memorandum with the Seoul Metropolitan Policy Agency and other state-led public safety agencies to jointly promote traffic safety among local motorcycle deliverymen. Under the partnershi

Jan. 16, 2018

KT opens drone center on Imjado

KT has opened a drone center on the island of Imjado in South Jeolla Province to help locals learn how to operate drones for agricultural use, the company said Tuesday.According to KT, the company and Community Chest of Korea have partnered to fund the KT Giga Island Drone Center since last July, at locals’ request. Students learn to operate drones at the KT Giga Island Drone Center on Imjado, South Jeolla Province. (KT)The foremost goal is to teach residents to use drones for agricultural use. 

Jan. 16, 2018

Fine dust woes drive surge in dryer market

Environmental changes such as increased fine dust in the air are causing a surge in the Korean dryer market, as consumers shift away from air drying their laundry to relying more on machines.“As recently as 2016, the entire dryer market in Korea was only about 100,000 units,” said an official with LG Electronics, which has recently seen a spike in its dryer sales. “That market grew to 600,000 units last year, and this year industry estimates say that the market can grow up to 1 million units.” S

Jan. 16, 2018

Koreans in danger of chronic disease: KCDC

South Korean adults run the risk of chronic diseases due to unhealthy diet, a report from a state-run agency showed. According to the “Public Health Weekly Report” published on Thursday by the Korea Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Koreans eat much less than the recommended daily intake of nut and seeds, calcium, milk, vegetables and fruits. On the other hand, they eat much more than recommended of red meat, processed meat and sugar-sweetened beverages.A total of 13 foods and nutrients

Jan. 15, 2018

Samsung SDI showcases latest EV batteries at NAIAS 2018

Samusng SDI is showcasing its latest battery technologies for electric vehicles at the North American International Auto Show 2018 in Detroit this week, the company said Monday.Under the overarching theme of “Future Starts Today,” the company is presenting battery technologies, such as rapid-charging batteries, multifunctional module packs and low height battery cells. Various battery models are showcased by Samsung SDI at the North American International Auto Show 2018. (Samsung SDI)Focusing on

Jan. 15, 2018

[Exclusive] LG Electronics chief orders revision of ‘G7’ smartphone from scratch: source

Jo Seong-jin, vice chairman and CEO of LG Electronics, has ordered a revision of the company’s upcoming premium phone, temporarily called the “G7,” further delaying its launch to April. According to a company official who asked for anonymity, the G7 smartphone team of the company’s mobile communications business was told to halt recent work related to development of the newest phone, and to review the new product from scratch. “Right after the vice chairman made the announcement at the Consumer

Jan. 15, 2018

KT uses network tech to extend smartphone battery life

KT has applied technology to allow extended use of smartphone batteries during voice calls for the nationwide LTE network for the first time here, the company said Monday.This is an expansion of connected mode discontinuous reception, or C-DRX, technology, used for internet data to be applied to voice calls. KT first adopted C-DRX for data in the LTE network early last year. When a user is receiving and sending data through the LTE network, data is not sent continuously but in intervals. C-DRX r

Jan. 15, 2018

Davich Hearing Aid launches high-end acoustic device

Davich Hearing Aid has recently launched a new hearing aid, Alpha VR. Other aids on the market suffer from short battery life, requiring frequent recharges or battery changes, but Alpha VR can operate for 24 hours on a single seven-hour charge. The company is offering a buy one get one free deal right now, making the product more affordable for the customers. Alpha VR (Davich Hearing)Davich is also offering recharging technology that was mostly available only for more expensive devices, to a ful

Jan. 14, 2018

LG struggling to revitalize smartphone biz

LG Electronics Inc. plans to bring major changes to its smartphone business, with potential options including scrapping the premium G and V series, industry watchers said Sunday, as the business continues to remain in doldrums in the face of Chinese rivals."It is true that there has been a feeling of doubt over the smartphone business due to the sluggish performances over the past few years," an official from LG Electronics said, claiming it is doing its best to survive in its competition with S

Jan. 14, 2018

[CES 2018] Tech hotshots envision future of smart cities

LAS VEGAS -- The biggest tech event of the year, the Consumer Electronics Show, ended its four-day run Friday with almost 4,000 companies around the globe showcasing their latest, coolest technologies to envision the future of smart cities. This year’s show, however, would be difficult to define by any one keyword, as tech hot shots from around the world have shown off products and technologies more diverse than ever before in the areas of consumer electronics, smart appliances, self-driving aut

Jan. 12, 2018

LG Electronics invests in robotics company

LG Electronics has invested 9 billion won ($8.46 million) in a local robotics company, the firm said Friday.The electronics firm acquired 19,231 shares of Robotis, a Korean robot development company, obtaining a 10.12 percent stake.According to LG, the investment is intended to speed up advancement in LG‘s robot business, which the company hopes will become a future engine for growth.(Yonhap)Robotis was established in 1999 and produces hardware such as control equipment and sensor modules as wel

Jan. 12, 2018

[Newsmaker] LG to shift strategy on money-losing smartphones

LAS VEGAS -- LG Electronics’ chief said it will no longer set a regular timeline to launch smartphones as it has done over the past years, in an apparent strategic move to help its struggling smartphone business, which has been losing money for 11 straight quarters. “We will unveil new smartphones when it is needed. But we will not launch it just because other rivals do,” said LG Electronics Vice Chairman Cho Sung-jin on Wednesday during a press conference at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las

Jan. 11, 2018

Telecom companies’ Q4 performance low, but better than expected

South Korea’s three major telecom companies are expected to announce low fourth-quarter performances due to government-mandated reductions in plan rates but with less damage than initially feared, according to industry reports Thursday.According to tracking firm FnGuide, local analysts expected fourth-quarter revenues from the three major telecom companies to total nearly 13.5 trillion won ($12.6 billion), down approximately 0.1 percent from the fourth quarter of last year.  (123rf)Starting in m

Jan. 11, 2018

Consumer group considering criminal case against Apple

A consumer group filing a civil suit against Apple on behalf of over 100 plaintiffs for damages related to a recent software update that slowed down older iPhone models said Thursday that they are also considering preparing a criminal case.“If we pursue a criminal case, the charges may include destruction of property caused by slowing down the phones, as well as fraud if (Apple) intentionally deceived users about the update,” said Yun Chul-min, a lawyer working with the consumer rights group Cit

Jan. 11, 2018

Facebook vows smooth negotiations with Korean ISPs over data traffic costs

Facebook said Thursday that it has expressed to South Korea’s state media regulator its willingness to carry out smooth negotiations with local internet service providers over sharing the costs of maintaining the quality and speed of Facebook’s data traffic-heavy services. 　Kevin Martin, vice president for mobile and global access policy at Facebook, met with Korea Communications Commission Chairman Lee Hyo-seong on Wednesday to discuss current issues concerning Facebook Korea and the broader in

Jan. 11, 2018

Daegu participates in CES to support global expansion of companies

Daegu Metropolitan City participated in the Consumer Electronics Show to support 40 companies in their expansion into the global market. This year’s CES is being held in Las Vegas from Tuesday through Friday. The Daegu Metropolitan City government is the only Korean local government to have prepared a common facility at the show this year for 40 promising small and medium companies as well as startups to tap into the world market. CES, which celebrates its 51st anniversary this year, goes beyond

Jan. 11, 2018

[CES 2018] Samsung, Harman gear up for self-driving automobiles

LAS VEGAS – During the Consumer Electronics Show 2018, Samsung and Harman together unveiled a new, advanced automotive platform, “digital cockpit,” the first fruits of their joint development of automotive electronics technology since the Korean tech giant bought Harman in March last year. The digital cockpit -- an integration of Samsung’s information technologies and Harman’s in-vehicle infotainment technologies -- aims to connect mobile devices, home appliances and automobiles through internet

Jan. 11, 2018

LG to shift strategy on money-losing smartphone

LAS VEGAS -- LG Electronics’ chief said it will no longer set a regular timeline to launch smartphones as it has done over the past years, in an apparent strategic move to help its struggling smartphone business, which has been losing money for 11 straight quarters. “We will unveil new smartphones when it is needed. But we will not launch it just because other rivals do,” said LG Electronics Vice Chairman Cho Sung-jin on Wednesday during a press conference at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las

Jan. 11, 2018

[Photo News] Facebook VP meets with Korea's media regulator over network usage costs

FACEBOOK IN KOREA -- Kevin Martin, Facebook‘s vice president for mobile and global access policy, enters the government complex in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, to meet Korea Communications Commission Chairman Lee Hyo-seong and discuss local network providers’ claims that foreign internet giants fail to pay enough for the networks they use here. During the meeting KCC Chairman Lee Hyo-sung urged Facebook to pay Korean internet service providers network usage fees that reflect the amount of traffi

Jan. 10, 2018

[CES 2018] Samsung privately unveils QLED TV with deeper blacks

LAS VEGAS -- Samsung Electronics privately unveiled its quantum dot display TV that displays deeper blacks at a similar level to its rival LG Electronics’ organic light-emitting diode TV during the Consumer Electronics Show that opened Tuesday. This may address technical challenges of the QLED TV, which has difficulties displaying true blacks and retaining the same color quality when viewed from the sides, compared to OLED TVs. During the event, the Korean tech giant took the wraps off its futur

Jan. 10, 2018