Samsung, LG prepare defense against Whirlpool’s anti-dumping call

Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are preparing to defend themselves against their US rival Whirlpool, which accused them of circumventing US laws in a recent petition to the US International Trade Commission.The South Korean home appliance manufacturers are currently working on refuting the claim that their businesses harm the US industry, in order to counter their American rival’s call for the US ITC to impose anti-dumping tariffs on Samsung and LG washers. (Yonhap)Whirlpool filed the pet

June 14, 2017

Korea's ICT exports rise for 7th month in May

South Korean exports of information and communication technology  products increased for the seventh month in a row in May on brisk overseas sales of semiconductors and displays, government data showed Wednesday.A total of $15.4 billion in Korean-made ICT products were shipped overseas last month, up 17.4 percent from a year earlier, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning.(Yonhap)May's overseas shipments of ICT products posted a double-digit on-year in

June 14, 2017

LG Display tops large panel market for over 7 years

LG Display retained the world’s highest shipments of large panels for 30 consecutive quarters, a global market research company said Tuesday.LG Display, the world‘s largest liquid crystal display panel manufacturer, was first ranked No. 1 in the global large display panel market in the fourth quarter of 2009 and has maintained its position since then. In the first quarter this year, LG Display shipped 35.42 million units, which accounted for 21.4 percent of the global shipment of 9-inch or large

June 13, 2017

Korea’s MelOn introduces new player for Mac OS

South Korea’s most widely-used online music service platform MelOn has introduced a new music player specialized for Apple’s Mac operating system. 　MelOn on Tuesday officially launched Mac Player in Korea that supports not only music streaming but also music download functions, posing a challenge to Apple’s iTunes and Apple Music players.MelOn’s Mac Player has been optimized for the Mac OS, offering three player modes: “basic,” “mini” and “visual.” It also offers easy access to Melon’s signature

June 13, 2017

'Onmyoji' game for Kakao set for August release

“Onmyoji,” the hit 3-D mobile role-playing game that swept the Chinese and Japanese markets last year, is officially arriving in South Korea this summer through Kakao which hopes to cement the lead in game publishing.Korean mobile messaging giant Kakao on Tuesday announced that its mobile game publishing unit Kakao Games would begin servicing “Onmyoji for Kakao,” the localized version of the hit Chinese 3-D mobile role-playing game, in Korea from early August. Kakao Games CEO Namkoong Whon speak

June 13, 2017

ICT Minister nominee recognized for expertise, leadership

You Young-min, the nominee for science, ICT and future planning minister, is a software veteran with broad experience in the information technology industry. The nominee, 66, started his IT career in 1979 at LG Electronics, where he spent 25 years. You was among the first generation of chief information officers at Korean IT companies as he was appointed the CIO of LG Electronics in 1996.  Nominee for science, ICT and future planning minister, You Young-min (Yonhap)After serving as the vice pres

June 13, 2017

ICT ministry to spearhead 'fourth industrial revolution' in Moon administration

President Moon Jae-in's policy advisory panel said Tuesday that the ICT ministry will coordinate various policies related to the ongoing worldwide industrial transformation, dubbed the "fourth industrial revolution."Park Kwang-on, the spokesman for the State Affairs Planning Advisory Committee, said the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning will be the main government body to coordinate various plans for the next five years. Park Kwang-on, the spokesman for the State Affairs Planning Advi

June 13, 2017

KAIST develops power saving AI chips

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology has developed the world’s lowest-power-consuming artificial intelligence chips for facial recognition, the institute announced Tuesday. The “K-Eye” series has a wearable type that looks like a necklace and a dongle type that can be connected to a smartphone like a portable USB drive. The wearable K-Eye chip can also be connected to handsets via Bluetooth.  (Yonhap)The chip requires around 1 milliwatt of electricity to fully operate and recognize

June 13, 2017

Samsung, LG products set to become compatible

Samsung and LG’s home appliances and devices may become compatible with one another as early as this year, according to sources Tuesday. The two Korean tech giants are currently each developing products certified by the Open Connectivity Foundation, an industry group developing specification standards to connect devices made by different brands. The OCF, which was set up in February last year, currently has around 300 member firms including Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, Intel, Microsoft,

June 13, 2017

KT introduces ‘mother of all credit cards’

KT announced Tuesday the launch of an all-in-one smart card device, a new network-based financial platform the company expects to be a core business in the artificial intelligence and big data field.Dubbed “CLiP CARD,” the device looks like credit and debit cards issued by financial institutions, but it has a 1.3-inch display on the surface of the card that enables users to register all their cards, which are displayed in barcodes.CLiP CARD can store the information of up to 10 credit cards, 10

June 13, 2017

Endometriosis patient numbers on rise due to late marriage, childbirths: data

The number of endometriosis patients rose sharply in recent years due to late marriage and childbirths, stress and irregular lifestyles, with most of those affected in their 30s and 40s, data showed Tuesday.The number of those who were diagnosed as endometriosis patients by CHA Gangnam Medical Center in southern Seoul rose to 15,968 in 2016 from 3,184 in 2009, according to the hospital records. An undated file photo of an endometriosis patient surgery at a Seoul hospital. (Yonhap)Out of the 2017

June 13, 2017

Skin cancer cases soar some 40% over 4 years

The number of South Korean skin cancer patients has spiked nearly 40 percent over the past four years, flirting with the 20,000 mark, apparently due to increased sunlight exposure, data showed Tuesday.Skin cancer patients in the country numbered 19,435 at the end of last year, up 38 percent from four years earlier, according to the data from the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service.People in their 70s accounted for the largest portion of the total at 28 percent, trailed by sexagenarians

June 13, 2017

Scientists develop new 3D printing technology

A group of South Korean scientists have developed a new technology to print three-dimensional nano-sized electronic tubes, the state-run institute said Monday, a finding that may contribute to the development of wearable technologies such as bendable electronic devices.The team, led by Seol Seung-kwon at the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute, developed the printing technology using a new nozzle to print highly conductive 3D carbon nanotubes. (Photo courtesy of the Korea Electrotechnolog

June 12, 2017

'Lineage II Revolution' set for launch in 11 countries this week

South Korea’s Netmarble Games is slated to officially launch its megahit role-playing game “Lineage II Revolution” in 11 countries Wednesday, amid rising expectations that the foray into overseas markets will attract new players and boost the game’s falling revenue.Netmarble will begin offering “Lineage II Revolution” in 11 markets in Asia including Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore and the Philippines from Wednesday. The game is set to arrive in Japan within the third quarter and in China via Tencent

June 12, 2017

Samsung to help improve Mexico’s medical environment

Samsung Electronics has clinched a partnership with Carlos Slim Foundation to help improve the management of health records in Mexico, the company said Monday. Under the partnership, the South Korean electronics giant will provide 1,000 near field communication reader-embedded tablet PCs to digitalize vaccination records at the country’s health authorities.  Samsung Electronics Mexico President Jo Hong-sang (left) holds up a signboard with Carlos Slim Health Institute President Marco Antonia Sli

June 12, 2017

LG aims globally with cordless cleaner lineup

LG Electronics launched a new lineup of cordless vacuum cleaners Monday, saying it aimed to become a top-tier player in the global market for the appliances. The CordZero ART Series lineup includes the cordless hand-stick vacuum cleaner A9, the deep learning-applied robot cleaner R9 and canister vacuum cleaner T9. The A9 features suction power of 140 watts, the highest in the world for a cordless hand-stick cleaner, according to the company.  LG Electronics H&A Division President Song Dae-hyun (

June 12, 2017

KT to supply advanced internet service in Boston

Mobile carrier KT said Monday that it will launch its GiGa Wire service in Boston, Massachusetts, after signing a memorandum of understanding with US internet firm netBlazr and the city of Boston to participate in the Boston Digital Equity Project, a key policy of the city for a better internet environment.  KT CEO Hwang Chang-gyu (left) and Mayor Martin J. Walsh shake hands in Boston after signing a memorandum for the Boston Digital Equity Project in April. (KT)KT’s GiGA Wire offers speeds of u

June 12, 2017

Samsung chips set to beat Intel in Q2

Samsung Electronics Co. is expected to become the world's top chipmaker during the second quarter of this year, a report showed Saturday, beating its traditional rival Intel Corp."Following the rise in number of data centers and expanded demand of solid state drives (SSDs), Samsung is expected to become the No. 1 player in the global chip industry," said Lee Se-cheol, a researcher at NH Investment & Securities Co. (Yonhap)Intel took up 13 percent of the global market in the first quarter of 2016

June 10, 2017

[Weekender] Receptions of emoticons different by generation

Emoticons on mobile messengers have pandered to young South Koreans’ taste, becoming an inseparable part of their lives. But in a nation lush with ready-made emoticon packages, which cost some 3,000 won ($2.67) per package, perceptions or reactions to them can differ between generations, sometimes causing communication issues. Bae Hyeon-ji, 27, as many others her age, has a penchant for emoticons she finds “cute and fresh.” Having three to four new emoticon bundles ready for use each year, Bae,

June 9, 2017

[Weekender] A brief history of emoticons

Some are flashy, some move, and some even make sounds. Emoticons have become an inseparable means of delivering feelings and messages for mobile messenger and online users worldwide.Some 92 percent of the world’s online community are estimated to use emoticons, increasingly known by their Japanese name emoji, with over 6 billion of them sent every day, according to the 2015 Emoji Report released by marketing platform Emogi.They have developed alongside wireless telecommunications devices. The or

June 9, 2017