[Photo News] After Sokcho, Pokemon Go now operational in Ulsan

 CATCHING POKEMON IN ULSAN — Citizens play Nintendo’s augmented-reality mobile game “Pokemon Go” in Ganjeolgot, a coastal park in the southeastern city of Ulsan in South Korea on Friday. "Pokemon Go" became partially operational in the area from Friday, as the game officially began service in nearby Japan the same day. The game has yet to officially launch in Korea, though it works in certain cities such as Sokcho and Ulsan as the game’s GPS signal is active there. (Yonhap)CATCHING POKEMON IN UL

July 23, 2016

[Photo News] Global International Partner Meeting

Kim Young-pill (third from right), a president of Green Cross Medical Science, a subsidiary of Korean biopharmaceutical company Green Cross, poses with foreign clients, who attended the conference held at its headquarters located in Yongin City on Thursday. (Green Cross Medical Science)　　

July 22, 2016

[Photo News] Faster wifi connection

KT Corp., Korea‘s second-largest mobile carrier, is launching GiGA WiFi 2.0 which enables mobile users to use wireless Internet services with speeds of up to 1.73 Gbps, the firm said Friday. (KT Corp.)

July 22, 2016

Samsung Electro-Mechanics to invest W263b in chip technology

[THE INVESTOR] Electronic components firm Samsung Electro-Mechanics said on July 22 that it would invest 263.2 billion won (US$231.90 million) in beefing up its capability in chip packaging, an encapsulation process aimed at preventing erosion and damage.The investment amount accounts for 6.1 percent of the firm’s equity. Through the investment, Samsung Electro-Mechanics will develop the next-generation chip packaging facilities, which will be deployed at Samsung Display’s manufacturing complex

July 22, 2016

Galaxy Note 7 focused on cost cutting: analysts

The latest version of Samsung Electronics Co.'s Galaxy Note smartphone appears to focus on saving costs, rather than delivering cutting-edge functions, industry sources said Friday. The Galaxy Note 7 smartphone, which is expected to be released on Aug. 2 in New York, is likely to show similar features with the Galaxy Note 5 in terms of its design and functions, according to the industry sources.Although the camera and battery life of the Galaxy Note 7 are likely to be better than its predecessor

July 22, 2016

Samsung urged to beef up OLED production on soaring China demand

[THE INVESTOR] It seems unavoidable for Samsung Display, the display-making unit of Samsung Electronics, to further beef up production of its organic light-emitting diode panels on soaring demand from China’s smartphone manufacturers. UBI Research, a local market research firm specialized on OLED, predicted that the Chinese demand for mobile OLED could surge to some 200 million units next year. Samsung Galaxy S7 with OLED display. Apple iPhone’s planned adoption of OLED screen possibly from next

July 22, 2016

Legal battle escalates between Samsung, Huawei

[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electronics has recently filed a suit against Huawei and its key retailer for patent infringements, escalating the legal battle between the two rival smartphone-makers. According to industry sources on July 22, the Korean tech giant sued Huawei for infringing its six patents, including those on mobile communication systems information control, and the retailer for selling the products. They involve Huawei’s key models such as Mate 8 and Honor series phones. Samsung asked e

July 22, 2016

Samsung acquires 2% stake in BYD

[THE INVESTOR] China’s largest electric car maker BYD on July 21 announced that Shanghai Samsung Semiconductor, a unit of Samsung Electronics, has acquired its 52.3 million shares for 3 billion yuan (US$450 million). With the acquisition, Samsung has become BYD’s ninth-largest shareholder with a 1.92 percent stake. BYD, which started as a rechargeable battery maker, is currently the largest EV maker not just in China but also globally. BYD’s 2016 full-electric and hybrid vehicle lineup“The lates

July 22, 2016

Incheon's international district attracts drone development

An international town near the country's western coast is turning into a mecca for drone fans and companies as its governing city begins a project next year to build an aeronautics industry complex, officials said Friday.More than 10 firms that develop components for drones have set up offices at the Songdo International Business District in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul, over the past two years, according to the city officials.Internet communities and bloggers are calling the district on

July 22, 2016

LG to supply telematics systems to Toyota

[THE INVESTOR] LG Electronics will supply telematics systems that support wireless Internet in cars to Japan’s Toyota Motor, according to news reports on July 22. The company’s vehicle component business division has recently signed a deal with the Japanese auto giant to produce telematics systems to be equipped in Toyota vehicles sold in Japan and North America. LG ElectronicsLG is No. 1 player in the global telematics market with some 30 percent market share. The company will supply 11 key par

July 22, 2016

Mobile carriers accused of profiteering with overpriced USIM chips

[THE INVESTOR] A consumer group claimed on July 21 that South Korea’s three largest mobile carriers --SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus -- have made excessive profits by overpricing USIM chips for smartphones.“Utilizing their monopolistic position in the mobile market, the three firms are alleged to have earned 117.3 billion won (US$103.20 million) of unjust profits over the past two years and three months,” said Green Consumer Network in Korea. The head office of SK Telecom in Seoul The figure is bas

July 22, 2016

Antitrust watchdog raids Google Korea office

[THE INVESTOR] The Fair Trade Commission, the nation’s antitrust regulator, raided Internet giant Google’s Korean head office in Gangnam on July 21 as part of its investigation into allegations that the global Internet giant twisted the arms of local smartphone-makers -- Samsung and LG -- to preinstall its apps on their handsets. Google is also accused of pressuring local mobile game developers to utilize AdMob, a game ad platform run by Google. The firm, whose Android operating system has an ov

July 22, 2016

470 start-ups registered over W100b revenue in 2015

[THE INVESTOR] The number of South Korean start-ups with annual revenue of 100 billion won (US$87.9 million) or more surpassed 470 last year, data showed on July 21. A total of 474 startups saw their annual revenues exceed 100 billion won last year, up 14 from the previous year, according to the data jointly released by the Small and Medium Business Administration and the Korea Venture Business Association.  Korea`s main financial district in Yeouido, Seoul (Korea Herald file photo)Whisky brand

July 21, 2016

[Photo News] A cool half-million

Models celebrate surpassing 500,000 sales of Samsung Electronics’ premium refrigerators at an event in Seoul on Thursday. (Yonhap)

July 21, 2016

[DECODED] Samsung still retains automotive ambition

[THE INVESTOR] Renault Samsung Motors is a curious name for many foreign consumers even though they may be well aware that Samsung is not making cars. Back in 2000, right after the Asian financial crisis hit the nation hard, France’s Renault Group acquired then troubled Samsung Motor from Samsung Group. The deal price was 615 billion won ($562 million). Despite the sell-off, Samsung Card, the credit card unit, purchased a 19.9 percent stake in the company and has maintained the share until now.

July 21, 2016

Korea’s first virtual reality cafe to open in Gangnam

[THE INVESTOR] The first virtual reality cafe in the country will be set up in Gangnam, a posh shopping and business district in southern Seoul.Named VR Plus Show Room, the cafe will open on July 22. It will be fitted with 102 desktops, four Oculus Rifts, and four HTC Vibes.A private firm called VR Plus will run the cafe, and is expected to offer a range of virtual reality content free of charge for an unspecified period of time.“I hope the first VR cafe will become a venue where users and virtu

July 21, 2016

LG Chem to acquire adhesive business from LG Hausys

[THE INVESTOR] LG Chem, the chemicals and battery-making unit of LG Group, said on July 21 it has decided to acquire the adhesive film business from LG Hausys, a sister firm specialized in construction materials. The purchase price is 80.5 billion won (US$70.70 million) and the final deal will be signed on Aug. 31. LG Chem currently produces some adhesive products that are used to stick polarizers to display panels. With the latest deal, the company said it aims to diversify its business areas i

July 21, 2016

LG Electronics completes relocation of European HQ to Eschborn in Germany

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean tech giant LG Electronics has recently completed the relocation of its European headquarters from London to Germany’s Eschborn, an official from the tech firm said on Thursday. “LG has already completed the relocation process of the European head office to Germany,” Cho Joong-kwon, an LG Electronics spokesperson, said.  LG Electronics’ head office in Seoul. (Yonhap)The relocation marked the second of its kind in less than a year since the firm announced its plan to mo

July 21, 2016

[DECODED] Samsung bets future on biopharmaceuticals

South Korean electronics giant Samsung Group is looking to make its mark in a new, promising field — biopharmaceuticals. At the heart of the push are the tech conglomerate's two young units — Samsung BioLogics and Samsung Bioepis.The former, founded in 2011, is a contract manufacturer of biologic drugs developed by pharmaceutical companies around the world while the latter, established in 2012, focuses on developing biosimilars — near-replicas of complex biologic drugs that have lost patent prot

July 21, 2016