LG Uplus braces for 5G era

The chief of LG Uplus, the nation’s third-largest mobile carrier, pledged that the company would make the utmost effort not to be left behind in the era of fifth-generation networks. “We are standing at the tipping point of the 5G era where we will see the biggest changes unfold down the road,” LG Uplus vice chairman Lee Sang-chul said at an annual year-end media conference in Seoul Friday, vowing to brace for the next phase of the mobile network business. “How we are getting ourselves prepared

Dec. 7, 2014

Korea reveals new ICT vision

The South Korean government has set forth a new vision for enabling the country to achieve sustainability through information technology amid the dawning of the Internet of Things era.In an event commemorating the country’s achievement of connecting the society through IT since 1984 in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province, Friday, the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning unveiled a road map for the future of Korea’s technology.The five strategic visions are: developing a digital market where everyo

Dec. 5, 2014

Samsung makes fewest executive promotions in six years

Samsung Group on Thursday announced its annual reshuffle, promoting 353 executives. The number of the promotions ― down from 476 in last year’s reshuffle and the lowest since 2008 ― signaled the conglomerate’s drive to streamline some of its oversized businesses including its sluggish mobile business wing, according to industry officials.“Samsung, as usual, rewarded those who had achieved great performance this year, and tried to keep the growth momentum by promoting executives in a wider range

Dec. 4, 2014

Ireland pushes Europe’s antismoking drive with plain packaging plan

DUBLIN (AFP) ― Ten years since setting a trend with its workplace smoking ban, Ireland is pushing ahead to be the first EU state with plain packaging for cigarettes despite fierce opposition from tobacco companies.As part of Dublin’s plan to make Ireland a smoke-free society by 2025 ― meaning a prevalence rate of under 5 percent ― lawmakers will vote to introduce plain packaging in the new year.Under the draft legislation before parliament, all forms of branding, including logos and colors, woul

Dec. 3, 2014

[Herald Interview] Singaporean start-up Subnero takes Internet underwater

Imagine people exploring the deep sea, taking pictures of the underwater landscape and exotic sea creatures and using Wi-Fi networks to share them on the spot through social media sites such as Facebook.Slowly but steadily, the underwater wireless communications technology environment is becoming a reality thanks to Singapore-based start-up Subnero’s pioneering researchers.Subnero’s wireless nodes. (Subnero)The 2-year-old start-up is dreaming of a new Internet revolution deep down in the ocean. 

Dec. 3, 2014

Daum Games to release blockbuster ‘Black Desert’

Daum Games said Tuesday that together with its developing partner Pearl Abyss, it will launch the long-awaited massively multiplayer online role-playing game “Black Desert” on Dec. 17.After developing what many expect to be a blockbuster PC MMORPG for more than four years, Daum Games and Pearl Abyss said they are putting the finishing touches on the game to make its fantasy world and characters more realistic.Their priority is to provide new gaming experiences to players in Korea by making sure

Dec. 2, 2014

Swedish air purifier-maker targets premium consumers

Swedish air purifier-maker Blueair has launched new models in South Korea to compete against premium products made by local rivals such as Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and Winix.The chief of the Swedish firm is confident that the new Blueair E series ― the 650E, 450E and 270E ― would appeal to Korean consumers. “Our vision is to enable people to breathe clean air, which is a basic human right,” said Bengt Rittri, the chief executive of Blueair at a media conference held in Seoul Tuesday.

Dec. 2, 2014

3 Samsung mobile biz executives to resign

Top executives at Samsung Electronics’ mobile business unit will step down to take responsibility for the sluggish mobile business this year, according to sources Monday. Market watchers had expected the anticipated reshuffling, as Samsung had signaled that it would take action to streamline its oversized mobile business down the road. Lee Don-joo, chief of the mobile business unit’s strategic marketing office, Kim Jae-kwon, chief of the global operations office and Lee Chul-hwan, head of the mo

Dec. 1, 2014

Battle escalates over video traffic

Google’s YouTube is about to lose its luster in South Korea as it failed to seal a deal with domestic broadcasting companies to provide Korean content.The two sides were unable to narrow their differences over profit-sharing and content management. Smart Media Rep, a broadcasters’ alliance launched by TV networks MBC and SBS, demanded that Google share more value generated from the group’s content on YouTube, given that they were pouring more resources into creating videos amid rising production

Nov. 30, 2014

LG Group reshuffles key executives

LG Group, the nation’s fourth-largest conglomerate, said Thursday that it had conducted its annual executive reshuffle and appointed LG Electronics home entertainment president Ha Hyun-hwoi as LG Corp. president.Ha’s new role at LG Corp., the holding company of the group, will include serving as deputy for LG Group chairman Koo Bon-moo. Ha has headed LG Electronics’ home entertainment unit since early this year, and has been credited with launching the tech giant’s strategic products such as nex

Nov. 27, 2014

Goldman Sachs invests in firm behind Korean food delivery service app

Woowa Brothers, the operator of South Korea’s largest mobile food ordering and delivery service app, Baedal Minjok, said Thursday it has raised 40 billion won ($36 million) from U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs in a new funding round.The investment bank said it will have additional funding plans for the Korean startups, which are based on an innovative idea, to help it beef up marketing efforts and increase its footing in the global markets. “With the new round of investment, Woowa Brothers wi

Nov. 27, 2014