The Korea Herald

Korea in dilemma over Ebola precautions at ITU

The outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus appears to be having its toll on South Korea as it prepares to greet thousands of government officials and corporate executives later this month for the world’s biggest information technology meeting for members of the Geneva-based International Telecommunications Union. The government is seeking to take precautionary measures, but at the same time seems to be treading lightly to avoid tension with other ITU member countries. The dilemma surfaced when repor

Oct. 9, 2014

Korea in dilemma over Ebola precautions at ITU

How healthy lungs can bring longevity

The name of Korean traditional medicine doctor Seo Hyo-seok’s clinic, Pyunkang Korean Medicine Hospital, has a special meaning. The word ― Pyunkang ― in fact reflects the doctor’s philosophy and vision for Korean medicine. “Pyun” means tonsils, and “kang” means wellness. Together, the words means “tonsils at ease” or “healthy tonsils.”Seo, who has been researching lung-related diseases for the past 41 years, believes that healthy tonsils make for healthy lungs, and healthy lungs bring longevity.

Oct. 9, 2014

Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system due to the death of dopamine-generating cells in the substantia nigra of the brain. While tremor at rest, bradykinesia, muscle stiffness and postural reflex impairment are the four most common symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, the disease commonly causes various other symptoms. Parkinson’s disease is primarily diagnosed from the medical history and symptoms of the patient. Not everyone with certain suspected symptoms of

Oct. 9, 2014

U.S. child, 4, dies from enterovirus D68

NEW YORK (AFP) ― A 4-year-old boy in the northeastern U.S. state of New Jersey died suddenly and without warning as a result of the outbreak of a respiratory virus, enterovirus D68, officials said.Eli Waller, who lived in Hamilton Township, died on Sept. 25 but his cause of death was only diagnosed at the weekend.The youngest of triplets, he didn’t go to school during the day and went to bed with red eyes. He never woke up.“I think Eli’s case is an exception to the other cases in the country,” J

Oct. 9, 2014

U.S. child, 4, dies from enterovirus D68

Samsung Electronics named world's 7th most valuable brand

Samsung Electronics Co., a South Korean tech giant and the world's largest chipmaker, ranked seventh among the most valuable companies by brand value this year, according to the global brand consultancy Interbrand's Best 100 Global Brands report Thursday. Samsung Electronics' brand value rose 14.8 percent to US$45.5 billion this year compared to a year ago, double the average growth rate of the top 100 global brands. Its U.S. archrival Apple was valued at $118.9 billion, becoming No. 1 for the s

Oct. 9, 2014

Samsung seeks arbitration for Microsoft dispute

South Korea’s tech giant Samsung Electronics Co. filed for an arbitration with a Hong Kong-based international court for a patent fee dispute with U.S. Microsoft Corp., industry sources said Wednesday. Samsung is seeking the settlement at the International Court of Arbitration under the International Chamber of Commerce to resolve discord surrounding royalty payments under the two’s cross-licensing agreement, the source said.Microsoft responded that the most suitable place to settle the dispute

Oct. 8, 2014

Daum Kakao to adopt privacy mode on monitoring fears

Daum Kakao, the operator of South Korea’s most popular mobile messenger Kakao Talk, said Wednesday it plans to adopt a “privacy mode” in an apparent bid to allay users’ concerns about security.“The new privacy mode on Kakao Talk will encrypt chat records and erase received messages,” Daum Kakao said, adding that the service will be launched this year. The new feature will be available for users from all countries, it added.Under the new feature, which uses end-to-end encryption, chat records wil

Oct. 8, 2014

K-Tech, creative economy in Silicon Valley

Marking its third edition, Korea’s recent big showcase event in Silicon Valley, K-Tech 2014, focused on the Internet of Things ― and the “connected future.” Close to 1,000 people attended, along with more than 100 Korean companies, including more than 20 promising Korean startups. The event was quite successful. Vice Minister of Science, ICT and Future Planning Yoon Jong-lok offered his support to participating companies and briefed attendees on the Korean government’s policies on promoting the

Oct. 8, 2014

K-Tech, creative economy in Silicon Valley

SKT, Samsung develop real-time mobile streaming

SK Telecom said Wednesday that together with Samsung Electronics it has developed a technology enabling real-time mobile broadcast streaming, and has successfully demonstrated it on Long Term Evolution networks for the first time ever. South Korea’s largest mobile carrier and the tech giant applied the next-generation MPEG media transport, which has emerged as the standard video data transfer technology, to develop the so-called True Real Time Mobile Streaming.“The True Real Time Mobile Streamin

Oct. 8, 2014

Mobile glut slashes Samsung earnings

Samsung Electronics estimated its third-quarter operating profit will fall significantly as the company’s flagship smartphone business continued to struggle with market saturation and the emergence of strong new rivals. On Tuesday, the world’s largest smartphonemaker put its quarterly operating profit at 4.1 trillion won ($3.8 billion) to reflect an almost 60 percent fall on-year. The figure is about 43 percent lower than the 7.19 trillion won in operating profit in the second quarter, the firm

Oct. 7, 2014

Sony’s new action camera eyes Korean market

Sony, one of the world’s camera powerhouses, said it seeks to climb to the top of the Korean action camera market with its new model the AZ1. Weighing in at 63 grams, the AZ1 is smaller and lighter than previous models. It is also known as the Action Cam Mini, and is resistant to water, dust and impacts.Action cameras have been catching on as more people are looking to take clearer and more vivid digital pictures while enjoying the outdoors. “Action cameras will be more widely used to capture th

Oct. 7, 2014

Sony’s new action camera eyes Korean market

LG registers trademarks for ‘frame’ handsets

South Korea’s No. 2 tech giant LG Electronics has applied for trademarks for its G smartphone lineup at patent offices at home and in the United States, industry sources said Tuesday, suggesting a possible launch of metal-framed handsets.According to the sources, LG filed to register the trademarks “G Flex Frame,” “G Frame” and “F Frame” with the Korean Intellectual Property Office and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, raising the likelihood that LG’s next handset will focus on developments

Oct. 7, 2014

KT sets up high-speed network on remote island

IMJADO, South Jeolla Province ― KT, South Korea’s largest telecommunications company, has realized its “GiGAtopia” vision on this island off Korea’s southwest coast.After developing the necessary infrastructure for faster Internet connections over the last three months on Imjado, the telecom giant has enabled the island’s citizens to easily access information, view high-quality content and receive health care services.KT said Tuesday that the establishment of the so-called GiGA Island here was o

Oct. 7, 2014

KT sets up high-speed network on remote island

Samsung plans to invest W15.6tr in new chip plant

Samsung Electronics said Monday that it would invest about 15.6 trillion won ($15 billion) to build a chip plant in an industrial complex in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province.The South Korean tech giant will begin construction on the plant’s first manufacturing line on a 790,000-square-meter plot of land inside the 2.83-square-kilometer complex in the first half of next year. It will start producing chips in the second half of 2017.This marks the company’s biggest investment in chip production facil

Oct. 6, 2014

Samsung plans to invest W15.6tr in new chip plant

6 in 10 mothers experience postpartum depression

More than half of South Korean mothers go through postpartum depression within the first five years after childbirth, according to a study by Inha University.Of 1,332 mothers who gave birth in 2008, 60 percent said they suffered from depression at least once between 2008 and 2012.Some major risk factors for postpartum depression included child care stress, low self-esteem and a poor marital relationship. Depression during pregnancy, low self-esteem, an unhappy marriage and financial trouble rais

Oct. 6, 2014

Oriental therapy effective for pain management: study

Traditional oriental treatment of moxibustion can be effective in easing pain caused by chronic diseases like cancer, researchers studying Korean medicine said Monday.Moxibustion, referring to the use of moxa made from dried mugwort in pain management, was shown to be effective in about 75 percent of metastatic cancer patients, said professor Yoon Seong-woo of the Kyung Hee University Korean Medical Center in Seoul.Chronic pain from the fatal disease is considered one of the main hindrances of c

Oct. 6, 2014

(Photo News) Wider reach

Yu Kun-ha (right), head of the digital service center at Herald Corp., poses after signing a partnership agreement with Kim Kyu-tae, the senior managing director of the Association of High Potential Enterprises of Korea. The two sides will cooperate to globally promote Korean mid-sized firms. (Yoon Byung-chan/The Korea Herald)

Oct. 6, 2014

CrucialTec hosts global tech meeting

CrucialTec, one of the world’s leading fingerprint sensor developers, held a promotional event for the Fast IDentification Online Alliance, an international consortium for the standardization of authentication technology, on Monday in Seoul.Monday’s meeting was part of the lead-up to the FIDO Alliance plenary conference, scheduled to be held at CrucialTec’s head office in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province, from Tuesday to Thursday. The meeting is aimed at introducing the FIDO Alliance and its authentic

Oct. 6, 2014

LG to open sales of round smart watch in Korea

LG Electronics, South Korea’s No. 2 tech giant, said Monday it would start sales of its first round smart watch at home next week.The LG G Watch R, which was showcased at the IFA trade show last month, comes with a 1.3-inch full circle polymer-organic light-emitting diode screen. Powered by Android Wear, it comes with a heart-rate sensor, like flagship wearable devices by Samsung Electronics Co.The 410 mAh-battery model weighs 62 grams and comes only in black. The domestic factory price is fixed

Oct. 6, 2014

Samsung to pump 15.6 tln won into new chip line

South Korea's tech giant Samsung Electronics Co. said Monday it plans to invest some 15.6 trillion won (US$14.7 billion) to set up a new chipmaking facility in the northwestern part of the country to better meet the soaring global demands for chips.Samsung said it will break the ground on the new plant in Pyeongtaek, some 70 kilometers south of Seoul, in the first half of next year, with the aim of starting its commercial production in 2017. "The semiconductor industrial zone set to be establish

Oct. 6, 2014