S. Korea to spend W560b to promote software sector this year

South Korea will invest over 560 billion won ($422.6 million) to foster software development companies and experts, with the goal of accelerating the country's push for digital innovation, the Science Ministry said. The Ministry of Science and ICT announced its plans for advancement of the software industry at an economic meeting Friday, intending to build on the fundamental strength of digitization and support the sector’s overseas expansion. Its yearly budget for the project stands

April 21, 2023

[Photo News] Samsung honors Korean War heroes

A video featuring Korean War heroes is displayed on a giant outdoor billboard Samsung Electronics set up in Times Square in New York on Thursday. Samsung released the video to mark the 70th anniversary of the South Korea-US alliance and the 1953 armistice agreement that brought about a cessation to the Korean War.

April 20, 2023

[Photo News] LG honors Korean War heroes

A video featuring 12 high-profile US and South Korean war veterans plays on LG Group’s giant billboard in the heart of Times Square in New York on Thursday. South Korea’s Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs made the video in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Korea-US alliance this year.

April 20, 2023

Samsung, LG resume talks on OLED partnership

Talks for a rare partnership between Samsung and LG appear to have been resumed recently as Samsung seeks to buy LG panels for its latest OLED TVs for the first time, according to industry sources on Thursday. “The two have resumed related talks ... with an aim to sign a deal by the end of the first half this year,” an industry source said on condition of anonymity. Samsung Electronics is reportedly interested in buying around 200,000 to 300,000 white OLEDs from LG Display, and when

April 20, 2023

Is Google Korea no longer dream workplace?

Google’s biggest round of layoffs across its global operations has forced workers into a game of chance to keep their jobs. Amid escalating job insecurity, a labor union has been set up at the Korean unit to organize some 850 workers and speak out their concerns. “With the ongoing job cuts within the US tech industry, employees have been concerned about their job security and decided to establish a union,” Kim Jong-sub, head of the Google Korea union, said upon its launch earli

April 20, 2023

[Photo News] Hyundai's lunar dream

Hyundai Motor Group on Thursday unveiled the concept image of a lunar exploration rover, signaling the auto giant's initiatives to develop future space mobility. Working with South Korea's leading institutes, Hyundai Motor said it expects to complete the development of a prototype in the second half of 2024, setting 2027 as the target year to launch the actual product. The lunar rover will be equipped with autonomous driving technology, a self-charging system based on solar power, and

April 20, 2023

EU Chips Act potential boon for Korean parts makers: ministry

South Korea's Industry Ministry said Wednesday the European Union's version of the Chips Act could provide as an "opportunity" for Korean manufacturers. The European Union agreed Tuesday to pass the 43 billion euro ($47 billion) Chips Act aimed at doubling the bloc's share of global chip output, from the current 9 percent to 20 percent by 2030. Countries around the world, such as the United States, China, Taiwan and South Korea, have been introducing state support progra

April 19, 2023

[Photo News] World IT Show kicks off

The latest home appliances are showcased by Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics at the World IT Show 2023 that kicked off Wednesday in Seoul. The nation’s two top tech giants set up exhibition booths to show off their latest home appliances and mobile devices at the tech trade show running through Friday. Above is LG’s MoodUp color-changing refrigerator, while below is a gaming zone for Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S23 smartphone.

April 19, 2023

Samsung reclaims No. 1 ranking in global smartphone sales

Samsung Electronics has regained the top spot in the global smartphone market in the first quarter of this year, slightly outpacing its archrival Apple, the No. 1 in the previous quarter, a report showed Wednesday. In the January-March period, Samsung held a market share of 22 percent, followed by Apple with 21 percent, according to the report released by market tracker Canalys. The South Korean tech giant was the “only leading vendor” to achieve a quarterly jump during the first thr

April 19, 2023

[Photo News] Robot for rehabilitation

Hyundai Motor said Wednesday that it held a ceremony to donate two units of the X-ble MEX, a wearable robot developed to help users exercise the lower body, to Asan Medical Center in Seoul. The wearable robots will be used to help with the treatment and rehabilitation of paraplegia patients, according to the company. Hyundai has trademarked X-ble as its wearable robot brand with the intention to expand the technology to various industries.

April 19, 2023

Samsung may ditch Google for Bing

Speculation is growing that Samsung Electronics may be ditching its close ties with Google by replacing the default search engine for its flagship Galaxy devices with Microsoft’s Bing which has been upgraded with OpenAI’s powerful chatbot, ChatGPT. According to industry sources and media reports on Tuesday, Samsung was considering switching to Bing last month, putting roughly $3 billion in annual revenue at risk for Google. Citing internal documents, the New York Times reported that

April 18, 2023

LG chief orders to bolster leadership in batteries

LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo inspected the cathode manufacturing plant of LG Chem, the group's chemical arm, on Tuesday, checking on the company's global supply strategy amid rising demand in the electric vehicle market. During his visit to the chemical firm's cathode manufacturing plant in Cheongju in North Chungcheong Province, Koo was briefed on the production and global supply strategy, LG said. “Cathodes are the foundation for securing a competitive edge in the batter

April 18, 2023

[KH Explains] Why Galaxy Watch won't support Samsung Pay in Korea for some time

The highly publicized debut of Apple Pay last month has prompted unexpected calls in South Korea for Samsung Pay to be usable with the Galaxy Watch. Apple Pay became available in March here nearly a decade after its debut in the US in 2014. All Apple mobile devices, including iPhones and Apple Watches, support the new feature based on near-field communication technology. Amid the buzz surrounding Apple Pay, a growing number of Galaxy Watch users are now wondering why they cannot use Samsung Pay

April 17, 2023

SpaceX seeks tie-up with telecom carriers

US space firm SpaceX, which is set to launch its low-orbit satellite communication service in South Korea within the second quarter, is seeking to work with the major telecom operators here, sources told The Korea Herald Monday. The Elon Musk-owned firm, approaching SK Telecom, KT Corp. and LG Uplus separately, had offered to sell its satellite internet network service, Starlink, to the telecoms firms, the sources said. The contract terms were not disclosed due to a nondisclosure agreement. As t

April 17, 2023

[Beyond Earth] ‘Space can give dreams to children’

Space is not just about new opportunities for future industry, but changing perspectives and presenting challenges and dreams for generations to come, says Paul Yun, a Korean American solar system ambassador for NASA. “What would be wise for Korea is to utilize space to its fullest to bring out every positive factor from it. If space can become a bigger area, not all smart children will be trying to go to medical school. If more children chase space-related dreams, Korea’s space ecos

April 17, 2023

[Photo News] Robot chefs

Doosan Robotics on Monday launched a food and beverage collaboration robot that can aid basic operations in the kitchen. According to the company, the robot arm can lift up and carry objects weighing up to 5 kilograms with an operational reach of 90 centimeters. Doosan Robotic said it will look to expand the application of the robot arm to bakeries and fast food restaurants.

April 17, 2023

[KH Explains] Is US-China rivalry spilling over to displays?

The rare visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to LG Display’s local manufacturing facility in China last week came as a surprise to South Korea’s display industry, raising both excitement and concerns over the intention behind the visit amid the intensifying Washington-Beijing tech rivalry. In his visit to the LG plant in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province on Wednesday, Xi underscored how China can provide an excellent ground for foreign businesses to thrive, and expressed hopes for fore

April 16, 2023

Samsung’s Neo QLED TVs receive carbon footprint certification

Samsung Electronics, the world's largest TV maker by shipments, said Sunday that six of its Neo quantum-dot light-emitting diode TVs have been globally certified for carbon footprint by Carbon Trust, a UK-based carbon management and reduction organization. The models -- three of its 75-inch Neo QLED 8K and three of its 75-inch Neo QLED 4K screens -- obtained the certification in recognition of Samsung’s efforts to reduce the products’ weight and power consumption compared to pr

April 16, 2023

[Photo News] Samsung wins 80 iF Design Awards

Samsung Electronics said Friday its Bespoke Infinite built-in home appliance lineup has snatched a gold award at the International Forum Design Award 2023. This year, the tech giant has won a total of 80 awards -- a record figure -- at the German design competition. (Samsung Electronics)

April 14, 2023

[KH Explains] NCSoft, Kakao Games clash over copyright infringement

NCSoft and Kakao Games -- two of the biggest game companies in South Korea -- are clashing over the issue of copyright infringement as the companies have taken the case to court. NCSoft filed a lawsuit against XL Games and its parent company Kakao Games with the Seoul Central District Court on April 5, claiming that the game developers’ ArcheAge War imitated the content and system of NCSoft’s Lineage 2M. NCSoft is seeking compensation of 1.1 billion won ($830,000), according to indus

April 13, 2023