[Weekender] Deep learning paves way for new era of AI

Coupled with artificial intelligence, deep learning has been making headlines recently with tech giants such as Google and Facebook turning to the technology to come up with futuristic solutions.Some have expressed concerns about computers ultimately outsmarting and dominating humans, as in many science-fiction scenarios. But as the saying by Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu goes, if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles.So, with that in mind,

TechnologyMarch 4, 2016

[Weekender] Unconventional talent Lee Se-dol

Go players Cho Hun-hyun, Lee Chang-ho and Lee Se-dol are familiar names even to Koreans who are not well-versed with the game. The three have dominated international Go competitions since the 1980s, one after another, starting from the eldest Cho. Lee Se-dol, 33, the newest generation of the three, is still making a name for himself as one of the highest earners in the world. Lee, born to a father who was a five dan player, began to learn Go when he was five. He dropped out of middle school to c

TechnologyMarch 4, 2016

[Weekender] AlphaGo’s win would mark AI watershed

Expectations are running high in the technology sector with the upcoming battle between a human Go champion and a computer program. Go is a board game in which two players place black and white stones on empty intersections or points of a board that is lined with a 19-by-19 grid. Google’s artificial-intelligence program AlphaGo garnered media attention after defeating a professional Go player in October for the first time in an even match.(123rf)It has been about six months since that first vict

TechnologyMarch 4, 2016

[Weekender] Mixed outlook for human-versus-AI match

In the lead up to the historic match between the world’s top Go player Lee Se-dol and Google DeepMind’s artificial intelligence computer AlphaGo, there are mixed views among experts about who will emerge victorious. Experts in the Go field -- including Lee Se-dol himself – said that the human will be the winner of the five-game match, which kicks off on March 9. The professional Go player predicted a 5-0 or 4-1 victory in his favor during a press briefing on Feb. 22. Showing confidence in winnin

TechnologyMarch 4, 2016

[Weekender] Online ‘salty-tech’ communities spice up thrifty consumerism

The word “frugality” has long had a poor reputation as its association with a similar word “stingy” has often bestowed a negative connotation on its meaning. However, in 2016, the word “frugality” has been rising in importance due to the prolonged economic difficulties that consumers are facing. The Bank of Korea’s consumer sentiment index hit an eight-month low in February, indicating that Korean consumers have become more frugal to adjust to the sluggish economy. Faced with cold hardship, comm

IndustryFeb. 26, 2016

[Weekender] An era of prosumers

People have transitioned from being consumers to prosumers more than ever today.Infact, the term prosumers -- coined by Alvin Toffler -- is now considered the apex of consumerism.The American writer and futurist noted in his 1980 book, “The Third Wave,” that prosumers -- people who produce many of their own goods and services -- will replace the declining number of pure consumers in the future.They truly influence the products, rather than bluntly picking up what the producers offer. Consumers b

IndustryFeb. 26, 2016

[Weekender] Moving away from brand consciousness

For Kim Min-sun, being a stylish person does not mean owning luxury designer bags. The 35-year-old office worker in Seoul does not feel a need to purchase high-end purses anymore, not just because of the hefty price tags but also because she no longer sees much value in them. “I think the time has come, when logo plays are not cool anymore,” she said. “It is the value of the product that matters now. I think more about what I really want instead of how to impress others by showing off luxury ite

IndustryFeb. 26, 2016

[Weekender] Rise of new consumers

For a long time, the needs of consumers have been overshadowed by technological improvements, conspicuous marketing strategies and other factors. Finally, they have returned to the center of business activities.But they are a rather new breed. Amid the global economic slowdown, consumers now opt for pragmatism. They do not opt to be stingy in their spending, but they are ditching spending on impractical things. When they shop, they calculate the cost efficiency of products. They swap “prettiness

IndustryFeb. 26, 2016

[Weekender] Moveable feasts: Street foods shed humble beginings

Cheese-topped lobster, grilled steak, steaming bowls of Vietnamese rice noodle and deep-fried whole squid on a stick -- these are but some of the foods from around the globe that can be had on the go on Seoul streets.Myeong-dong and Hongdae neighborhoods today boast street foods that have shed any trace of their humble origins as a cheap, quick bite for people short of money and time. Even staple street foods like tteokbokki and fishcakes have been given new twists -- spicy tteokbokki served smo

FoodFeb. 19, 2016

[Weekender] Seoul City pushes to legalize street vendors for better control

Trying out diverse types of street food may be tempting, especially for tourists who wish to experience Korea‘s unique food culture. About 8,000 street vendors operate in Seoul, mostly food vendors, attracting visitors with a wide variety of offerings ranging from Korean traditional desserts to hot meals.Most of them, however, are illegal, as occupying streets with unauthorized facilities is officially banned in Korea. Acknowledging the public’s complaints over the overcrowding of the city’s maj

FoodFeb. 19, 2016

[Weekender] Newly legalized food trucks face systemic hurdles in Korea

Korea is famous the world over for its vibrant street food culture, with stalls, carts and booths selling time-tested delicacies at every turn. So it may come as a surprise to some that food trucks -- vehicles outfitted to accommodate cooking facilities -- were just legalized in Korea in August 2014 as a part of the deregulation efforts pushed by the Park Geun-hye administration.Although food trucks were touted as a way to increase opportunities for young entrepreneurs who may not have the capit

FoodFeb. 19, 2016

[Weekender] Readiness key to crisis management: expert

With disaster risks, social media and other mounting challenges, the government and businesses should strive for a systematic, across-the-board change to better forecast crisis and improve their readiness, a leading crisis management consultant said Thursday. 　“In crisis management, there are only two sides -- those who are prepared, and those who are not,” said Yu Min-yeong, chief executive and a partner of Acase. 　 Yu Min-yeong (Song Sang-ho/The Korea Herald)“The readiness would determine your

Social AffairsFeb. 12, 2016

[Weekender] Social media amplifies risks

123rfKang Min-woo’s social media accounts were once filled with snippets of his everyday life. He would post selfies, details of his daily activities and share about coffee shop and restaurants that he frequented.　This has since changed as Kang now sees more pitfalls than benefits to the social networking services which were once a crucial conduit for the 24-year-old college student to share about his day-to-day life with relatives, friends and acquaintances. 　“I used to put my personal informat

Social AffairsFeb. 12, 2016

[Weekender] Ready or not? Korea fails in crisis management

In April 16, 2014, ferry Sewol plunged to the bottom of the sea, leaving 304 dead or missing. The nation’s spirit shattered and authorities were humiliated in their search for answers on why they were unable to save most of the passengers while the ship sank slowly for hours.　The disaster revealed glaring problems in the Korean government’s risk and crisis management capabilities. There is the late response of the authorities, the blame games played by officials in the aftermath of the disaster

Social AffairsFeb. 12, 2016

[Weekender] Ferry, germs and nuts: Korea’s risky management of crisis

123rfThousands of stranded travelers sprawled languidly on the frosty floors of the snowbound Jejudo Island airport late last month, awaiting their flights and wrapped in thin blankets or even cardboard boxes with no promise of when they would take off.  　As the record snowfall grounded nearly 90,000 passengers by its third day, dozens of infuriated tourists occupied a local budget carrier desk, decrying its lack of prior notice and mishandling of the situation, also demanding lodging and food.

Social AffairsFeb. 12, 2016

[Weekender] Seollal Screenings

After spending countless hours in the kitchen or in front of the TV, most families want to spend a day outside having fun together. The most accessible source of entertainment is the movie theater, where you can catch a film that everyone in the family can enjoy. The Korea Herald offers a short guide to the best movies for a family outing.Commanding nearly 70 percent of ticket bookings as of Thursday, Lee Il-hyung’s crime comedy “A Violent Prosecutor” looks set to be the top film during this hol

FilmFeb. 5, 2016

[Weekender] Even better than the real thing?

Virtual reality is a technology that creates the illusion of being fully immerged in the simulated worlds. But the profit potential from the burgeoning industry is becoming less and less of an illusion. Goldman Sachs recently predicted virtual reality, coupled with augmented reality, would become an $80 billion industry by 2025, possibly overtaking the TV market by 2026.“As the technology advances, price points decline, and an entire new marketplace of applications hit the market, we believe vir

TechnologyJan. 29, 2016

[Weekender] Tech giants dive into virtual reality race

Odds are you may think that virtual reality was developed in recent years. But it has long existed in different forms, arguably stretching back to the 360-degree murals of the 19th century and the stereoscope View-Master made in 1939. The term virtual reality is said to have been coined in the mid-1900s and augmented reality, which overlays 3-D images over the real world, came along in the 1950s. Visitors wear Samsung Electronics' Gear VR headsets at the company's 4-D theater at the CES trade sh

TechnologyJan. 29, 2016

[Weekender] K-pop stars bet big on hologram to expand global reach

Hologram concert of G-Dragon in Play K-pop (D'strict)Korea’s record label giants SM Entertainment and YG Entertainment are betting big on hologram technologies to better satisfy their global fans’ needs and create new cash cows. They are hoping virtual reality technology can be a substitute for K-pop stars, who are not able to cater to all the needs of fans globally. The nation’s largest record label, SM Entertainment, took the lead in going virtual. The firm launched a hologram concert of its h

TechnologyJan. 29, 2016

[Weekender] The art of traditional Korean liquor

Savoring traditional Korean soju requires five steps, similar to wine tasting. You have to look at the color, smell the aroma, sip and hold it in the mouth for several seconds before letting it slide down the throat and enjoying the slowly spreading scent inside the nose and throat. “A good soju is soft and makes you smile,” said artisan Kim Taek-sang at his brewing studio at Samcheong-ro in Jongno, central Seoul. Kim, who was named Seoul Intangible Cultural Asset No. 8 in 1990, has carried on t

CultureJan. 22, 2016