[THE INVESTOR] Korea’s media regulator is planning to set up an independent organization to improve the TV license fee system of KBS, a state-run broadcaster, which will likely include a measure to charge smartphone users.The Korea Communications Commission will form an independent group dedicated to assessing the financial structure of state-run broadcaster KBS and improving the broadcasting firm’s TV license fee system, according to a briefing reported to the National Assembly on June 20.  The

Technology June 20, 2016

[THE INVESTOR] Hotel Lotte on Monday officially canceled its initial public offering scheduled for next month, as a large-scale embezzlement probe into the group and its affiliates deepened with emerging reports of confirmed wrongdoings.“We are pushing back our IPO to a later time and cancelling all remaining procedures in consideration of Lotte’s current circumstances and investor interests,” Hotel Lotte said in an emailed statement.“Listing the company is an integral part of reforming Lotte Gr

June 13, 2016

SHENZHEN, China -- Samsung Display’s latest automotive push may have come late but it is the right direction for its future profitability, a top analyst told The Korea Herald. “Car is becoming an electronic, smartphone-based device. And you need displays to go with it,” said Paul Gray, principal analyst of market research firm IHS.“Those applications are also far more valuable. You are working with companies where you can secure businesses for three to five years as opposed to consumer electroni

Technology June 11, 2016

[THE INVESTOR] Apple’s adoption of an organic-light emitting diode screen is renewing competition among display makers. According to recent news reports, Samsung has signed a deal with Apple to supply an annual 100 million OLED panels from the second quarter of next year for three years. Apple iPhone 6s Plus (Yonhap)“For now, Samsung is the only company that meets Apple’s strict product criteria. But considering its strategy of having multiple suppliers, LG and other display makers could share a

Technology June 10, 2016

[THE INVESTOR] Line Corp., a Tokyo-based mobile messenger platform owned by Korean Internet giant NHN Corp., will go public on main stock markets in New York and Tokyo next month, the company said Friday. In a regulatory filing, the company said it will start trading its shares on the Tokyo stock market on July 14th and in New York on 15th.The logo of mobile messenger Line. (Naver)The company will issue 35 million new shares offered at 2,800 yen ($26.20) per share. Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, Morga

Technology June 10, 2016

Following the historic Go match last month, which ended in a 4-1 victory for the artificial intelligence software AlphaGo, the AI software’s developer Google DeepMind has said that its next target could be real-time strategy game StarCraft.Over the past weeks, top officials from DeepMind, and Blizzard, the developer behind the online game, have met to have discussions for the possible return match between humanity and AI on a different battle field. Blizzard CEO Michael Morhaime. (Yonhap)During

Technology June 10, 2016

Korea's leading network operator KT Corp. said April 1 that it would beef up its partnership with China Mobile for the next-generation network 5G and connected network services.“Global cooperation is especially important to have future telecom technologies in place,” said KT chief executive Hwang Chang-gyu at a workshop held at the head office of China Mobile on Thursday.Hwang met China Mobile‘s top executives, including chairman Shang Bing, to discuss 5G initiatives and other pending network is

Technology June 10, 2016

Samsung Electronics and Swiss luxury jeweler de Grisogono have agreed to jointly launch a so-called “super-luxury” limited edition of the Samsung Gear S3, a next-generation smartwatch that is set for official release later this year. “We are currently collaborating with Samsung to develop its next-generation smartwatch,” a de Grisogono official told The Korea Herald. The Samsung Gear S2 by de Grisogono (de Grisigono official website)The official added that the jeweler was approached by Samsung,

Technology June 10, 2016

Ericsson-LG demonstrated the next-generation network 5G on May 12 in Korea, marking the first time that the network equipment manufacturer had showcased the network in the nation. The 5G network equipment used for the demonstration offered a peak download speed of 26 gigabit per second, around 350 times faster than the current Long-Term Evolution network.  Ericsson-LG demonstrates the 5G network in Korea on May 12. (Ericsson-LG)“I feel proud of the Ericsson-LG researchers at the Anyang R&D cente

Technology June 10, 2016