The Korea Herald

Telecoms irked by free text plan

Regulator under fire for not consulting industry playersThe government’s latest hints that it might try to offer text messaging for free were met with fierce protests from local telecom operators, according to industry watchers. KT Corp., SK Telecom and LG Uplus all appeared to be upset by recent remarks from Choi See-joong, chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, who told lawmakers Wedne

Industry April 14, 2011

Apple to stay ahead in tablet boom: Gartner

Industry April 12, 2011

Cyworld back in the game with robust profit

Korea’s SNS pioneer plans to regain lost glory with mobile apps, acornsCyworld, in many ways a Korean pioneer in social networking services, is back with a vengeance this year on the back of robust “acorn” sales and closer collaboration with up-and-coming technology. Acorn ― “dotori” in Korean ― is the unit of virtual money that Cyworld users spend on all sorts of items for decorating and personal

Industry April 12, 2011

Cyworld back in the game with robust profit

3-D industry waiting for cue on adult content

The success of “Sex and Zen” is most likely to mark a watershed moment in the 3-D industry as the fate of adult movies seems to be hinging on the movie’s performance.“It’s a matter of time, but we are in dire need of some concrete evidence to accept that 3-D adult entertainment will take off in earnest,” said Han Dong-hoon, a spokesperson for N’tree Media, an adult-image content provider. “Sex and

Industry April 11, 2011

Home prices, rents grow faster than income

In Korea, it takes more than a decade for the average salaried worker to buy his or her own house, as numerous surveys have shown over the years. But now it looks like renting homes has become equally trying, according to data released by a local property-information portal on Friday. Real Estate Bank said “jeonse” costs are surging as more people opt to rent homes instead of buying them, not to m

Industry April 8, 2011

[News focus] Seoul faced with calls to slash oil taxes

Government twists refiners’ arms but under fire for failing to share responsibilityThe heat is increasingly being turned on the government for failing to curb the soaring gas prices, especially as critics are pounding Seoul for failing to address a more direct cause of the price increase ― the high taxes slapped onto gas. Instead, the government has turned to twisting the arms of local refiners to

April 8, 2011

[News focus] Seoul faced with calls to slash oil taxes

Shinsegae heir ready to tie the knot again?

Rumors fly over Shinsegae heir marriage plansBy Kim Ji-hyunChung Yong-jin, 42, vice chairman of Shinsegae Group, may be ready to tie the knot -- again -- this time with flutist Han Ji-hee, according to inside sources.Sources said that Han, 30, and Chung are making preparations for a wedding ceremony next month. Chung’s fiancee teaches at Sungshin Women’s University and has studied in Austria, Fran

Industry April 8, 2011

Shinsegae heir ready to tie the knot again?

Fourth KAIST student commits suicide

Another student at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, one of the nation’s most distinguished academic institutions, committed suicide, the police said on Thursday. The student identified by his surname Park was the fourth at the school to take his own life this year. The police said the 18-year-old was found by a passer-by in front of an apartment building in Incheon at around

Social Affairs April 8, 2011

Another S. Korean confirmed dead in Japanese quake

Another South Korean has been confirmed dead in the aftermath of Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday, bringing South Korea's death toll to five. The ministry identified the victim as a 67-year-old surnamed Bae. No further personal details were given. The quake struck Japan on March 11, unleashing a gigantic tsunami that swept ships, cars and homes

Social Affairs April 7, 2011

N. Korea fails to promote leader's son

North Korea's parliament ended a closely monitored session Thursday without promoting ailing leader Kim Jong-il's heir-apparent son to another top post. There had been speculation that the 69-year-old leader could appoint his third son, Kim Jong-un, as a member of the powerful National Defense Commission in Thursday's session to bolster another hereditary power succession. The session was the

National April 7, 2011

Samsung Electronics’ Q1 hit by LCD prices, tablet sales

The first quarter operating profit of Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest maker of TVs and flat-screen monitors, stood at 2.9 trillion won ($2.66 billion) to mark its smallest quarterly revenue in seven quarters after falling 34 percent from a year earlier, the company said on Thursday.Sales were at 37 trillion won, up 6.8 percent year-on-year, according to Samsung during an earnings guidance

Industry April 7, 2011

Samsung Electronics’ Q1 hit by LCD prices, tablet sales

LG Chem plant boosts global leadership

CEO says company will seek to supply electric-car batteries to Japanese firmsOCHANG, North Chungcheong Province ― LG Chem, the nation’s largest chemical company, sees South Korea having a global edge as a supplier of lithium batteries for electric vehicles, including in markets such as Japan. Renewing the firm’s pledge to join hands with international carmakers to lead the world’s battery industry

Industry April 7, 2011

Hotel Shilla faces tax audit: officials

The National Tax Service has launched an inspection into Hotel Shilla, led by Samsung Electronics chairman Lee Kun-hee’s eldest daughter Lee Boo-jin, officials said Tuesday.The first tax inquiry into the company since 2006 is expected to focus on recent business developments, including its successful negotiations with Louis Vuitton to open a store for the French designer brand in Incheon Internati

Industry April 5, 2011

Ho-Am prize recognizes social contributions

Ho-Am Foundation on Tuesday awarded the Ho-Am Prize to four individuals and one institution to recognize their contribution to improving human lives and promoting public welfare.This year’s prizes went to Professor Ha Taek-jip of the University of Illinois for science, Professor Thomas Lee of Standford University for engineering, Professor Augustine Choi of Harvard Medical School for medicine, vio

Industry April 5, 2011

Ho-Am prize recognizes social contributions

Consumer prices rise at record pace

South Korea’s consumer prices rose by the fastest pace in 29 months, fanning the growing fears of an inflation rate that could put a damper on the nation’s economic growth. Statistics Korea said on Friday that the country’s consumer price index surged 4.7 percent last month from a year earlier, marking the fastest on-year increase since the 4.8 percent recorded in October 2008. From February, cons

April 1, 2011

Articles by 김지현