Consumer electronics such as smartphones and toothbrushes are not the only things that can be charged wirelessly anymore. Korean researchers have developed ways to adapt such technology into high-speed railways.The Korea Railroad Research Institute recently introduced the world’s first bullet train that can be powered wirelessly without overhead electric grids, in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province. The researcher demonstrated the so-called online electric train, named “Hemu,” equipped with the wireless

Technology May 21, 2014

MSIP director general Min Won-kiOn May 17, the world celebrated World Telecommunications and Information Society Day. The United Nations established the day to recognize the ever-increasing impact of information and communications technologies in our daily lives. The theme of this year’s WTISD was “Broadband for Sustainable Development.”In recognition of Korea’s contribution to broadband, the United Nations’ International Telecommunications Union recognized President Park Geun-hye as a laureate

Technology May 18, 2014

Samsung Medical Center said Sunday that it was considering moving Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee to a general ward from an intensive care unit as his health appeared to be improving. The hospital also said in a statement that the cardiac procedure for Lee went very well, and that he is currently stable.  A hallway in the VIP ward on the 20th floor at Samsung Medical Center. (Kim Young-won)　The statement came after rumors went viral last Friday that the chairman had passed away after an online medi

Business May 18, 2014

Korea’s three mobile carriers are set to face off in a fierce race to attract and secure customers as SK Telecom and LG Uplus resume operations next week after business suspensions for doling out excessive subsidies.KT, the No. 2 player, has been the only one operating since April 27, and has successfully attracted subscribers away from its competitors.The company saw some 194,000 customers, or around 11,000 a day, switch to its services during the 17 days since it restarted its operations.This

Technology May 15, 2014

Line characters in Hong Kong (Naver)Local Internet giant Naver has opened a pop-up store in Hong Kong featuring products of characters from its Line mobile messenger. The company said the store is the fifth of its kind overseas after Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. “The long lines in front of the shop to buy Line’s character products show the rising popularity of Line and its characters in Hong Kong,” a Line spokesperson said. “The popularity now matches those in Japan, Thailand and Ta

Technology May 15, 2014

Character merchandising used to be a business belonging to traditional content producers with established retail distribution channels, such as Disney and Warner Bros.That is no longer the case, thanks in part to mobile and software technology that has allowed everyone, including mobile messaging services, to break into the character business both online and offline.KakaoTalk and Line, Korea’s two biggest mobile messaging services, are bringing their unique and funny characters from their chat s

Technology May 14, 2014

Internet giant Google made the Asian debut of its streaming stick, Chromecast, in Korea on Tuesday.The device-to-TV casting dongle, priced at 49,900 won ($48.80), enables smartphone or tablet PC users to watch YouTube videos or movies purchased on the Google Play application platform on TV screens, the company said. Casting to the TV is currently only available on certain applications, including local streaming services Tving and Hoppin, but Google plans to expand its collaboration with other co

Technology May 14, 2014

LG Group chairman Koo Bon-moo stressed the importance of fundamentals at work during a seminar with executives on Tuesday. His comments came at time when safety concerns, raised by the recent ferry disaster, have swept the nation. “We must pay the keenest attention to the fundamentals while doing businesses to detect any negligence in safety or quality,” the chairman told the top executives of LG’s affiliates at its headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul.  LG Group chairman Koo Bon-moo“If the company be

Technology May 13, 2014

Samsung Group chairman Lee Kun-hee was taken off life support Monday, as the business mogul recovered from heart surgery.Samsung Medical Center said that Lee had begun breathing normally without life support.“Lee was taken off of ECMO at 8:30 a.m. as his heart function has been restored. He has been in stable condition so far since the removal,” the hospital said in a statement. ECMO, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, provides oxygen to patients whose heart or lungs have failed to work. Pe

Business May 12, 2014

Google said Monday that the Korean market would continue to play a critical role in the growth of its Google Play platform. “Korea is one of the most important markets, as it is in (the)top five nations with the largest number of developers for Google Play,” Jamie Rosenberg, vice president of Google’s digital content, said at its first Google Play event for partners and media in Seoul. The vice president added that the number of Koreans developing apps on Google Play had tripled during the past

Technology May 12, 2014

Dongbu Daewoo Electronics CEO Choi Jin-kyunDongbu Daewoo Electronics, a local consumer electronics maker, said Monday that it has appointed Choi Jin-kyun, a former Samsung Electronics executive, as its new CEO. Before joining Dongbu, Choi had served as vice president of Samsung Electronics’ consumer electronics unit for three years since 2006. “We have gained a foothold in the consumer electronics market since acquiring Daewoo Electronics last February. With the new CEO, we aim to take our curre

Technology May 12, 2014

A Samsung Electronics worker inspects a photomask engraved with chip patterns at the firm’s new chip plant in Xian, China, which started operations Friday. (Samsung Electronics)Samsung Electronics was named the third most preferred employer in the world, according to a Dutch research firm Friday. In an announcement for the Randstad Award 2014 report, which ranks the most attractive companies among job seekers, Randstad said Samsung came third among the eligible 50 firms, following German carmake

Technology May 9, 2014

Samsung SDS, an information technology services affiliate of Samsung Group, announced Thursday that it would push for an initial public offering this year in a bid to raise more capital to finance its global expansion.The move is also likely to speed up the succession of power to Samsung heir apparent Lee Jay-yong, who holds a significant stake in the company, industry watchers said. “In order for Samsung SDS to become a global ICT services firm, we decided to file for the IPO. We will make utmo

Technology May 8, 2014