LG Group is making a major push into energy storage and automotive electronics in the US market in seeking the group’s next growth engine. LG’s tech arms, LG CNS, LG Chem and LG Electronics, have recently jumped into the US market with its energy storage system, or ESS business. ESS captures energy produced for use at a later time, aiming to improve energy efficiency.The US ESS market -- which is fast growing and already the world’s largest due to its aging grid infrastructure -- is predicted to

Industry June 27, 2017

Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are betting on lucrative premium and large televisions to maximize profits in the second half of this year. Last month, Samsung launched 75-inch QLED TVs in Korea, a larger version of existing 55-inch and 65-inch QLED models. The tech firm also plans to roll out larger lineups, 82-inch and 88-inch models, this month and in August respectively. LG, Samsung’s archrival in home appliances, also unveiled 86-inch and 75-inch super ultra-high definition televisio

Technology June 27, 2017

Global tech giants Google and Facebook are under increasing pressure from South Korean authorities and lawmakers to be “transparent and fairer” in running their businesses here.  Kim Sang-jo, head of the nation’s antitrust watchdog, said Sunday he is “reviewing” how to regulate Google and Facebook’s alleged abuses of market dominance. “(Google and Facebook are) sweeping information without paying a dime here on the network set up by taxpayers’ money,” said Kim, who is known as a “chaebol sniper,

Technology June 25, 2017

LG Display has developed the world’s largest flexible and transparent display, the company said on Thursday. The company said it developed a 77-inch flexible and transparent display with a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels, a penetration ratio of 40 percent and a radius of curvature of 80 millimeters. LG said the display can be used for various areas, including digital signage, smart desk, infotainment system for automobiles, augmented reality and aquarium but did not unveil when to commerciali

Technology June 22, 2017

Toshiba on Wednesday chose a US-Japan-Korea consortium as the preferred bidder in the sale of its lucrative memory chip business. South Korea’s SK hynix is part of the group and set to provide loans worth 3 trillion won ($2.62 billion), covering around 15 percent of the buyout price. SK hynix’s participation in the sale is expected to raise the possibility of the company forging an exclusive partnership with Toshiba, the world’s second-largest memory chipmaker amid the booming chip business driv

Technology June 21, 2017

Whoever takes the leadership in organic light-emitting diode inkjet printing may shift the paradigm of the display industry, according to vice chairman of the Korean display association. “If Chinese or Japanese firms are able to take the lead in OLED inkjet printing, things may change in the OLED display market currently dominated by Korean firms,” Seo Kwang-hyun, vice chairman of Korea Display Industry Association, told The Korea Herald in a recent interview. Inkjet printing is a manufacturing

Industry June 19, 2017

Samsung Electronics’ upcoming Galaxy Note 8 is not likely to have an on-screen fingerprint sensor, due to technical challenges, according to multiple sources Monday. An on-screen fingerprint sensor is a biometric method that enables a smartphone user to conveniently unlock a phone by placing his or her finger on a part of the phone’s display where the sensor is embedded. As for the Galaxy S8, Samsung has put a fingerprint sensor on the back of the phone, drawing complaints from consumers who mis

Industry June 19, 2017

SEEKING TALENT IN CHINA -- Korean battery maker LG Chem’s Vice Chairman and CEO Park Jin-soo (center) talks with Chinese college students at the company’s recruitment event in Beijing on Saturday. Around 30 students from China’s top 10 colleges, including Peking University and Tsinghua University, were invited as part of the company’s effort to attract talented local students. (LG Chem)

Industry June 18, 2017

Korean battery maker Samsung SDI is encouraging its employees to become “technology meisters” with financial incentives for workers who improve their professional skills. The tech firm said last week that 17 meisters -- workers with at least three master certificates -- were added in the first half of this year to 36 existing meisters. There are now a total of 53 meisters. The technology meister program started at the company’s plant in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, in 2013, and later expande

Technology June 18, 2017

South Korean chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK hynix may benefit from the booming memory chip market driven by rising prices and tight supply, local reports said Sunday, quoting market research firms. According to a June 15 report by DRAMeXchange, the average contract price of DRAM for servers will increase up to 8 percent in the third quarter from the previous quarter. The average price rose 40 percent in the first quarter and 10 percent in the second quarter from the previous quarters. The

Industry June 18, 2017

Three senior lawmakers of the Liberty Korea Party registered their candidacy for the post of party chairperson, party officials said Saturday.Former South Gyeongsang Province Gov. Hong Joon-pyo, five-term lawmaker Won Yoo-chul and four-term legislator Shin Sang-jin completed their candidacy registration ahead of the party's convention and leadership election slated for July 3, said the officials. From left are Hong Joon-pyo, Won Yoo-chul and Shin Sang-jin (Yonhap)The candidates are scheduled to

Politics June 17, 2017

South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics Co. plans to launch an English version of its voice assistance program installed on its latest flagship Galaxy S8 in the United States later this month, industry sources said Saturday. Bixby is an advanced voice recognition system that comes on the Galaxy S8 and its variant Galaxy S8 Plus, which went on sale here in April.  The file photo, dated May 1, 2017, shows a model using Samsung`s smart voice assistance program, Bixby. (Yonhap)It boasts so-calle

Industry June 17, 2017

A heat wave is expected to grip South Korea over the weekend, with the mercury forecast to surge above 35 C in the southwest region, meteorological officials said Saturday.The Korea Meteorological Administration said it issued this year's first heat wave warning for Gwangju, about 330 km south of Seoul, and its surrounding areas. (Yonhap)The KMA said the warning was announced at 11 a.m., as the daily high in the southwestern metropolitan city is expected to remain above 35 C for two consecutive

Social Affairs June 17, 2017

The export of South Korean chickens has effectively come to a halt this year, apparently hit by the spread of avian influenza, government data showed Saturday. The outbound shipment of chickens reached only 139 tons between January and May, down 98.8 percent on-year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. It means the country's chicken exports have virtually been suspended. The value of total exports over the five months plunged 97.6 percent to $300,000, from $12.67 mi

Economy June 17, 2017