The Korea Herald is publishing a series of articles analyzing the drives and challenges in the non-memory chip market. -- Ed.After a couple of record-breaking years for the semiconductor sector, pessimistic forecasts have quickly dampened the mood, as memory chips enter a downward cycle, leading South Korea to shift its focus to alternative exports.With Korea’s rickety lead in the global race for 5G networks, it has become imperative for the country to secure a presence in another key artificial

Technology March 25, 2019

Amid concerns growing over slowing demand for memory chips, SK hynix CEO Lee Seok-hee said Friday he would focus on strengthening the chipmaker’s fundamental competitiveness and improving the chip yield rate to cut production costs. “After an unprecedented boom for the past two years, we are expecting to face growing uncertainties in the global economy and slowing demand for memory chips,” the CEO told reporters after an annual shareholders meeting held at its headquarter in Icheon, Gyeonggi Pro

Technology March 22, 2019

Samsung Electronics announced Friday it will start selling the Galaxy S10 5G from April 5, to become the world’s first to launch a device for the fifth-generation telecommunications network. The company said the Galaxy 5G model will be available at Samsung outlets and its online mall as well as at shops of mobile carriers in Korea.  Models introduce Galaxy S10 5G at the MWC 2019 in February.The South Korean tech firm said it will not be taking preorders for the 5G model. Instead, it will run a p

Technology March 21, 2019

In the first shareholders meeting Wednesday since a 50:1 stock split in May last year, Samsung’s chief executives vowed better performance with technological leads in 5G and artificial intelligence, while some shareholders strongly lambasted the constantly low share price.Some 1,000 shareholders attended the meeting held at the Seocho headquarters of the conglomerate, which was attended by Vice Chairman Kim Ki-nam, Kim Hyun-suk, chief of Samsung’s consumer electronics division, and Koh Dong-jin,

Technology March 20, 2019

In response to Chinese panel makers’ latest moves to start producing large liquid crystal display panels, market analysts called on Korean display companies to speed up execution of their plans to switch existing LCD panel production lines to organic light-emitting diode panel lines at a conference held in Seoul on Tuesday. “In the long run, it is clear that LCD prices are going downhill -- with some quarterly ups and downs -- but Samsung Display and LG Display are still being cautious about shu

Technology March 19, 2019

Samsung's first memory fab in Pyeongtaek (Samsung Electronics)Samsung Electronics appears to be gearing up for the operation of its second memory plant in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, in March next year, in a move seen to maintain its leadership despite unfavorable market circumstances, according to industry sources and news reports Sunday. The tech giant has reportedly held meetings with entities involved with the Pyeongtaek project including the municipal office of the city to discuss the su

Technology March 17, 2019

In response to complaints raised by some users of Galaxy S10 and S10+ models regarding its first in-display fingerprint scanner, Samsung Electronics said Thursday it will keep upgrading software to improve performance.Among early users of the latest Galaxy S10 and S10+ devices, some questioned the accuracy of the ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanning function, a technology provided by Qualcomm, after about a week of use.Samsung has chosen the in-display fingerprint scanner over its iris aut

Technology March 14, 2019

Samsung Electronics is expected to ship out a total of 20 million Galaxy S10 series phones within the first half of this year, industry sources said Wednesday. If they are correct, the series will achieve a slightly better showing than its predecessor.The 10th-anniversary Galaxy S10 phones, which went on sale throughout the world Friday, are expected to achieve sales targets of 10 million for the first quarter and another 10 million for the April-June period, according to Samsung’s parts supplie

Technology March 13, 2019

A model promotes a LG G8 ThinQ model. (LG Electronics)Shunning the hype on unconventionally bendable fondable phones to be launched by rivals, LG Electronics is seeking to make a mark through practical innovations for its eight edition of G8 ThinQ series.The South Korean tech giant has announced that it will start preorders for its latest G series phone starting Friday at a retail price tag of 897,000 won ($791) here. It is slightly cheaper than rival Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy S10e model at 89

Technology March 11, 2019

The 10th anniversary Galaxy phones are officially available in 70 markets around the world, Samsung Electronics said Friday. The newest additions to the Galaxy family -- Galaxy S10, S10+ and S10e -- hit the shelves of offline and online stores in 70 countries starting Friday, including the United States, Canada, India, China and all of Europe. By the end of the month, Samsung will roll out the newest Galaxy phones in a total of 130 markets.  Galaxy S10 launching ceremony in Dubai (Samsung Electr

Technology March 8, 2019

이재용 삼성전자 부회장이 8일 오전 인도 뭄바이로 출국했다. 오는 9일 열리는 인도 최고 갑부 무케시 암바니 인도 릴라이언스 인더스트리 회장의 아들 결혼식에 참석하기 위해서다. 암바니 회장의 맏아들 아카시 암바니는 굴지의 보석 회사인 ‘로지 블루 다이아몬드’ 가문 출신 슐로카 메타와 뭄바이 중심가의 지오월드센터 (Jio World Center)에서 결혼식을 올린다. 약 540억달러(약 61조원)의 재산을 보유한 암바니 회장은 세계 10대 부호 가운데 한 명으로 꼽힌다. 이에 따라 전 세계 정계·재계·문화계 인사들이 집결할 것으로 예상된다. 이재용 삼성전자 부회장이 지난해 12월 이샤 암바니 결혼식 참석을 위해 인도 우다이푸루 공항에 도착했다. (사진=연합뉴스)이 부회장은 지난해 12월 암바니 회장의 딸 이샤 암바니의 결혼식에도 참석한 바 있다.이 부회장의 연이은 암바니 가문 결혼식 참석은 삼성전자의 네트워크 사업 때문인 것으로 보인다.삼성전자는 릴라이언스 지오가 추진하는 4세대 이동

한국어판 March 8, 2019

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong on Friday departed for Mumbai, India, to attend the wedding ceremony of the son of the owner of an Indian telecom giant, confirmed The Korea Herald.Samsung heir Lee has been invited to the wedding of Akash Ambani, the son of Reliance Industries Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani, to be held at the Jio World Center in Mumbai on Saturday. Reliance Jio, the No. 1 telecom group in India with over 200 million subscribers, is the largest cu

Economy March 8, 2019

Samsung Electronics has filed for a patent related to a cordless television with the World Intellectual Property office, raising expectations that the tech titan could have embarked on developing wireless TVs. According to the patent revealed by WIPO on Thursday, Samsung submitted a patent for a wireless power transceiver and display in March last year. An image showed a transceiver that looked like a sound bar was attached to the rear of a TV, while showing a separate power transmitter.  (Samsu

Technology March 7, 2019

With the arrival of spring in South Korea one can witness the spectacle of migratory wild birds leaving back to their homes across the world in huge numbers. After enduring a slightly less cold winter on the Korean Peninsula, wild birds are getting ready to return home in regions spanning from Siberia to the eastern Manchuria area of China. Korea is host to more than 100 types of migratory birds every winter.From September to November, birds from northern Russian and China fly several thousands

Culture March 7, 2019

On March 19, South Korea’s SK Innovation is breaking ground for an electric vehicle battery plant in Georgia in the United States, in what is touted as the largest-ever foreign business investment for the state.The Korean energy and chemical business is slated to construct the $1.67 billion manufacturing facility with an annual production capacity of 9.8 gigawatt-hour EV batteries in the city of Commerce within the southeastern state. Gov. Brian Kemp delivers his inaugural speech in January. (St

Technology March 6, 2019