In an effort to expand its presence in the Chinese market, Samsung Electronics hosted its first forum on artificial intelligence in Beijing on Thursday, presenting its newest technology solutions to tech leaders. The first such forum by Samsung drew around 500 officials from the country’s leading tech firms, such as Baidu, Xiaomi and Hikvision. Samsung’s choice of venue also drew attention, as China is intensifying competition with the US in attracting and fostering AI startups.Choi Cheol, execu

Technology Nov. 15, 2018

South Korea’s leading mobile operator SK Telecom on Wednesday opened one of its first commercial fifth-generation base stations in the central area of Seoul, showing confidence in the planned commercialization of the world’s first 5G services in March. SKT introduced a 24-kilogram rectangular active antenna unit for the 3.5-gigahertz frequency band -- 1 meter in height and 23 centimeters in width -- installed at the rooftop of a small hotel building in Myeong-dong, one of the most crowded areas

Technology Nov. 14, 2018

New Hyundai and Kia vehicles set to be released in Europe next year will feature high-tech connected car services enabled by the region’s biggest mobile carrier Vodafone, said South Korea’s No. 1 automobile group on Tuesday. Hyundai Motor, Kia Motors and Vodafone have set the goal of improving driving experiences for European customers by connecting vehicles using the internet of things technology, under a memorandum of understanding signed Monday.  From left: Nick Tunnel, executive director at

Mobility Nov. 13, 2018

Jo Seong-jin, vice chairman and CEO of LG Electronics, will visit Silicon Valley Wednesday to meet with experts in artificial intelligence, robotics, big data and autonomous driving and recruit some of the talents for the company’s new businesses, the tech giant said Tuesday. Jo left Monday for New Jersey, where LG Electronics’ US office is located, before flying to San Francisco. On Wednesday, the CEO is scheduled to meet scholars and experts on AI, big data, cloud computing, self-driving and t

Technology Nov. 13, 2018

Samsung Electronics on Friday announced that it joined the Partnership on Artificial Intelligence to Benefit People and Society (PAI) in an effort to develop safe and reliable artificial intelligence services and products.The PAI, founded in 2016, is a technology industry consortium that conducts research and discussion, shares insights, provides thought leadership, identifies new areas for AI application and creates informational materials to advance the understanding of AI technologies. The or

Technology Nov. 9, 2018

LG Chem announced Friday it will appoint Shin Hak-cheol, vice chair of 3M, as new vice chairman and CEO of the company. This marks the first time that LG Group has scouted an outside figure to head the chemicals and battery affiliate since its founding in 1947. “With global perspectives and experience, Shin is the right person capable of pre-emptively responding to the rapidly changing business environment while leading the change in corporate culture and structure,” LG Chem said in a statement.

Technology Nov. 9, 2018

Samsung Electronics on Thursday revealed technological details of its first foldable display for next-generation smartphones at a conference in San Francisco for technology developers from around the world.The South Korean tech titan unveiled a prototype of a foldable smartphone featuring the Infinity Flex Display during the two-day Samsung Developer Conference. When it is unfolded, the as-of-yet-unnamed smartphone is 7.3 inches, and 4.58 inches when folded in half. The prototype looked as if tw

Technology Nov. 8, 2018

LG Electronics has created another category for home appliances combined with furniture by launching a new brand Objet on Thursday, which the company defined as being premium and private.The LG Objet brand lineup consists of four items -- refrigerator, air purifier, audio and TV -- designed for consumers who want to put them in their private spaces like their bedrooms.To introduce the brand as one for converging electronics with furniture, the company adopted wood and steel as the main materials

Technology Nov. 1, 2018

Samsung Electronics achieved its largest quarterly operating profit in the third quarter this year, exceeding 17 trillion won ($14.9 billion) for the first time, owing to consistent robust sales of semiconductors, according to its earnings announcement Wednesday. The South Korean tech giant posted 65.46 trillion won in consolidated revenue in the third quarter, up 5.5 percent from a year earlier, and 17.57 trillion won in operating profit, up 20.9 percent. (AFP)The third-quarter operating profit

Industry Oct. 31, 2018

South Korea’s flagship red ginseng drink Hong Sam Won from Cheong Kwan Jang is not only the oldest of its kind, but also the longest-running leader, maintain its top spot for 30 years. Backed by such consistent popularity and the proven quality of the red ginseng drink, Hong Sam Won has been exported worldwide, particularly proving popular in the United States and China. The drink had been sold mainly at Korean supermarkets in the US until 2014. Its distribution began stretching out to Costco in

Industry Oct. 30, 2018

Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong departs for Hanoi at Seoul Gimpo International Airport on Tuesday. (By Song Su-hyun / The Korea Herald)Lee Jae-yong, heir and vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, on Tuesday left for Hanoi with a scheduled meeting with the Vietnamese prime minister, possibly on making new investments in the country. The Samsung heir’s two-day visit to Vietnam is expected to serve as a critical chance for the tech titan to mainly revise its smartphone business, the competitiveness of wh

Technology Oct. 30, 2018

이재용 삼성전자 부회장이 30일 베트남 하노이로 출국했다. 이 부회장은 이날 오전 10시 서울 강서구 김포국제공항을 통해 하노이로 향했다. 이재용 삼성전자 부회장이 30일 출국 전 취재진 질의에 답하고 있다.삼성전자의 스마트폰 및 가전 생산기지를 둘러볼 일정인 이번 출장에는 이동훈 삼성디스플레이 사장이 동행했다. 　하노이에 도착한 이 부회장은 첫 일정으로 응우옌쑤언푹 베트남 총리를 만나 현지 사업에 대한 협조를 부탁할 것으로 알려졌다. 　삼성전자 하노이 법인에서 근무 중인 한 관계자는 “이 부회장의 방문을 준비하기 위해 분주하게 움직이고 있다”고 전했다.　이 부회장의 베트남 총리 면담은 삼성이 베트남에 공장 증설 및 투자 확대를 준비중이라는 추측을 낳고 있다. 　일각에서는 삼성이 조만간 중국 톈진공장을 철수하는 대신 베트남에 세 번째 스마트폰 공장을 짓는 방안을 검토 중인 것으로 알려졌다.    베트남 정부와 삼성과의 관계는 남다르다. 2014년 응우옌푸쫑 베트남 공산당 서기장은 삼

한국어판 Oct. 30, 2018

Woongjin Group, a midsized South Korean conglomerate, will take back the country’s biggest small home appliance maker, Coway, after selling it off in 2013, the group announced Monday. In its regulatory filing, Woongjin said a consortium comprising Woongjin Thinkbig Co. and STIC Investment Inc. will purchase a 22.17 percent stake in Coway Holding for 1.68 trillion won ($1.48 billion) in a bid to diversify the group’s business portfolio. “I believe the rental business has great growth potential,”

Industry Oct. 29, 2018

Tech Brunch breaks down how complex technologies work. -- Ed.DAEJEON -- In search of technologies beneficial for mankind, the nation’s fourth-biggest conglomerate LG Group has focused its research and development capabilities since 2010 on improving water, energy and air. And LG Chem, the group’s battery and petrochemicals unit, has been a crucial part of that mission. “Back then, LG came up with a whole new business out of the mission to improve the quality of water by using its technological p

Technology Oct. 28, 2018

SK Telecom said Friday the mobile carrier will acquire SK infosec, an information security subsidiary of SK Group, through a comprehensive stock exchange. SK infosec is the country’s biggest data security solution provider with around 200 billion won ($175 million) in annual sales. The company is the first Asian business to join the Cyber Threat Alliance of global security firms. (Yonhap)SK Telecom will exchange some 1.6 percent treasury stocks with a 100 percent stake in SK infosec, and will in

Technology Oct. 26, 2018