LG Electronics announced Thursday the South Korean tech giant has acquired a controlling stake of more than 50 percent in US data analytics firm Alphonso, in an $80 million deal for its TV business. Based in Silicon Valley, Alphonso is a data analytics startup that specializes in TV commercials and various media content. With the latest investment, LG plans to accelerate its digital transformation strategy that aims to deliver better customized services for LG TV users. The company plans

Technology Jan. 7, 2021

Samsung Electronics on Thursday unveiled its 2021 TV lineup, including the Neo QLED featuring its Quantum Mini LED technology during a virtual presentation ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show next week. The Neo QLED, a step up from the current QLED models, uses a new light source called Quantum Mini LED that is much tinier than current LED. The Quantum Mini LED is designed to be one-fortieth the height of a conventional LED. The number of LEDs used in a liquid crystal display TV is a lot

Technology Jan. 7, 2021

A recent trend in the home appliance market in South Korea has been owning a unique product with tailored colors and configurations. First introduced by Samsung Electronics in 2019, the Bespoke series allows consumers to pick the colors, materials and functionality of refrigerators, microwave ovens, induction cooktops, dishwashers and air purifiers. Samsung tried with the refrigerator first, luring younger consumers with a variety of color options for fridge panels, which turned out to be a

Technology Jan. 6, 2021

As we live in a world continuing its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, attention to new technologies that might support humans in the war against the virus is growing more than ever. In the beginning of each new year, thousands of tech companies, experts and officials across industries gather at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to scope out what the future-shaping technologies will be. Unfortunately, 2021 will miss the original vibe of the huge show filled with new tech insigh

Technology Jan. 5, 2021

For Samsung, South Korea’s No. 1 business empire, 2021 could be a year of historic changes under its third-generation leader, if things turn out as the company hopes. Amid adverse conditions expected out in the market under the unending pandemic, the biggest Korean tech giant appears to be bracing for more internal and fundamental changes in response to the needs of the time, amid a court verdict on its de-factor chief, Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong. On behalf of the

Technology Jan. 4, 2021

With 2020 behind us, the question now is what the recovery will look like for Korea Inc. With COVID-19 still raging here and abroad, and the prospects for vaccination in South Korea appearing hazy, optimism and pessimism coexist. But not much will change, economy-wise, for the next two quarters at least unless vaccines become easily accessible, according to a recent report from global consulting firm Deloitte. Seoul-based consulting firm KPMG Samjong offers positive outlooks for sectors r

Industry Jan. 1, 2021

Deregulation is what South Korean business entities want badly for the new year, with many of them raising concerns about a slew of legislation that they say will constrain business activities. According to New Year’s messages from heads of the country’s major business lobby organizations, Korean companies are calling on the government to cut them some slack in operating their businesses in the harsh environment that is expected to unfold amid the COVID-19 pandemic throughout 202

Industry Dec. 31, 2020

The country’s largest conglomerate Samsung has been left unsure of what its future holds as its de facto chief faces possible jail time for corruption. Whether or not Lee Jae-yong will be put behind bars again in the finale of a three-year court saga, leaving a void at the top of the world’s No. 1 chipmaker, will be decided by a Seoul court in January. Samsung Electronics on Wednesday appeared calm, at least on the surface, after local prosecutors demanded nine years in prison fo

Technology Dec. 30, 2020

Huawei announced Tuesday the company’s 5G and LTE equipment have passed global wireless standards body 3GPP’s testing, highlighting the security of its network. Performed by European certification organization DERKA, Huawei’s 5G RAN gNodeB and LTE eNodeB passed 3GPP’s security assurance specifications testing, known as SCAS, the Chinese company said. The tests included network product general security, air interface security, and basic vulnerability testing, such as da

Technology Dec. 29, 2020

LG Electronics on Tuesday unveiled the highest-end category of its LCD TV lineup, the LG QNED Mini LED. LG’s announcement came earlier than its archrival Samsung Electronics’ plan to reveal new TV technologies and models for 2021 on Jan. 6, when the virtual edition of the Consumer Electronics Show kicks off. The LG QNED Mini LED TV features LG’s proprietary technology that combines quantum dot and mini LED technologies. For the 86-inch backlight, the company has used arou

Technology Dec. 29, 2020

S-Oil is continuing to make investments in promising startups in the fields of batteries, new materials, smart factories and carbon emissions, said the oil refining company as it announced Monday its fifth investment. The company inked an investment deal with Beomjun E&C earlier this month, a firm with a modified sulfur technology for high-performance asphalt, as part of its preemptive efforts to collaborate with such firms that could create synergy with the petrochemical and oil refining

Technology Dec. 28, 2020

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is expected to support the fastest Wi-Fi speeds among all mobile gadgets in the Korean market, according to news reports Sunday. The highest-end model of the upcoming Galaxy S21 series next month is likely to become the first mobile device to support Wi-Fi 6E, an extended standard technology using the 6-gigahertz band. Compared to the current Wi-Fi 6, the new standard technology enables twice faster transmission of data at the highest speed of 2.4 gigabits per

Technology Dec. 27, 2020

LG Electronics is forecast to reap a record profit from its home appliance business this year, due to high sales of premium items at home and abroad, according to industry sources on Sunday. As of the third quarter of 2020, LG posted an accumulated operating profit of 2.5 trillion won ($2.27 billion). Some 2 trillion won of that amount was from the company’s home appliance and air solutions business, which sold premium products like the Tromm Styler clothing care system and the DIOS dish

Technology Dec. 27, 2020

LG Electronics will set up a joint venture with the world’s third-largest auto part maker Magna International in a bid to raise the competitiveness of its vehicle component business, the company said Wednesday. Tentatively named “LG Magna e-Powertrain Co,” the envisioned entity will launch in July 2021. It will be headquartered in Incheon, west of Seoul, and will have around 1,000 employees. 　 According to the plan approved by LG’s board of directors, the joint venture

Technology Dec. 23, 2020

Samsung Electronics is set to further expand its customizable home appliance lineup, putting greater emphasis on the personal tastes of consumers through its product design and development. On Wednesday, the tech giant said it has added Cube Air, Samsung’s conventional air purifier model, to the Bespoke category, and unveiled a total of eight combinations of panel colors and patterns for the customizable air purifier. “The Bespoke Cube Air provides a sense of unity when it’

Technology Dec. 23, 2020