Global streaming giant Netflix has introduced a series of cheaper pricing plans for selected consumers in South Korea from this month, prompting questions over its pricing strategy applied differently depending on the region. 　According to Netflix on Tuesday, the company has rolled out new subscription plans in Korea with prices cheaper than the current scheme. The monthly payment for the basic plan is as low as 6,500 won ($5.70) when consumers limit the use of service to mobile devices.　The ne

Business April 16, 2019

　As global K-pop fans flocked to YouTube last week to watch the new BTS video “Boy With Luv,” the band celebrated the release of its new album with a special event for loyal fans around the world. 　It was a live broadcast from New York City, where BTS discussed the new album, “Map of the Soul: Persona,” with global BTS Army fans. The event preceded the band’s much-anticipated performance on “Saturday Night Live” alongside guest host and “Spider-Man” actress Emma Stone.　Broadcast on Naver’s V Liv

Technology April 15, 2019

　South Korea’s biggest mobile carrier SK Telecom said Monday it is working to establish a 5G-powered infrastructure in the country’s Army academy to deliver futuristic technologies to the military. 　The telecom firm and the military school signed a memorandum of understanding at the Korea Military Academy in Seoul to build a “smart military campus” within the first half of this year. 　The two sides said the agreement will pave the way for incorporating 5G-based technology in combat training for

Technology April 15, 2019

The South Korean government on Friday pledged state-led efforts to prevent widespread smartphone addition, as nearly 1 in 5 Koreans surveyed have become “too dependent” on smartphones.During a meeting with government agencies, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced plans to prevent smartphone addition, including launching a government-led task force with the participation of 11 ministries and 14 agencies. The project will focus on four areas: education, counseling, communication and social in

Technology April 12, 2019

　South Korea’s biggest mobile carrier, SK Telecom, has acquired a controlling stake in Seoul-based digital advertisement company Incross, with the aim of expanding into the media and commerce market. 　In a statement released Thursday, SKT said it had purchased a 34.6 percent stake in Incross for 53.5 billion won ($47.2 million) from NHN. Incross has provided online marketing services through internet and mobile advertisements since its establishment in 2017. 　The acquisition is expected to boost

Technology April 11, 2019

　Google has announced plans to operate new data centers for cloud services in South Korea by early 2020, as the global tech giant seeks to diversify its business amid growing competition in the market.　During its annual Cloud Next conference in San Francisco on Tuesday, Google said Seoul is one of the two cities it is eyeing to expand its Google Cloud Platforms. It also plans to tap Salt Lake City in the US to operate new data centers. 　According to Google, Seoul will become the eighth city to o

Technology April 10, 2019

　The South Korean government pledged Monday to invest more than 30 trillion won ($26 billion) to establish a full-fledged 5G environment by 2022, as the country beat its competitor by a hair to begin commercial services of the hyperspeed network last week. 　During an event to mark the achievement at the Olympic Park in Seoul, President Moon Jae-in introduced the country’s comprehensive 5G-based initiative. In collaboration with private companies, he pledged to build a nationwide 5G network by 20

Technology April 8, 2019

　While South Korea began commercial operations of fifth-generation cellular network services last week, there is still a long way to go for customers nationwide to benefit from the hyperspeed services. 　Rep. Byun Jae-il of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party said Sunday nearly 90 percent of the 5G base stations are currently located in the country’s capital city of Seoul, its surrounding area, and five metropolitan cities. 　Citing data from the Ministry of Science and ICT, Byun asserted the

Technology April 7, 2019

　A bipartisan group of lawmakers has ratcheted up calls for deregulation of the blockchain industry, as the financial regulator has adopted a conservative attitude toward the easing process due to procedural reasons.　While the ruling Democratic Party has focused on comprehensive deregulation guidelines, the main opposition Liberty Korea Party has criticized the Moon Jae-in administration for being heavy-handed over technological innovations. Concern has been rising here that the government’s con

Technology April 7, 2019

　Just an hour before midnight Wednesday, an unexpected telecom subscription event took place in South Korea. The country’s three mobile carriers registered several people as the “world’s first” subscribers to the fifth-generation cellular network. 　The midnight event was hurriedly scheduled amid reports Verizon was planning its own world premiere of the 5G commercial rollout. At 1 a.m. (Seoul time), the US mobile carrier announced its customers in Chicago and Minneapolis had become “the first in

Technology April 4, 2019

With South Korea’s biggest telecommunications firm SK Telecom unveiling its own pricing plan for 5G services Wednesday, all the mobile carriers have wrapped up preparations for their commercial rollout Friday.　During a meeting with reporters in Seoul, SKT became the last carrier to announce pricing plans for the 5G network. It came a day after the mobile carrier's rival KT roiled the market with “unlimited” data plans without speed limits or data caps. 　According to SKT, consumers can choose fro

Industry April 3, 2019

Leading South Korean mobile carrier KT on Tuesday introduced its “unlimited” data plan for the fifth-generation wireless network, heating up competition over the hyperspeed network service that marks the world’s first commercial launch Friday.  　While unveiling a list of pricing packages during a press conference in Seoul, KT said the price for unlimited data program named “Super Plan Basic” will start at 80,000 won ($70.40). It also comes with unlimited roaming service in 185 countries, the com

Technology April 2, 2019

　Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy S10 Plus has taken the top spot in the latest smartphone ratings released by US products evaluator Consumer Reports, outpacing its previous models and Apple’s smartphones when it comes to the devices’ functionality and durability.　According to Consumer Reports on Wednesday, Galaxy S10 Plus boasted the longest battery life with an average of 39.5 hours on normal use. That was about eight hours longer than the Galaxy Note 9. 　Galaxy S10 plus has also proven to be more

Technology March 29, 2019

　LG Electronics said Friday its flagship smartphone G8 ThinQ ranked top in camera functionality in a recent survey, amid the company’s efforts to increase its presence in the smartphone market dominated by Samsung Electronics and other global giants　According to the survey by Valued Camera eXperience, the G8 ThinQ scored the highest in an overall assessment of camera performance with 77 points. The smartphone outperformed its competitors in terms of image quality. 　LG’s flagship smartphone was c

Technology March 29, 2019

　The South Korean government announced Friday it had approved mobile carriers’ pricing plans for fifth-generation wireless networks, with the third-biggest telecom company, LG Uplus, revealing that its pricing will start from 55,000 won ($48) per month. 　According to the Ministry of Science and ICT, the government has greenlighted SK Telecom’s pricing for 5G services. SK Telecom is the only mobile carrier required to obtain the government’s approval for new pricing plans. 　While the details of S

Industry March 29, 2019