With an aim to escape the stigma of last year’s fire accidents involving its vehicles last year, German automaker BMW on Thursday pledged to regain customer trust and introduce future-forward models in South Korea, as it attended the Seoul Motor Show at Kintex from Thursday.During a meeting with reporters, BMW reiterated its apology to Korean customers for accidents caused by the BMW sedans. Last year, nearly 30 engines caught on fire among BMW’s 520d sedan models, although the precise causes ha

Industry March 28, 2019

In the midst of hectic work one afternoon, Kim Su-rin, a mother of two toddlers suddenly remembered their request for breakfast next day -- toast and strawberries.　She realized it would not be possible to stop over at a bakery as she had to pick up her children from the kindergarten immediately after work. But before a sense of panic set in, she remembered that she could just place an order online.　Although there are a number of fresh food delivery services out there, Kim was particularly ecstat

Technology March 27, 2019

With the commercial rollout of the 5G wireless network looming next week, major mobile carrier KT pledged Tuesday to offer the most extensive coverage in South Korea amid growing rivalry over the quality of the advanced wireless network services.During a press conference in Seoul, KT said it will establish up to 30,000 5G base stations when the country’s first 5G smartphone hits the market. Samsung Electronics said last week the Galaxy S10 5G will become available on April 5. KT also said the co

Technology March 26, 2019

Samsung Electronics’ 5G smartphone has passed tests for verifying its connection to the country’s biggest mobile carrier’s network, as anticipation grows for next month’s launch of the world’s first 5G smartphone amid intense global rivalry. 　According to SK Telecom on Monday, the Galaxy S10 5G completed extensive tests for interoperability verification and frequency conformance. The two-month project was conducted at the company’s 5G device test lab located in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province. 　Now t

Technology March 25, 2019

　The structures of more than 90 percent of LG businesses will be transformed in environments powered by cloud computing systems by 2023, the conglomerate’s information and technology solution provider said. 　During a press conference held in Seoul on Friday, LG CNS said it will assume a “central role” in introducing cloud services across all LG business units. The company said it would provide a cloud services platform applicable to every LG unit by the first half of this year.　Stressing it was

Technology March 24, 2019

　With South Korea and the US gearing up for the commercial rollout of their fifth-generation wireless networks next month, the countries’ smartphone manufacturers are scrambling to attract consumers by touting their functionalities. 　The starting players are Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest smartphone maker, which is betting on its advanced technologies, and Motorola, which is hoping that its high-tech functions and midrange pricing will help it leap out of its No. 8 position. 　Samsung E

Technology March 24, 2019

South Korea’s leading mobile messenger operator, Kakao, is seeking to make inroads into the tourism industry after acquiring a local travel company. According to Kakao’s publicly filed 2018 financial audit report, it purchased a 28.9 percent stake in Tidesquare. The estimated value of the deal was 34.7 billion won ($30.7 million). Despite Kakao’s stake in Tidesquare being less than a majority, the travel company was listed as a subsidiary of Kakao. This is because the potential voting rights gra

Technology March 20, 2019

　With Samsung Electronics’ 5G-powered smartphone having acquired approval for commercial use from the state-run radio verification agency, expectation is high that South Korea is inching closer to soon offering commercial service for the next-generation wireless network. 　According to the National Radio Research Agency on Monday, Samsung’s Galaxy S10 5G smartphone passed the agency’s signal verification test. The result was posted on the agency’s website with Galaxy S10’s model number, SM-G977N.

Technology March 19, 2019

　With news of US mobile carrier Verizon possibly beating South Korean players in launching the world’s very first 5G mobile service next month, speculations have run amok over whether local telecom companies will hasten their releases despite regulatory and technical hurdles.　In a statement released Wednesday, Verizon said it would start offering 5G service in parts of Chicago and Minneapolis on April 11. The company said the service will cost consumers $10 a month more than previous generation’

Industry March 18, 2019

On Feb. 16, a group of young people arrived at Seoul Station to get ready for a protest. Candles and placards were handed out to the participants, who had already begun to fill the street outside the station in downtown Seoul. But there was one stark difference between this protest and so many others in the city: Almost all the participants were men. In fact, there was only one woman in the crowd of 100 or so protesters. The purpose of the gathering was to denounce the government’s decision to b

Industry March 17, 2019

　Samsung SDS on Thursday pledged to bolster its security solution for cloud services by applying advanced encrypted technology to better protect client companies’ data both externally and internally.　At a press conference in Seoul, Samsung SDS introduced its latest cloud security total service against cyberattacks using newly developed technologies that include its homomorphic encryption. Samsung SDS CEO Hong Won-pyo. Samsung SDS　In order to block hackers, the solution applies artificial intelli

Industry March 14, 2019

South Korea’s ride-sharing companies are expanding their business portfolios into electric bike-sharing, creating high expectations as municipalities scramble to introduce the service as an alternative to conventional transportation. The country’s major messenger app company, Kakao, has entered the e-bike sharing business with a new service called Kakao T Bike. The company began its service on Mar. 6 in Incheon and Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. Socar, a Seoul-based car-sharing startup, also joine

Industry March 12, 2019

Driving in Seoul is almost always a hassle due to massive traffic jams and reckless drivers, so it would be fair to say that futuristic autonomous driving technologies could face many challenges here. 　However, the idea of sitting behind the wheel without human inputs is getting closer to reality, with a self-driving car successfully driving through the crowded streets of Seoul without a hitch.　South Korean telecom company LG Uplus and Hanyang University’s research team on Monday demonstrated au

Industry March 11, 2019

　South Korean conglomerate LG Group had a higher corporate reputation than the country’s biggest chaebol Samsung Group last year, according to a recent survey by a reputation management survey firm. 　Reputation Institute’s 2019 Global RepTrak released Thursday showed that LG ranked 48th out of 100 global firms in terms of corporate reputation, while Samsung dropped out of the top 50 list, ending at 52nd place. 　Samsung and LG ranked 26th and 41st, respectively, in the previous 2018 report after

Industry March 10, 2019

　South Korea’s biggest telecom firm SK Telecom is seeking to partner with Singapore’s Singtel to invest in each other’s over-the-top streaming platforms amid growing challenges from global tech giants, according to a local media report Sunday. 　Citing a senior official from SKT, Yonhap News Agency reported that the Korean telco is discussing plans to invest in Singtel’s HOOQ, a video-on-demand streaming service provided by Singapore’s largest telco. 　In return, Singtel is seeking to invest in SK

Industry March 10, 2019