Despite recent releases from Samsung Electronics and Apple featuring the most advanced technologies so far, the global smartphone market is forecast to grow slowly as phone vendors struggle to secure components, including semiconductors, amid ongoing shortages worldwide. According to a recent report from market researcher Counterpoint Research, the total shipment volume of smartphones for 2021 is expected to grow 6 percent to 1.41 billion units. The growth forecast was lowered from the resea

Technology Oct. 5, 2021

South Korea’s major milk and dairy product providers are set to raise retail prices of their products next week. Namyang Dairy Products said Friday the company will increase retail prices of commercial milk products by an average 4.9 percent from Oct. 14. The firm said the prices of fermented and processed milk products will be risen 0.3 percent and 1.6 percent on average, respectively. For example, two packs of Delicious MilkGT, Namyang’s best-selling product, will be priced

Consumer Oct. 1, 2021

SK Broadband said Thursday that it had countersued Netflix for network usage fees based on a June verdict that favored the South Korean company. The SK Telecom subsidiary, one of the country’s leading broadband internet access providers, said the suit, filed with the Seoul High Court, was a follow-up measure after Netflix failed to respond to SK’s proposals. “Despite the fact that massive investments are made in maintaining the internet network every year and the fact that

Technology Sept. 30, 2021

US-based content streaming giant Netflix has generated economic effects in South Korea worth 5.6 trillion won ($4.73 billion) and created 16,000 local jobs since its 2016 entry here, the company said Wednesday. At its first event for its Korean partners, the firm released a report written by Deloitte on the effects of its presence and investment in the country. Netflix commissioned the study. Since it launched here in 2016, the company has invested about 770 billion won in domestic content

Technology Sept. 29, 2021

Amid growing calls for regulating thriving digital platform businesses, South Korea’s top policymaker on technology and science called for a shift in perspective, saying they should be seen as innovators rather than a target for regulation. Minister of Science and ICT Lim Hye-sook made the remarks while meeting executives of Korea’s leading platform companies, including Naver, Kakao, Woowa Brothers and Yanolja. It was the first time that the ministry organized such a meeting with

Technology Sept. 29, 2021

미국 정부가 삼성을 비롯한 글로벌 반도체 기업들에게 생산 관련 기업 정보의 공개를 요구한 데에 대해 문승욱 산업통상자원부 장관이 업계의 우려를 고려해 필요시 미국 측과 논의하겠다는 의사를 밝혔다. 문 장관은 28일 서울 종로구 포시즌스 호텔에서 열린 ‘반도체 연대·협력 협의체’ 출범식에 참석한 후 코리아헤럴드와 만나 “정부 차원에서 논의를 할 것” 이라고 전했다. 그는 “(오늘 출범식)에서도 얘기를 했는데, 업계들이 민감하게 받아들이는 부분이 있으니 정부 차원에서 논의를 해서 확인할 것이 있으면 하겠다”고 말하며 “미국 측과 만나 협의할 사항이 있으면 하겠다”고 전했다. 문 장관은 미국 측과의 논의 시기에 대해선 “아직 언제라고는 말씀드리기는 어렵다”면서도 “지난 5월 한미 정상회담 이후 후속 미팅을 준비하고 있다. 서로 파트너쉽이 되어 있

한국어판 Sept. 28, 2021

South Korea may bring the US’ request for data disclosures by local chipmakers up for discussion at a working-level bilateral dialogue, South Korean Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Moon Sung-wook said Tuesday, amid growing unease here over the impact of the US’ strategic interest in the chip industry. “The industry is taking this very sensitively, so the government would discuss the matter (with the US side), if needed, to verify,” the minister told The Korea Her

Technology Sept. 28, 2021

CJ OliveNetworks will introduce the country’s first “non-fungible token” tickets at the Busan International Film Festival next month, the company said Monday. A type of blockchain technology, NFTs are unique and not interchangeable. NFT-based tickets, therefore, allow ticket issuers to track holders of each ticket and prevent scalping or fraud. The company has named the ticketing service “One Order Ticket.” CJ has partner with domestic blockchain platform firm

Technology Sept. 27, 2021

The US government’s strategic interest in chips is putting South Korean chipmakers in a quandary, as Washington adds pressure on chipmakers to share sensitive data on technology, clients and inventory status. With a stated purpose of solving the chip shortage, which is affecting automotive and other industries around the world, US authorities on Thursday held an online meeting with major automakers and chipmakers, which Samsung Electronics attended. Following the meeting, the US Depart

Technology Sept. 27, 2021

Including South Korea’s Samsung Electronics, technology companies and automakers were asked to make efforts to improve transparency about their US supply chains during a meeting hosted by US Secretary of Commerce on Thursday, according to news reports. Samsung was among a list of companies including TSMC, Intel, Apple, Microsoft and some automakers, which tuned into the meeting held via teleconference, according to the reports. The companies were asked to submit documents including inf

Technology Sept. 24, 2021

LG Electronics is taking over an Israeli firm with expertise in cybersecurity for automobiles as part of its plan to strengthen its auto parts business portfolio. According to the South Korean electronics maker on Thursday, the company recently signed a deal with Tel Aviv-based Cybellum to acquire a 63.9 percent stake. Founded in 2016, the Israeli firm’s valuation is estimated at $140 million. It has around 50 employees. The company is recognized for a platform that is designed to analy

Technology Sept. 23, 2021

KT, one of South Korea’s leading telecom companies, said Friday it has created an organization dedicated to new investments and external partnerships in a bid to speed up the firm’s transformation into a digital platform business. The new organization is called “Group Transformation” and has been established under the CEO’s office. KT has appointed Yoon Kyung-lim, who had led KT’s media, future convergence and global businesses, as president of the new

Technology Sept. 17, 2021

South Korea’s leading battery maker LG Energy Solution will acquire a 4.8 percent stake in a Chinese battery material supplier for 35 billion won ($29.7 million), the company said Friday. The subsidiary of LG Chem said it has signed a deal with China’s Greatpower Nickel & Cobalt Materials for a stable supply of battery materials. Shanghai-based Greatpower has been building a plant in China for nickel sulfate, a major ingredient for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehi

Technology Sept. 17, 2021

Samsung Display on Thursday said it began supplying the 90-hertz organic light-emitting diode panels for laptops of Taiwanese brand ASUS, as demand for higher-end laptop screens grow amid the pandemic. The display panels are to be featured on ASUS’ 14-inch Zenbook and Vivobook Pro series, it said. The supply marks a successful commercialization of laptop-sized OLED displays with a refresh rate of 90 hertz, which makes moving images on laptop screens look more natural. It is ideal for u

Technology Sept. 16, 2021

In the field of consumer electronics, Samsung Electronics has taken strides design-wise. Following the success of the trendy and ingenious Bespoke home appliance lineup, its latest smartphone releases, Galaxy Z Fold3 and Flip3, became a hit among design-conscious consumers, heralding a new era of foldable devices. Behind the feats is the company’s dual focus on technology and design, or its strenuous effort to mingle the two worlds, with the aim of bringing real benefits to consumers

Technology Sept. 16, 2021