Samsung’s mobile head declares end of Galaxy Note

BARCELONA, Spain -- Samsung Electronics will discontinue its phablet Galaxy Note series to make way for the high-end Galaxy S22 Ultra lineup, Samsung’s mobile business head said Monday. “The Ultra line for S series will fill in the Galaxy Note lineup every year from now on,” Roh Tae-moon, president and head of Mobile eXperience business at Samsung Electronics, told reporters at Mobile World Congress 2022 during his visit to Samsung’s exhibition. Samsung’s MX busin

Nexon founder Kim Jung-ju dies at 54

Kim Jung-ju, founder of South Korea’s biggest game maker Nexon, passed away on Monday. He was 54. Nexon’s holding company NXC said Tuesday evening that Kim died in Hawaii, US, on Feb. 28. He had been undergoing treatments for depression and it appeared that the symptoms had become worse as of late, it said. The cause of death was not given. Nexon CEO Owen Mahoney paid condolences to Kim. “It is difficult to express the tragedy of losing our friend and mentor Jay Kim, a man w

[MWC 2022] Samsung CEO hints at XR comeback for metaverse trend

BARCELONA, Spain -- Samsung Electronics CEO Han Jong-hee has hinted at making a comeback to the global extended reality headset market with a new device that works on metaverse platforms, signaling a possible end to the firm’s three-year hiatus from the industry. “(Metaverse-related devices) are now the talk of the town, so we have buckled down to a task to cope with the trend. It won’t take too long,” Han, vice chairman in charge of the device experience division, told

S. Korea’s crypto assets exceed W55tr

South Korea’s crypto assets market has grown to 55.2 trillion won ($45.9 billion) as of end-2021, with the number of users amounting to nearly 5.58 million, according to a recent study by the nation’s top financial regulator on Tuesday. The Financial Services Commission conducted the study, the first of its kind, based on data compiled from a total of 24 licensed crypto currency exchange operators here. Daily transactions through the 24 exchanges reached 11.3 trillion won on avera

Coast Guard chief lays down plans to boost Korea’s maritime security

The newly minted Korea Coast Guard Commissioner Jeong Bong-hoon, who celebrated his 50 days in office on Jan. 24, is busy devising a blueprint for the Coast Guard. With a background in security and investigation, he has detailed broad ideas for Korea’s future as maritime power. It took over an hour for Jeong to discuss plans he intends to pursue as chief of the Coast Guard. The following is the full transcript of the interview. Q: How was your first two months in office? A: To serve the

Korean chef’s French restaurant in London wins Michelin star

A rising star chef from Korea recently awarded a Michelin star for his French restaurant in London. Park Woong-chul, 38, who opened Sollip, a French restaurant with a Korean touch in the heart of London, is the first Korean chef to receive a Michelin star in the UK. There are currently 194 Michelin-starred restaurants in Britain, including 19 which were newly awarded this year. “I still remember us (my wife and I) being devastated when the UK government issued a COVID-19 lockdown just

Director Park Moon-chil connects ‘comfort woman’ with #MeToo victims in ‘Comfort’

In his new documentary film “Comfort,” director Park Moon-chil has set up a special “meeting” between the late Kim Soon-ak, a former wartime sex slave of the Japanese military, and victims of sexual misconduct that have been taking part in the #MeToo movement. Park said he read Kim’s autobiography with the #MeToo victims before filming. The young women victims in their 20s and 30s also read Kim’s testimony out loud in the movie. “Her oral records also

‘It took 10 years to be called singer Lee So-jung’

From Ladies’ Code Sojung to soloist Lee So-jung, on last 10 years and more to come

NMIXX enters into unknown world through debut album ‘Ad Mare’

With more and more groups splashing onto the music scene here in the fourth generation of K-pop, rookie NMIXX is the latest to throw their hats into the ring. Produced by K-pop powerhouse JYP Entertainment, which houses globetrotting acts like boy band Stray Kids, the septet entered the K-pop fray last week with an ambition to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Wonder Girls, MissA, Twice and Itzy. The seven members of the girl group -- Haewon, Sullyoon, Jinni, Bae, Jiwoo and Kyujin, al

Much ink being spilled over legal status of tattoo artists in Korea

A galvanizing moment may be coming for licensing and registration system for giving tattoos, which has been outlawed for 4 decades

Investing in the metaverse: Look before you leap

Be aware of excessive hype, metaverse’s goal of building twin lives in virtual worlds is still just a concept, experts say

From study cafes to ride-sharing, Koreans seem to prefer same-sex environments. Why?

Gender segregation has deep roots in Korea and is a to-go reaction to sex crime worries