Articles by Shim Woo-hyun
Shim Woo-hyun
ws@heraldcorp.com-
Increase of 5G users in Korea slows down
South Korean mobile carriers are struggling to entice more customers for 5G services amid the new coronavirus outbreak, according to latest data Tuesday. In January, the number of 5G network users here increased by 290,000 to 4.95 million in a month, the lowest amount of increase since local mobile carriers launched 5G services in April last year, as per ICT Ministry data. Since April last year, local telecom firms saw the number of new 5G network subscribers increase by more than half a mill
Industry March 3, 2020
-
[Herald Interview] SKT aims to take lead in AR/VR service
South Korea’s top mobile carrier SK Telecom is betting on high-end virtual and augmented reality technologies to increase its foothold, despite the complexity. Backed by many years of sturdy investments and its 5G mobile network, SKT has been releasing pilot VR/AR services -- promoted in the form of virtual zoo, for instance -- with the aim of eventually creating a whole new experience for customers. Behind its initiatives in the newly emerging market is Jeon Jin-soo, vice president a
Technology March 2, 2020
-
Most Koreans concerned of prolonged coronavirus spread: survey
Eight out of 10 office workers are concerned that the COVID-19 outbreak could prolong, according to a survey by a local online community operator. Blind, a local operator of employees’ community application, surveyed some 2,427 office workers over the nationwide spread of the viral outbreak. The proportion of workers who expressed concerns increased to 83 percent, when compared to the same survey conducted from Feb. 7-13 (67 percent). Most of those who were concerned said they are wor
Industry March 1, 2020
-
Korea’s exports bounce back despite coronavirus in Feb.
South Korea’s exports rose 4.5 percent in February from a year earlier, marking the first improvement after falling for 14 consecutive months, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy’s report on Sunday. According to the data, South Korea’s exports in February increased by 4.5 percent to $41.2 billion, compared to $39.4 billion in the same month last year. The average daily exports went down by 11.7 percent to $1.83 billion, compared to the last month, t
Industry March 1, 2020
-
[Chew on IT] Over-the-top services boom in Korea despite uncertainties
While South Korean broadcasters and mobile carriers are scrambling to roll out new over-the-top services -- pledging to invest in exclusive contents -- it is uncertain whether they can compete with foreign service providers who are dominating the market. The online streaming services -- replacing traditional cable or satellite TV networks -- took off relatively late here compared to the US where user demand is high. But the demand has been rising, coupled with hyperconnected internet t
Technology March 1, 2020
-
Deutsche Telekom to test-run SKT’s 5G tech in Germany
Deutsche Telekom, the parent company of T-mobile, will start testing the 5G radio frequency repeater that it co-developed with SK Telecom during the second quarter of this year, according to a statement released by the South Korean mobile carrier on Thursday. SK Telecom’s 5G radio frequency repeater is a wireless device that receives 5G signals from outside and transmits it to users inside buildings and tunnels and on basement floors. In the second quarter of this year, Deutsche Telekom
Technology Feb. 27, 2020
-
Naver grants incentive stock options to employees
Korean internet and search giant Naver said it will grant stock options to its employees to purchase up to a total of 1.06 million stocks, the company said in its regulatory filing issued Wednesday late afternoon. The stocks that will go to the company’s employees account for 0.65 percent of Naver’s stocks, the company added. The stocks will be provided to 3,084 workers at a price of 186,000 ($153) won per share. The options are exercisable for a period of five years starting in
Industry Feb. 27, 2020
-
Amorepacific to sell Gangnam building for W160b
Cosmetics giant Amorepacific will sell its office building in Nonhyun-dong, within Seoul’s Gangnam district, for 160 billion won ($131.25 million), according to the company’s regulatory filing Wednesday. The company decided to sell the building to secure liquidity and to improve solvency, the report said. The company added that it planned to sell it by April 29 this year. The target price accounts for about 2 percent of the cosmetic firm’s total assets as of end-2018. The
Industry Feb. 26, 2020
-
Over 80% of Koreans watch videos online
Eight out of 10, or 81.2 percent, Koreans watch videos online, according to a ICT Ministry report released Wednesday, with about 73.7 percent watching them on a daily basis. The ministry, in its annual survey on internet use patterns, surveyed a total 60,254 people from 25,031 households here between August and September last year. Online video platforms were most frequently used by the younger generation. About 93 percent of the people in their 20s answered that they watch videos online -- t
Technology Feb. 26, 2020
-
Revenues of Korean IoT firms surpass W10tr in 2019
South Korea-based internet-of-things firms posted revenue of over 10 trillion won in 2019, up 16.2 percent on-year, according to the ICT Ministry on Tuesday. This is the first time for IoT companies have crossed the revenue milestone since the ministry began collecting relevant figures in 2014. Domestic sales accounted for 89 percent with 9.7 trillion won. Exports accounted for the remaining 1.2 trillion won. Exports have shown an average annual increase of 46.3 percent from 2015-19, the min
Industry Feb. 26, 2020
-
Air Busan suspends 25 international routes amid coronavirus outbreak
Air Busan on Monday said it will suspend 78 percent of its international routes next month to counter business challenges amid the COVID-19 outbreak. In March, the domestic low-cost carrier will stop operating 25 international routes bound for China and Southeast Asian countries, which have recently seen a dramatic decrease in passengers. According to the company, all Air Busan executives, including the CEO, have submitted their resignations to help the company cope with recent financial diff
Industry Feb. 24, 2020
-
Use of AI speakers, PCs, smartphones increases in Korea amid COVID-19 outbreak
The use of AI speakers, PCs and smartphones has increased here amid the COVID-19 outbreak, according to industry data. South Korean mobile carrier KT on Friday said use of its AI speaker Giga Genie increased 8.3 percent in Jan. 30-Feb. 12 compared with Jan. 2-15, before the outbreak was reported. In particular, the number of news searches surged 99 percent, KT said, adding that they were largely related to confirmed cases of the coronavirus here. Online grocery shopping via the AI speake
Industry Feb. 21, 2020
-
Samsung’s Z Flip Thom Browne edition sells out in 2 1/2 hours
Online sales of Samsung Electronics’ Z Flip Thom Browne edition ended within just 2 1/2 hours on Friday. Samsung Electronics at Thursday midnight started sales of the limited Thom Browne edition of its new foldable phone. The company’s official website suffered crashes from the load as a rush of consumers tried to connect all at once. The number of Z Flip Thom Browne edition phones sold remained undisclosed by the company. Samsung Electronics was initially to open sales of the Z
Industry Feb. 21, 2020
-
South Korea’s environment monitoring satellite successfully launched
The world’s first geostationary environment-monitoring satellite Chollian 2B made by South Korea has been successfully launched and reached outer space, the country’s aerospace research institute said Wednesday. Chollian 2B was launched on the Ariane 5 ECA rocket from the space center in Kourou, French Guiana, at 7:18 a.m. as scheduled, according to the Korea Aerospace Research Institute. The satellite was detached from the Ariane rocket at 7:49 a.m. and made its first comm
Technology Feb. 19, 2020
-
South Korea’s environment-monitoring satellite Chollian 2B awaits countdown
South Korea’s environment-monitoring satellite Chollian 2B will lift off Wednesday morning as scheduled, the government-led aerospace project team said Tuesday. The Chollian 2B, a twin satellite of the Chollian 2A launched in 2018, is the world’s first geostationary satellite to be used in observing air conditions from 36,000 kilometers above the Earth’s equator. “The only thing that is left at the current moment is the countdown,” said Choi Jae-dong, director of
Technology Feb. 18, 2020
Most Popular
-
1
Korea’s homegrown nanosatellite successfully launches into space
-
2
[Herald Interview] 'Amid aging population, Korea to invite more young professionals from overseas'
-
3
Nicaragua shuts down Seoul embassy
-
4
Hybe's multilabel system tested amid conflict with Ador
-
5
Ador CEO denies allegations, accuses Hybe of mistreating NewJeans
-
6
Rocket engine expert, ex-NASA exec to lead Korea's new space agency
-
7
SNU profs to suspend treatment for one day
-
8
SK hynix pledges W20tr to ramp up DRAM production at home
-
9
Over-50s, men, single-person households take up majority of those filing for bankruptcy
-
10
Pianist Cho Seong-Jin named Berlin Philharmonic's artist-in-residence