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Samsung expands ‘AI for All’ vision at CES 2025
Samsung to launch Ballie AI companion robot in first half of this year Korea Herald correspondent LAS VEGAS -- Samsung Electronics announced its “AI for All” vision at CES 2025 on Monday, highlighting new features of its AI home platform for a more personalized, connected experience. At the CES 2025 Samsung Press Conference, where some 1,300 participants from around the world gathered, the tech giant also unveiled a plan to start sales of its AI companion robot Ballie in the first half of this y
Jan. 7, 2025 -
Trump’s US Navy overhaul plan raises hopes for Korean shipbuilders
Stock prices of HD Hyundai, Hanwha Ocean soar on US president-elect hinting at outsourcing military ships The stocks of Korean shipbuilders on Tuesday gained steam after US President-elect Donald Trump hinted at possibly outsourcing US Navy ships to Washington’s allies in an effort to rebuild American maritime military forces. “We’re going to do to something with ships,” Trump said in an interview on "The Hugh Hewitt Show," a conservative radio program, Monday. “We need ships. And we may have to
Jan. 7, 2025 -
KCCI picks AI, K-culture as retail keywords for 2025
The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry released its 2025 Retail Industry White Paper on Tuesday, citing "AI" and "K-culture" as the key words to define retail growth this year. Amid intensifying economic recession and growing uncertainties, the report stresses that survival will hinge on retail companies finding next-generation business and revenue models. It emphasizes leveraging AI and K-culture as growth drivers while actively addressing the evolving consumer trend of prioritizing value a
Jan. 7, 2025 -
BAT expands VUSE lineup to spur Korean growth
BAT Rothmans, the Korean unit of British American Tobacco, announced Tuesday its plans to accelerate growth in the country’s vape market by expanding its product lineup and distribution network. Since entering the Korean market 18 months ago -- the first in Asia to introduce the VUSE Go lineup -- the brand has earned recognition for its use of high-quality natural nicotine and odor-free products, the company said. The VUSE Go Slim 2ml, one of its flagship products, which was initially available
Jan. 7, 2025 -
Samsung, LG vie for AI leadership at CES
SK joins world's largest tech show to beef up US presence Korea Herald correspondent LAS VEGAS – South Korean tech giants Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics kicked off CES 2025 on Monday by unveiling their innovative visions for smart homes, introducing groundbreaking connectivity systems to transform how people interact with and optimize their living spaces. Samsung, which has set up the largest booth at the consumer-focused tech show spanning 3,368 square meters at the Las Vegas Convention
Jan. 6, 2025 -
NongHyup Card appoints first female CEO
NH Card, the card issuer under South Korean financial service provider NongHyup Financial Group, announced Monday it had appointed Lee Min-kyung, executive vice president at NH NongHyup Bank, as its first female chief. Lee will lead NH Card, which is operated as a company-in-company under the lender. The card unit explained Lee was named as its new CEO for her extensive experience in consumer protection and asset management. Born in 1967, Lee joined the bank in 1986 and has been with the lender
Jan. 6, 2025 -
Xiaomi eyes bigger presence in Korea
Chinese tech giant sets up Korean unit with plans for numerous product launches Chinese smartphone-maker Xiaomi said Monday it has established a Korean subsidiary, Xiaomi Korea, signaling its full-scale entry into the home turf of Samsung Electronics, the No. 1 smartphone-maker, and LG Electronics, the home appliances giant. “We aim to connect more closely with consumers through the establishment of our Korean subsidiary,” a Xiaomi Korea official said. “By delivering localized products and servi
Jan. 6, 2025 -
Samyang CEO vows to replicate Buldak success with health care business
Building on the global success of its Buldak series, Korean food manufacturer Samyang Roundsquare CEO Kim Jung-soo announced "wellness" and "health care" as the group’s new strategic direction. In a New Year’s address released Monday, Kim highlighted key milestones, including becoming the first in the food industry to win the prestigious $7 billion Export Tower Award and achieving 1 trillion won ($750 million) in exports under the Buldak brand. "In 2025, we will not rest on our current achieveme
Jan. 6, 2025 -
K-beauty exports surpass $10b milestone
China remains largest importer, but US, Japan drive up growth Korean beauty products have reached new heights in global markets, with exports surpassing the $10 billion mark for the first time last year. According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on Monday, Korean cosmetics exports reached $10.2 billion last year, a 20.6 percent increase on-year from $8.46 billion in 2023. This milestone comes 12 years after exports first surpassed $1 billion in 2012, showing steady growth despite slowdow
Jan. 6, 2025 -
Pernod Ricard commits to promoting Korean culture globally
Pernod Ricard Korea, the local unit of the French spirits giant, announced Monday that it will continue supporting the global promotion of Korean culture through its sponsorship of the Corea Image Communication Institute. The company has been backing CICI’s cultural initiatives since 2023 as part of its 2030 Sustainability & Responsibility roadmap, which emphasizes diversity and inclusion as well as “valuing people.” These initiatives, the company said, aim to showcase Korea’s rich heritage and
Jan. 6, 2025 -
YouTube faces backlash over selective pricing policy in Korea
US tech giant Google is under scrutiny in Korea for its selective pricing plans for YouTube Premium users here, charging them significantly higher fees than users in other countries. According to recent data from the National Assembly Research Service released Monday, the monthly subscription fee for the ad-free YouTube Premium is 14,900 won ($10.16) per user in Korea. For a household of four, this amounts to a hefty 59,600 won monthly if each member subscribes individually. The price is more th
Jan. 6, 2025 -
Samsung Biologics to attend JP Morgan Healthcare Conference next week
Samsung Biologics, the biotech arm of Samsung Group, said Monday that it will participate in the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference, the world’s largest healthcare investment symposium, next week. Now in its 43rd year, the JPMHC is held every January in San Francisco, California. The event, scheduled for Monday through Thursday next week, is expected to draw 550 biotech companies and over 8,000 attendees. Among the invited companies, only 27 were selected to present at the Grand Ballroom in the Wes
Jan. 6, 2025 -
Korean tech giants offer glimpse into AI-driven homes at CES 2025
Samsung, LG focus on connectivity, smart home; Keen interest in SK chief's possible meet-up with Nvidia CEO South Korean tech giants are set to showcase their latest artificial intelligence innovations at this year's CES, the world's largest tech show, scheduled for Jan. 7-10 in Las Vegas, US. The event, organized under the theme, "Connect. Solve. Discover. DIVE IN," will feature about 4,500 companies from 160 countries, marking about 30 percent increase in participation when compared to 2024. S
Jan. 5, 2025 -
Mirae Asset invests W290b in LS Group's wire unit in US
Mirae Asset Global Investments announced Sunday that it has signed a 290 billion won ($200 million) contract with Essex Solutions, a US wire manufacturing affiliate under South Korean cable and industrial electric machinery conglomerate LS Group. Through the deal, a consortium consisting Mirae Asset and local private equity house KCGI is to invest 290 billion won in Essex Solutions, acquiring a 20 percent stake in the company through a paid-in capital increase. Essex Solutions is a US magnet wir
Jan. 5, 2025 -
SK Energy becomes first to export green aviation fuel to Europe
SK Energy announced Sunday that it has exported sustainable aviation fuel to Europe, becoming the first South Korean oil refiner to do so as part of its transition to low-carbon aviation. The SAF, made from bio-based feedstocks such as used cooking oil and animal fats, was produced using a coprocessing method and shipped to Europe, where airlines are now required to blend at least 2 percent SAF into aviation fuel under new regulations. Europe is currently the only region enforcing such a mandate
Jan. 5, 2025