Most Popular
-
1
Opposition-led Assembly unilaterally passes bill to probe Marine's death
-
2
Golden chance to liquidate babies’ gold rings?
-
3
Inflation eases in April, continues bumpy ride
-
4
Russia sent more than 165,000 barrels of refined petroleum to N. Korea in March: White House
-
5
Seoul to more than double military drones by 2026 to counter NK threats
-
6
Key suspects grilled over alleged abuse of power in Marine death inquiry
-
7
Seoul alerts overseas missions to NK terror threats
-
8
Over 60% of S. Koreans support W100m childbirth incentive: survey
-
9
‘Inside Out 2’ adds four new emotions, explores teenage life
-
10
Questions raised over fair promotion of RM, NewJeans
-
Coupang holds hackathon to improve customer service
E-commerce firm Coupang said Friday that it held a three-day Customer Service Hackathon to come up with ways to improve its customer experience. Participants of the fourth Coupang CS Hackathon (Coupang)Now in its fourth year, the Customer Service Hackathon brings together Coupang’s customer service representatives with system developers to realize front-line representatives’ ideas for improving the Coupang experience.This year’s contest drew some 100 ideas, with 23 of them developed into usable
IndustryDec. 22, 2017
-
[Weekender] For Koreans, ’tis a time for spending
For Koreans, Christmas comes with its own set of spending rituals.It is no surprise that the beloved holiday is accompanied by quasi-mandatory consumption patterns, in a country where specific dates, like Nov. 11, are automatically equated with buying particular products.The most notable Christmas product is Christmas cakes. Although the original tradition overseas is to bake Christmas cakes at home, in Korea consumers head to bakeries for their Christmas treats.According to bakery chain Paris B
IndustryDec. 22, 2017
-
BlackBerry seeks to win back Korean consumers with new phone
The president of BlackBerry Mobile expressed confidence on Friday that his company can grab South Korean consumers with the BlackBerry KEYOne Black Edition, but it remains unclear whether the entry-level premium smartphone can make a dent in a country dominated by Samsung Electronics and Apple Inc.Alain Lejeune said South Korea is "a demanding and competitive market," but he said the BlackBerry KEYOne Black Edition will be a successful product in South Korea."This is an opportunity as we are bri
TechnologyDec. 22, 2017
-
Samsung announces first OCF certified IoT module
Samsung Electronics said Friday it has won certification for the Samsung ARTIK 05x series of modules from the Open Connectivity Foundation, allowing it to supply the first system-on-modules using the new OCF 1.3 standards for connectivity for the Internet of Things. With the ARTIK 05x series, companies can quickly manufacture Wi-Fi enabled products that meet OCF standards for interoperability and take advantage of connecting with Samsung and other companies’ products with ensured reliability, sa
TechnologyDec. 22, 2017
-
SsangYong Motor re-enters Sudan after 8 years
SsangYong Motor, the local unit of India’s Mahindra & Mahindra, will start 2018 by re-entering the lucrative Sudanese market after eight years, seeking to expand its market share in Africa, the company said Friday. The decision came after the US lifted economic sanctions against Sudan in October 2016 after some 20 years.Starting with the Korando Sports pickup truck, which will go be called Actyon Sports there, and the Korando Turismo multipurpose vehicle, the company plans to export some 2,400 u
MobilityDec. 22, 2017
-
[Behind the Wheel] Ioniq PHEV exciting and stable
The eco-friendly compact sedan Ioniq plug-in hybrid electric vehicle does not have a sporty look. Yet, it is far more exciting to drive than expected.A latecomer to the green movement, Hyundai Motor released three different versions of Ioniq. The Ioniq PHEV, tested by the Korea Herald for three days last week, is the latest in the Ioniq series targeted at mass consumers. After three consecutive days of traveling nearly 200 kilometers, the Ioniq PHEV showed fuel economy of 18.7 kilometers per lit
MobilityDec. 22, 2017
-
Finance minister cautiously upbeat about 2018 economic growth
South Korea's chief economic policymaker has said the South Korean economy will see solid growth in 2018, but there are still headwinds."The global economy is expected to remain strong, but at the same there are unfavorable external factors, such as trade protectionism and rate hikes," Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon said in a press meeting Thursday. "We also have many things to do for job creation, and that's the top priority of next year's economic policy."Asia's fourth-larg
EconomyDec. 22, 2017
-
Govt. to promote production, use of ultra-small cars
The government said Friday it will push legislation early next year to promote the production and use of supermini vehicles as a means of saving energy.Ultra-small vehicles will include those with less than 250 cc in engine capacity or 15kW in rated output, that are lighter than 600 kilograms and have a maximum speed of 80 kms per hour, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said.In comparison, vehicles with up to 1,000 cc in engine capacity are categorized as small cars under the Au
EconomyDec. 22, 2017
-
Watchdog probes banks' alleged hiring irregularities
South Korea's financial watchdog has started an inquiry into allegations that some banks gave special favors to some job candidates related to senior executives, sources said Friday.The Financial Supervisory Service mobilized a team of 30 inspectors Tuesday to begin investigating suspected hiring-related wrongdoing by 11 commercial lenders, including such major players as Kookmin, KEB Hana, Shinhan and Nonghyup.The initial investigation was to be concluded later Friday.The FSS investigators visi
MarketDec. 22, 2017
-
Spirits market turns to lighter alcohol
The spirits market is showing a notable rise in sales in the low-ABV category this holiday season, as South Koreans increasingly celebrate with lighter drinks and smaller gatherings.Since last year, Korea has seen a surge in demand for liquor with low alcohol by volume. Whiskey companies have also been releasing options for consumers who shy away from heavy drinks. A DRINKiQ session at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in February raises awareness about responsible drinking (Diageo)Targeting
IndustryDec. 21, 2017
-
[Advertorial] KT&G leads in move to fight youth unemployment
KT&G, South Korea’s No. 1 tobacco maker by market share, has been actively engaging in a state-led initiative to fight youth unemployment that marked 9.8 percent as of 2016, the highest since 1999.The projects initiated by the company include renting out suits for job interviews and providing tailored consulting sessions, under the names “SangSang Closet,” “SangSang Career Camp” and “SangSang Compass Camp.”The SangSang Closet program has been in operation since September last year offering a fre
IndustryDec. 21, 2017
-
Revised FTC guideline to force Samsung SDI to sell stake in C&T
Korea’s antitrust watchdog said Thursday it would correct what it called an error in its guideline on conglomerates’ cross-shareholding structure, a decision that would force a Samsung affiliate to sell more of its stake in Samsung C&T Corp., the de facto holding company of the tech giant. In December 2015, the Fair Trade Commission had set the guideline with regard to a merger between Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries, prohibiting the conglomerate from strengthening its shareholding chains by th
IndustryDec. 21, 2017
-
Samsung SDS concludes test on blockchain tech for shipping
Samsung SDS said Thursday a consortium led by the company had successfully concluded a monthslong test on blockchain-powered storage in marine transport, with the expectation that the technology will take the shipping industry to a new level. (Samsung SDS)Importers and exporters can make transactions of documents, such as a bill of landing and letter of credit, on the decentralized security system, free of forgery and tampering threats, according to the software solution developer arm under Sou
TechnologyDec. 21, 2017
-
Duty-free operators restart marketing for China
Duty-free operators are restarting marketing efforts that target Chinese consumers, as thawing relations between the two countries point to the possibility of recovering sales.On Thursday, HDC Shilla Duty Free and Shinsegae Duty Free announced they had signed agreements with Chinese agencies to expand marketing to China. HDC Shilla Duty Free opened a studio in its IPark store for Chinese internet celebrities, known as Wang Hong, to create specialized content for the Chinese. The Wang Hong studi
IndustryDec. 21, 2017
-
Hyundai completes development of voice-recognition assistant
Hyundai Motor has completed the development of a voice-recognition personal assistant jointly developed with a US tech company, and will adopt the service in cars to be released in 2019, the company said Thursday.The voice-recognition platform called Intelligent Personal Agent controls in-car systems and features, and provides information for drivers on a real-time basis, the company said in a statement.The South Korean carmaker will unveil the connected car service at the Consumer Electronics S
MobilityDec. 21, 2017
-
Hyundai Mobis developing tech preventing accidents from drowsy driving
Hyundai Mobis is developing a driverless system that would direct the vehicle to a safe area when it senses the driver dozing off, the company said Thursday.The system named departed driver rescue and exit maneuver, or DDREM, takes full control of the steering wheel when it determines that the driver is incapable of driving and leads the vehicle to the nearest road shoulder or resting area. The company aims to fully develop it by 2021, after introducing it at the Consumer Electronic Show in Las
MobilityDec. 21, 2017
-
[Advertorial] Samsung to ride on big data, AI and connectivity wave
Samsung Electronics, which has marked four straight quarters of record profits, is predicted to see strong performance next year due to the continued “supercycle” of chips and the launch of advanced smartphones and appliances powered by artificial intelligence and connectivity technologies. The Korean tech giant is expected to record 50 trillion won ($46 billion) in operating profit this year. It is forecast to see 60 trillion won in operating margin in the coming year, according to local securi
IndustryDec. 21, 2017
-
Hanwha signs $226m artillery supply contract with Norway
Hanwha Land Systems, a defense business run by Hanwha Group, signed a contract with the Norwegian government to supply two dozen K9 Thunder self-propelled 155 mm howitzers, the company said Thursday.Under the 245.2 billion won ($226.6 million) deal, Hanwha Land Systems will deliver 24 K9 howitzers and six K10 ammunition resupply vehicles by 2020. Son Jae-il, Hanwha Land Systems CEO, shakes hands with Mette Elin Sørfonden, head of Norway's defense material agency, after a contract on K9 self-pro
IndustryDec. 21, 2017
-
S. Korea has third most patents on artificial intelligence after US, Japan
South Korea is witnessing increasing research efforts for artificial intelligence, with the third most patents related to AI technologies after the US and Japan, a survey by a local research institute found Thursday. However, the country’s growth pace and quality of patent applications remain inferior to those of the US and China, the survey added. According to the Institute for Information & Communications Technology Promotion, Korea came in third in terms of the number of AI-related patents th
TechnologyDec. 21, 2017
-
Cryptocurrency fuels ‘irrational exuberance’: BOK Gov.
South Korea‘s top monetary policymaker expressed concerns on what he called the nation’s “irrational exuberance” that may partly be blamed on the cryptocurrency frenzy among local retail investors, during a meeting with the press Wednesday night.This comes in contrast to the “rational exuberance” seen in Korea’s bull financial markets, such as the record run in stock markets and flattening yield curve driven by robust fundamentals and a low key rate poli
MarketDec. 21, 2017