[THE INVESTOR] A government report showed on July 22 that more than 1.18 million units of 3M’s air filters, found to contain toxic chemicals, were distributed to electronics makers and automotive firms over the past three years.According to the report of the Ministry of Environment, submitted to Rep. Kim Sam-hwa of the opposition People’s Party, 1.18 million units of the problematic 3M filters were used for a total of seven air purifier models made by electronics firms including Samsung Electron

[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electro-Mechanics said on July 22 that it would start to supply the first batch of its dual-lens camera modules to Chinese smartphone-makers in the July-September period.“The company is currently working on installing the production facilities for the dual-lens camera modules at its global production factories,” said an executive from the firm in a conference call after announcing its earnings for the second quarter ending June on the day. Samsung Electro-Mechanics’ camera

[THE INVESTOR] Tech giant Samsung Electronics on July 22 said it will recall the filters of Samsung air purifiers and air conditioners that were found to contain chemicals that could cause respiratory diseases.The move comes after the Ministry of Environment announced on July 20 the results of an investigation into filters alleged to have an excessive amount of chemical substances that can cause health risks.LG Electronics has also recently announce plans to recall plan filters containing toxic

[THE INVESTOR] After posting the best earnings in years, Samsung Electronics’ share price is continuing to gain positive momentum in recent days on renewed expectations about its upcoming Galaxy Note 7 smartphone. Samsung saw its share price cross the 1.5 million won threshold on July 11 for the first time since March 2015.Many eyes are now on whether the company’s share price can break the record high of 1,584,000 won ($1,389.2) set on Jan. 3, 2013.The shares closed slightly up 0.19 percent at

[THE INVESTOR] Tech giant Samsung Electronics has filed an application at the Korean patent office to trademark its next virtual reality headset, tentatively dubbed Odyssey. Images of Samsung’s patent filings for the Odyssey VR device. The Investor No specific details of the VR device have been unveiled yet, but some market watchers speculated that the headset will likely be released during the IFA electronics trade show in Germany in September.By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)

[THE INVESTOR] Tech giant LG Electronics(066570) said July 20 that it will announce its April-June quarter earnings on July 29. The company will hold a conference call on the day in which the electronics firm will announce its business plans for the second half this year.

[THE INVESTOR] Display firm LG Display’s organic light-emitting diode display business will likely achieve a turnaround in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization this year, according to Hi Investment and Securities, an investment firm, on July 18. “The company’s OELD TV panel business will gain a 12 percent margin in EBIDTA this year -- the first positive margin since the start of the business,” said Jeong Won-seok, an analyst from the investment firm. EBITDA is widely us

[THE INVESTOR] Although Samsung Electro-Mechanics is anticipated to post a lower-than-expected operating profit in the April-June period, the electronics component maker will see its profit grow in the third quarter thanks to robust sales of Samsung Electronics’ upcoming Galaxy Note 7 smartphone, according to a recent report.“Samsung Electro-Mechanics’ operating profit in the second quarter will likely come in at 10 billion won ($8.80 million), missing market expectations. The operating profit w

Memebox is a relatively new face in the South Korean beauty industry which is largely dominated by cosmetics giants such as Amorepacific, Estee Lauder and MAC. Entering a market occupied by such established corporations poses challenges for any newcomer. But Memebox saw an opportunity in what seemed an already crowded market. It jumped into the sector as a cosmetics subscription and delivery service in 2012.  Meme Box CEO Ha Hyung-seok (Yoon Byung-chan/The Korea Herald) “Other cosmetic companies

[THE INVESTOR] On the day when mobile messenger LINE Corp. went public on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on July 15, Lee Hae-jin, the board chairman of Internet giant Naver, called for the so-called ‘Google Tax’ to ensure fair competition in the Korean market.“Global companies including Facebook, Google, and Apple neither unveil how much they make with their services and products nor pay taxes,” said Naver board chairman Lee, who made his first public appearance in nearly three years at a media event

[THE INVESTOR] Naver ’s stock price is forecast to rise in sync with the upward trend of mobile messenger firm LINE Corp’s stock, which was listed on the New York Exchange and Tokyo Stock Exchange this week, according to a market report on July 15. “LINE made a high-profile debut, opening at US$42 per share, up 27.9 percent from its offer price of US$32.84,” said Oh Dong-hwan, an analyst from Samsung Securities. “Naver’s stock will likely move in tandem with that of LINE in the short term,” he s

[THE INVESTOR] HAAN, an electronics firm well known for its steam vacuum cleaner, had its capital completely impaired last year while having posted an operating loss for two years in a row, according to news reports. Han Kyung-hee, CEO of home appliances firm HAANThe electronics firm, which had grown rapidly on the back of the popularity of its home appliances for years, was inundated with 30.9 billion won (US$26.94 million) of debt last year, which surpassed 10.7 billion won of the company’s to

[THE INVESTOR] South Korea’s largest conglomerate Samsung Group has picked 12 university research projects in the three categories of artificial intelligence, fast charging battery cell, and exterior materials for IT devices -- as a part of its future technology support program. Among them, six involve developing the latest AI and deep learning technologies, while three are focused on battery technology. The rest will be studying exterior materials for IT devices. Samsung Group’s headquarters in

[THE INVESTOR] State antitrust watchdog Fair Trade Commission’s preliminary decision to oppose the proposed merger and acquisition plan between IPTV operator SK Broadband and cable TV operator CJ HelloVision has left the two companies as well as the cable TV and media content sectors in trouble.The 50-billion-won (US$43 million) investment plan of the merged business entity in nurturing media content businesses, promised by network operator SK Telecom, the parent firm of SKB, has now seemingly g

[THE INVESTOR] LG Electronics said in its earnings guidance released on July 8 that it posted 584.6 billion won (US$503.9 million) in operating profit and 14 trillion won in revenue in the April-June period.The estimated operating profit and revenue increased 139.5 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively, on-year while they increased 15.7 percent and 4.8 percent, compared to the first quarter this year. LGE billboard at New York City's Times Square. / LG Electronics  The company’s home appliance b

[THE INVESTOR] LG Electronics, once considered a smartphone powerhouse along with Samsung Electronics and Apple, may feel like tumbling down a steep hill due to the disappointing performance of its flagship mobile business in recent years.After the sluggish sales of the G4 in 2015, the tech company had to eat humble pie once again with its latest high-end smartphone G5 when the latest marquee device lost its steam rather fast. LG Electronics’ mobile business chief Cho Ju-noUnveiled in March 31 w

[THE INVESTOR] A Go match between an artificial intelligence program and a human player will be held for the second time in Russia later this month.The National Institute for Mathematical Science, a state-run agency to promote the start-up and industrial mathematics sectors, said on July 7, Korean Go master Cho Hye-yeon and Japanese AI Go solution Zen will compete in a one-round match at the European Go Congress to be held on July 27 in St. Petersburg, Russia.  Go master Cho Hye-yeon (far right)

[THE INVESTOR] The country’s antitrust watchdog said on July 4 that it has completed its review of the merger and acquisition deal being pursued by IPTV operator SK Broadband and CJ Hellovision -- a cable TV company.The Fair Trade Commission said it sent its final evaluation report including its recommendations on the merger to SK Telecom, the parent company of SK Broadband, for feedback. Based on the results, a final decision on whether to allow the M&A will be made by Ministry of Science, ICT

[THE INVESTOR] Multinational conglomerate 3M is remaining silent over its potentially toxic filters used in local air cleaners, stirring public anger over the lack of countermeasures. Earlier last month, a local broadcast revealed that a toxic substance called OIT was detected in air cleaners produced by Cuckoo and Dayou-winia. LG Electronics also admitted later that it had found the same issue in products. The filters of those products were all provided by 3M. OIT, or octylisothiazolinone, is a

[THE INVESTOR] Korea Development Bank will spend as much as 500 billion won to buy corporate bonds rated “A” or lower, as part of measures to support smaller companies with cash needs to sell new bonds more easily. "Demand in Korea’s corporate debt market has been focused on large companies and their low-risk debt,” the Financial Services Commission said in a statement. “The announced measures are intended at supporting demand for lower-rate debt, so that more companies can raise funds through t