The government approved an updated ratification bill for the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement after fixing translation errors and submitted it to the National Assembly to seek parliamentary approval.The agreement had been retracted in April over multiple translation errors in the Korean version. Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik urged the early parliamentary approval of the deal.“The KORUS FTA is an ine

Koo tells staff to ceaselessly search for new opportunitiesLG Group chairman Koo Bon-moo touted the importance of creation and innovation, as the single most effective way to lead the market, the Seoul-based company said Thursday.“Constantly creating new things is the only way we can lead the markets,” Koo said at LG’s 19th session of the company’s gathering to spearhead innovative business held M

Ho-Am Foundation on Wednesday held an award ceremony to extend the Ho-Am Prize to four individuals and one institution for their contribution to improving human lives and promoting public welfare. This year’s prizes went to Professor Ha Taek-jip of the University of Illinois for science, Professor Thomas Lee of Standford University for engineering, Professor Augustine Choi of Harvard Medical Schoo

Samsung SDI, on Wednesday vowed to become a global energy firm catering to future needs for recyclable energy marking the official takeover of the solar battery business from its sister firm, Samsung Electronics. With the $147.6 million swap, SDI said it will target annual revenues of 13 trillion won ($12.1 billion) in 2015 and up to 35 trillion won in sales by 2020. More than half of the sales, a

LG Electronics is used to being No. 2. A powerful global electronics brand in its own right, the Seoul-based company has not made it to the highest of peaks. This seemed to be all right, however, as long it could rub shoulders with its top-tier rivals. But a raging “smart war” in the mobile industry changed all that, and LG Electronics is in bad shape in that sector. Koo Bon-joon, vice chairman an

LG Electronics, the flagship unit of LG Group, is passing down its know-how for standardizing technology to African nations to help bolster growth in the region, the Seoul-based company said.The African Organization for Standardization and the chiefs of technology standardization at eight other African countries gathered at the standardization test lab in LG Electronics’ research and development c

The decision to build a plant in Korea for manufacturing dry pumps for semiconductors was a natural one designed to give Edwards a leg-up in the Asian markets. “Korea is geopolitically well-situated to be able to export to the (Asian) markets due to its proximity to the customer, ability to form intimate relationships with them and concentration on technology and right quality of people,” Mathew T

Almost 90 percent of U.S. consumers have given high ratings to the picture quality of 3-D televisions and did not mind the battery-charged eyewear used to watch the three-dimensional images.Up to 88 percent of some 3,065 3-D-capable set owners who participated in a poll commissioned by The Digital Entertainment Group said last week that they were satisfied with their 3-D home viewing experience an

OCHANG/CHEONGJU, North Chungcheong Province ― LG Group’s chemical affiliates is targeting 50 trillion won ($46 billion) in sales by 2016 in a bid to complete the firms’ transition from smokestack to high-tech.The combined sales target of LG Chem, LG Household & Healthcare, LG Hausys and LG Life Sciences would mean double the 24.8 trillion won they raised last year. The growth, LG said, would be dr

Siemens Korea will next month appoint Kim Jong-kap, former head of Hynix Semiconductor, to become the first Korean chief executive in its 60-year history, the company said on Thursday.  Kim Jong-kapKim, 59, was most recently chief of Hynix, the world’s No. 2 memory-chip manufacturer. He completed a three-year term that started in 2007 and is currently head of the board of directors. Prior to Hynix

The U.S. media has highlighted health risks related to excessive exposure to 3-D television at home, warning that it could negatively impact eyesight, especially among children.Citing expert opinions, NBC said kids’ eyes continue to develop until the age of 10, meaning the way their eyes learn to focus could be altered by too much 3-D vision. Another issue was the difference in the 3-D technology

Zippo, most widely known in Korea and around the world for its portable lighters dating back to the second world war, is aiming to rebrand in efforts to reach out to more consumers in search of individuality.“On a global basis, Zippo is moving aggressively from a lighter manufacturing company to a lifestyle products marketing company,” David B. Warfel, the global marketing director of Zippo Manufa

Samsung's Galaxy S 2 smartphones (Yonhap News)‘Apple COO Tim Cook visited Korea to discuss bilateral cooperation’ Apple Inc.’s chief operating officer Tim Cook discussed adopting Samsung’s AMOLED display technology for tablet PCs during his recent visit to South Korea, industry sources said.“Apple wants to tap into Samsung’s AMOLED technology for an upgraded version of the iPad 2, considered as m

The Busan Metropolitan Police Agency on Monday said it is investigating Shinsegae Department Store on allegations that its employees illegally sold gift vouchers worth billions of won to ramp up sales performances. The police have raided Seoul and Busan Centum City offices of the department store and is combing through all financial records related to the gift certificates, officials said. “It’s s

Jack Tong, president of HTC’s North Asia markets, on Friday pledged to beef up commitment on the observation that Korea is a “difficult place” for a foreign brand to succeed mainly due to the competition posed by strong local brands.“I have to admit it is not easy. The Korean market is the most difficult and challenging market for foreign brands,” Tong said. “It’s difficult for the foreign brands

Samsung Electronics has received the Best in Show award for its 70-inch “Ultra Definition” 3-D technology at this year’s Display Week 2011, the company said on Thursday. The Society for Display, a leading global organization dedicated to electronic display technology and organizer of the event, announced the selection of Samsung Electronics at Display Week, which is being held in Los Angeles this

Two heavyweight firms up for grabs on local M&A marketThe company boasts a healthy financial report card, and has long-term expertise in logistics as one of the nation’s first logistics firms ― it was established in 1930. No one for Hynix Hynix, due to its heavy dependence on research and technology, is considered a business that is not as lucrative as expected because of the capital it is forced

Applications related to media, games, lifestyles most profitableChoi Hyun-young, a wedding planner by profession, says life has become so much easier since downloading Awesome Note on her smartphone. The application ― which is basically an online organizer and note-taker ― helps Choi keep her hectic schedule intact with customized folders for work and her personal life, under which she keeps and m

Global mobile phone market gets significant boost by burgeoning demand for smartphonesSamsung Electronics, the world’s second-largest phone maker, has held the biggest U.S. market share for 11 straight quarters anchoring its position as a top seller in the region, according to market research data.Strategy Analytics on Monday said Samsung’s market share stood at 27.4 percent after selling 12.6 mil

Six out of 10 salaried workers are willing to apply for the salary peak system to stay employed longer, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry said on Monday. The salary peak system provides older workers with an opportunity to work past their retirement age, but for a smaller salary once their “peak” has passed. A survey taken by the chamber showed that out of 353 salaried workers, almost 60