[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy S7 Edge topped Android phone sales in the first half of this year, a market research firm said on Aug. 3According to Strategy Analytics, the curved-screen version of Samsung’s flagship smartphone shipped 11.3 million units in the first six months of the year, outselling its flat-screen sibling that was ranked third with 11.8 million shipments. The curved screen of Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge.The second-highest selling Android phone was Samsung’s budget smart

[THE INVESTOR] CJ HelloVision, the nation’s largest cable TV operator whose recent attempt to be merged with SK Telecom ended in failure, saw a plunge in its second-quarter earnings. The company posted 24.1 billion won (US$22 million) in operating profit in the April-June period, down 12.5 percent from a year ago. Revenue was also down 7.9 percent to 280.3 billion won. The company said it has reduced marketing and investment activities after the merger plan was announced in November last year, l

[THE INVESTOR] Kakao Corp., the operator of the nation’s most popular mobile messenger KakaoTalk, said on Aug. 3 that it has provided the government access to 15 user accounts following its wiretap request in the first half of this year. Amid privacy concerns among its users, the Korean internet giant started providing chat records of KakaoTalk to cooperate with serious criminal investigations from October last year. The company has also published a transparency report twice a year.  Adding to t

[THE INVESTOR] The Seoul City government said on Aug. 3 it will create a 3 million square-meter site in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul, as an industrial hub for software and information communications technology sectors. The site that covers Yangjae-dong and Umyeon-dong will be developed as an industrial complex for tech firms, including a 750,000 square-meter research and development center. The Seoul Metropolitan Government expects some 15,000 new jobs to be created through the plan. SMG plans to d

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean Internet giant Naver will build its second head office building adjacent to the current headquarters in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province.The company said on Aug. 3 it plans to start the construction within the year on a 120,000 square-meter site that it purchased from the city government for 123.5 billion won (US$111 million) back in 2014. The concept image of Naver's second headquarters buliding.The first-phase construction includes building eight floors above the ground a

[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electronics shipments of its Galaxy Note 7 could reach 12 million units in the latter half of this year, Hyundai Securities forecast on Aug. 3. The latest Note phablet was unveiled on Aug. 2, with its key features including an iris scanner, a curved screen and waterproof stylus functions.  Samsung Galaxy Note 7“The Galaxy Note 7, which is scheduled to be launched on Aug. 19, will preoccupy demand for premium phones before Apple’s iPhone 7 that comes out later in September,

[THE INVESTOR] CJ Korea Express will set up a 50:50 joint venture with Chinese appliance giant TCL, the logistics unit of CJ Group said Aug. 3.The Korean firm will invest 486 million yuan (US$73 million) to acquire 50 percent stake in TCL’s logistics affiliate Speedex that handles transport of the company’s home appliances and smartphones. CJ Korea Express’ distribution centerThe acquisition process will be finalized by Aug. 31 and the new entity will be named as CJ Speedex.CJ Korea Express, the

[THE INVESTOR] NEW YORK -- When it was first launched n 2011, not many expected Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Note smartphone to survive the tough competition with small-size peers, including the then hot-selling iPhone. Journalists and industry people try out Samsung Electronics’ new gadgets at the Galaxy Note 7 Unpacked event held in New York on Aug. 2. Samsung ElectronicsThe Note lineup -- with its latest model Note 7 unveiled on Aug. 2 in New York -- has evolved and gained a great deal of popu

[THE INVESTOR] Coway, the nation’s No. 1 water purifier rental service firm, said on Aug. 2 its second-quarter operating profit plunged 89.3 percent to 11.8 billion won (US$10 million) on-year largely due to its recent recall of nickel-tainted products. Net profit also nosedived 96.6 percent to 2.8 billion won during the April-June period from a year ago, while sales were down 0.1 percent to 555 billion won. The company faced a public outcry after the toxic chemical nickel was detected in some o

[THE INVESTOR] The Korean government will review Google’s recent request asking its permission to carry map data out of the country amid public concerns about the possible outflow of national wealth. The National Geographic Information Institute, together with seven other government offices, will hold a meeting to discuss the issue on Aug. 12, with the deadline for the final decision set for Aug. 25. Eric Schmidt, executive chairman of Alphabet, the parent company of Google, visited Seoul in Mar

[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electronics has widened the gap with its archrival Apple in terms of smartphone sales in the April-June period. According to market research firm Counterpoint Research, Samsung shipped 77 million smartphones in the second quarter, up 3.4 percent from a year ago with 21.4 percent market share. Apple’s shipments declined 14.9 percent to 40.4 million units during the same period, with its market share standing at 11.2 percent, down 2.4 percent on-year. Huawei was ranked third

[THE INVESTOR] LG Electronics will start supplying parts for General Motors’ upcoming full-electric Chevrolet Bolt from later this month. The Korean tech giant plans to supply 11 key parts, including motor, invertor and battery pack, for the next six years. The car is expected to be launched in the fourth quarter.  GM’s Chevrolet Bolt EV conceptLG’s vehicle component is making a big push to secure more orders from global carmakers. Industry watchers expect the division’s sales could surge to 3 t

[THE INVESTOR] Kolon Industries, the chemical and textile unit of Kolon Group, said on Aug. 2 it will invest about 90 billion won (US$81 million) in producing colorless polyimide, a key material for “bendable” smartphones and other flexible mobile devices. The company said it aims to complete the production line at its plant in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, by the first quarter of 2018.  Kolon’s colorless polyimide, a key material for “bendable” smartphonesKolon is the first to produce the ne

[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electronics' price-to-earnings ratio has outpaced that of its archrival Apple for the first time. Samsung is currently trading at a P/E ratio of 13.41 on the local bourse, while the figure for Apple remains at about 12.23. Until the end of 2013, Apple’s P/E ratio (12.14) almost doubled that of Samsung (6.93). But the gap started reducing in 2015. While Apple’s P/E ratio remained almost the same last year at about 12.43, that of Samsung soared to 9.98. This year, Samsung st

[THE INVESTOR] Taiwan’s Hon Hai Precision Industry, more widely known as Foxconn, is joining a bidding war to acquire Tongyang Magic, a South Korean appliance maker whose key business includes water purifier rental service. According to news reports on Aug. 2, Foxconn has recently hired a global securities firm as the deal advisor. The deal is expected to be carried out through Japan’s Sharp that the company acquired in April.  Foxconn chairman Terry Gou“Foxconn sees business synergies among its

[THE INVESTOR] LG Electronics said on Aug. 1 its new high-end smartphone V20 will come out in September, featuring the Nougat, the latest version of Google’s Android operating system. The V20 is the successor of its V10 phablet that debuted in September last year.  LG V10. The successor V20 will become the first smartphone to be powered by Google`s latest Android 7.0 Nougat OS.The phone will become the first model to be powered by the Android 7.0 Nougat, the result of the company’s close relatio

[THE INVESTOR] Smilegate, the Korean online game developer best known for its popular shooting game “Crossfire,” said on Aug. 1 it has set up a new platform development unit Smilegate Stove. The new unit is a spin-off from the group’s platform development and game publishing unit Smilegate Megaport that has recently been struggling from slowing profits. The group said the new unit aims to develop a new platform that combines online and mobile games. Smilegate chairman Kwon Hyuk-beom will serve a

[THE INVESTOR] Shares of Hotel Shilla, the hotel unit of Samsung Group, hit a record low on Aug. 1 after its second-quarter earnings fell far below estimates. The price closed at 57,300 won (US$51), down 3.86 percent from the previous trading day. The figure has plunged by more than half from 141,500 won, the lowest price last year. Shilla I’Park Duty Free store in YongsanThe price continued to tumble over the past week since the company reported its April-June earnings on July 22. Its operating

[THE INVESTOR] NC SOFT, the nation’s leading online game developer, said on Aug. 1 it will launch the mobile version of its popular golf game “Pangya” in the Chinese market through Baidu Games next year. The plan was unveiled during Baidu Games Energy Night held in Shanghai on July 29. Developed by the company’s affiliate Ntreev Soft, “Pangya” has been launched in some 40 countries globally. The mobile version has been upgraded for better user experience. By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)

[THE INVESTOR] Rolls-Royce, the London-based aircraft engine manufacturer, is eyeing South Korea’s aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul or MRO service market, with flag carrier Asiana Airlines being cited as the potential partner. According to industry sources on Aug. 1, the company has recently continued talks with local partners for the Korean entry as it is joining the government’s indigenous fighter jet program KFX. Asiana Airlines’ first Airbus A380 that is powered by Rolls-Royce engin