[THE INVESTOR] Mobile messenger operator Kakao and K Cube Venture, an early-stage venture capital, will jointly invest 30 billion won ($26.4 million) in Shiftup, a game company.Shiftup was established by art director Kim Hyeong-tae, who participated as an art director in the development of mobile game “Blade & Soul.” The game start-up has recently received the limelight with a hit trailer for mobile game “Destiny Child” which it is currently developing with game firm Nextfloor. Well-known illust

[THE INVESTOR] Mobile messenger operator Kakao said July 19 that it has acquired 20 percent of start-up CNT Tech, which develops systems that receive orders from customers and transfer them to POS systems at the nearby stores.The start-up has also developed its own POS system which is compatible with any network environment and can be utilized for any business in an easy manner, the mobile messenger firm said.The 10-year old start-up which has built up its expertise in e-commerce and POS sector

[THE INVESTOR] The Seoul Family Court will review a high-profile divorce case involving 1.2 trillion won of alimony (US$1.05 billion) between Samsung Group chairman Lee Kun-hee’s eldest daughter Lee Boo-jin and her husband Im Woo-jae, according to news reports. The family court made the decision based on the residential address that the bickering couple shared together for the last time. Im Woo-Jae (left), an advisor at Samsung Electro-Mechanics, and Hotel Shilla CEO Lee Boo-jin.Im, serving as a

[THE INVESTOR] Jeon Je-wan, a Korean first generation start-up entrepreneur, has acquired Cyworld, a social networking service considered a trailblazer in the SNS sector in Korea.Cyworld said on July 19 that Jeon, the head of streaming service Air, has recently taken over the firm after acquiring 100 percent stake in the company previously held by 29 shareholders. The exact cost of the takeover deal was not revealed, but it is estimated to be less than 1 billion won ($881,000).Jeon founded Web p

[THE INVESTOR] LG Display has added a new customer for its organic light-emitting diode display -- German-based TV manufacturer Metz TV.Metz -- owned by Chinese TV maker Skyworth -- will reportedly become LG’s 10th client for OLED panels. The German firm recently said that it would roll out an ultra-high definition OLED TV in September 2016, supporting high-dynamic-range -- a video solution for improving brightness and contrast levels. LG Display’s OLED display. LG DisplayThe Korean display firm

[THE INVESTOR] South Korea’s antitrust watchdog said Monday that it has decided to officially oppose the planned merger between SK Broadband, an IPTV unit of SK Telecom, andCJ HelloVision, the nation’s No. 1 cable TV operator, citing monopoly concerns in the media and telecom markets.After a meeting early in the day, the Fair Trade Commission announced its final decision, wrapping up a review session that lasted more than seven months.“The FTC has decided to object to the proposed M&A since the

 [THE INVESTOR] South Korea’s antitrust watchdog said on July 18 that it has decided to officially oppose the planned merger between SK Broadband, an IPTV unit of SK Telecom, and CJ HelloVision, the nation’s No. cable TV operator, citing monopoly concerns in the media and telecom markets.After holding a meeting early in the day, the Fair Trade Commission announced its final decision, wrapping up a reviewing session that lasted more than seven months.CJ Hellovision headquarter“The FTC has decided

[THE INVESTOR] In the pre-cloud era, access to a company’s data may was quite a laborious task. A chief executive might have had to send emails back and forth just to acquire necessary data such as those related to sales. Now emerging cloud services allow easy access to analytic data, even on the go.Oracle chief executive Mark Hurd speaks during an interview in Seoul last week.(Oracle)By simply using a mobile app, a company chief is able to get information that span a broad range of queries such

[THE INVESTOR] China is the only Northeast Asian nation where LINE Corp. has yet to launch its mobile messenger service so far. Line is the mobile messenger service operator owned by Naver (chairman Lee Hae-jin)In a recent media interview, LINE’s chief global officer Shin Jung-ho said the firm could consider “setting up a joint venture with a Chinese company” to increase its foothold in a country where its services are blocked due to government regulations. The banners of LINE Corp. hang on the

[THE INVESTOR] After its debut on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on July 15, LINE Corp.’s share soared around 52 percent to 5,000 yen (US$47.40) from its offer price of 3,300 yen, as of 10:39 a.m. The opening price stood at 4,900 yen. A Line character shop in Seoul / The InvestorTrading of the company’s share in Tokyo was a bit delayed early in the morning as buyers outnumbered sellers around four times.Line is the mobile messenger service operator owned by Korean Internet portal giant Naver (chairman

[THE INVESTOR] The head of Internet giant Naver who is in the hot seat for his alleged involvement in making illegal profits from game developer Nexon’s 2006 initial public offering is likely to be summoned by prosecutors soon.Naver CEO Kim Sang-hun reportedly made profits with inside information for Nexon’s IPO with borrowed money. Naver CEO Kim Sang-hun /The InvestorKim, prosecutor Jin Kyung-joon and Park Seong-joon, a director of Boston Consulting Group, purchased shares valued at 425 million

[THE INVESTOR] Tech giants Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are expected to benefit from an increasing demand for high-end TV products, including ultra-high definition TVs, at home and abroad, according to a report July 14.The report by the Science Ministry and Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute cites the planned commercialization of UHD broadcasting services in Korea in February 2017 as the main reason behind the sales increase in the coming years.UHD TVs valued at 1.2

[THE INVESTOR] Mark Hurd, the co-chief executive of California-based Oracle, may be close to striking software deals with local conglomerates that could include Samsung and POSCO, according to those close to the matter.The co-CEO of the San Francisco-based company arrived in Seoul on July 14 to meet with executives from these partner firms. “There may be several big deals being negotiated behind the scenes,” said one industry watcher, declining to be identified.Mark Hurd, co-CEO of US software g

[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electronics outran other global integrated device manufacturers in the semiconductor foundry sector in the Jan.-March period in terms of sales, according to market research firm IHS on July 13.The Korean chip company’s foundry business is forecast to have earned $613 million in sales in the first quarter, the largest among the global device manufacturers. The figure is three times more than that of runner-up Micron, which made $198 million.Samsung Electronics’ mobile appli

[THE INVESTOR] SK Holdings C&C, a data services firm, said July 13 that it would work with a local robot company to develop new robot solutions utilizing up-to-date artificial intelligence and cloud computing technologies.Signing a partnership deal on the day at its headquarters in Bundang, the C&C and Robocare vowed to collaborate to develop the robot solutions.The C&C will deploy its AI, big data and cloud computing technologies for the joint project while the local robot maker will make use o

[THE INVESTOR] Electronic components producer LG Innotek has recently decided to build a camera module plant in Vietnam, reportedly pushed by Apple to reduce supply prices. According to news reports, the Korean firm plans to build a new camera module plant in Haiphong City, Vietnam, with the full capacity operation scheduled to start from 2018. LG Innotek’s camera modules. LG Innotek“Apple has requested LG Innotek to newly establish a camera module plant in Vietnam where labor cost is much cheap

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics has sent out an invitation to the global news media for its upcoming Galaxy Note 7 launch event in New York City on Aug. 2.Launch events for the new smartphone will also take place simultaneously in Rio de Janeiro and London, according to the company. Samsung will also live stream the events on its websit (www.samsung.com).As widely rumored, the new smartphone, the sixth of the Note lineup, will be named the Galaxy Note 7 to align its nu

[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electro-Mechanics ’ earnings will likely miss market expectations due to temporary costs caused mainly by a series of business restructuring and layoffs in recent months, according to a market report on July 12. Hana Financial Investment said in its recent report that the electronic components company is expected to post 17.8 billion won ($15.50 million) in operating profit and 1.56 trillion won in sales in the second quarter, down from 42.9 billion won and 1.6 trillion wo

[THE INVESTOR] US tech firm Oculus has filed an application to receive a mandatory radio wave certification for its virtual reality headset in South Korea, an apparent move to release the VR device here soon. Oculus, owned by Facebook, excluded South Korea from the list of the global markets where its VR device went on sale in January. Oculus’ virtual reality headsetThe Gear VR, developed together by Samsung Electronics and Oculus, has been ruling the domestic market so far.The US VR firm has al

[THE INVESTOR] LG Display’s initiative to grow the organic light-emitting diode display market is gaining steam as more television manufacturers are joining the fray for the high-end TVs featuring self-illuminating OLED panels.Companies like Skyworths, Changhong, Konga, Hisense, Vestel, Panasonic, and LG Electronics are reportedly global TV companies that employ LGD’s OLED panels. More will jump on the bandwagon, according to the Seoul-headquartered display firm.LG Display’s OLED display“The com