SK hynix, the world’s second-largest memory provider, said Tuesday that the company will start using artificial intelligence-based solutions to improve its manufacturing process for memory chips. Under a memorandum of understanding with the Korea Advanced Institute of Technology, SK hynix will provide KAIST with data collected during the chip manufacturing process in its clean rooms in real time through a cloud system. KAIST will analyze the data using AI-based models and come up with

LG Uplus, the third-largest mobile carrier in South Korea, said Friday it has clocked a 11.5 percent on-year growth in operating profit in the first quarter, despite adverse market conditions due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The telecom affiliate of LG Group posted 3.28 trillion won ($2.69 billion) in revenue and 219.8 billion won operating profit during the January-March period, up 11.9 percent and 11.5 percent, respectively, compared to the same period last year. Its net profit stood at 148.8

Samsung Electronics’ compliance monitoring committee on Thursday demanded heir Lee Jae-yong and group affiliates come up with more details of plans to root out illegal practices. The committee led by former Chief Justice Kim Ji-hyung held a meeting to discuss the televised public apology delivered by Vice Chairman Lee on Wednesday.  In response to the committee’s recommendation in March, Lee made the apology about unlawful actions taken to smooth the power transfer from his

Apologizing for past wrongdoings while inheriting leadership from his father, Samsung Electronics heir and Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong pledged Wednesday he will not hand over management control to his children. “I will not pass the company’s managerial rights to my children,” Lee said during a televised press conference, arranged upon the firm’s external compliance committee’s advice. He touched on issues chosen by the committee, including an apology over illegal

Samsung Electronics heir and Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong on Wednesday said he plans not to pass on the management of the tech empire to his children, in a televised public apology in Seoul. “I would like to take this opportunity to say that I do not plan on bequeathing the management rights of the company to my children,” Lee said. “I have thought about it for a long time, but it is the first time to publicly say it,” he said as he stood before reporters to deliver the

LG Electronics said Wednesday it has filed over 1,000 patents related to its proprietary steam technology. The South Korean tech giant has been highlighting the role of steam in home appliances ranging from clothes care systems, dryers and dish washers to ovens, amid the growing interest in health and hygiene in the wake of the coronavirus spread. Trademarked as TrueSteam, the LG steam technology was first applied to a washing machine in 2005, which helped enhance the washing quality by remo

Despite uncertainties in the global business environment triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, South Korea’s biggest tech giant Samsung Electronics said Monday it made the largest-ever investment in research and development in the first quarter. The South Korean tech giant spent a total of 5.36 trillion won ($4.37 billion) on R&D activities in the January-March period, surpassing its previous record of 5.32 trillion won in the fourth quarter of 2018, its financial data reported to

If a Samsung Galaxy user gets a smartphone powered by Samsung’s Exynos chipset, is the person getting the short end of the stick? Depending on where they buy their Samsung phones, two users might end up owning Galaxy devices with identical exteriors, but different brains -- that is, different mobile application processors. The chances are 50-50: Users get either Samsung’s Exynos or Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chipset. In the case of the Galaxy 20 series, Samsung equipped phon

Korean tech titans on Wednesday reported better-than-expected earnings results for the first three months of the year, with LG Electronics achieving the largest-ever first-quarter operating margin and Samsung Electronics posting 21.9 percent on-year rise in semiconductor sales. But both expressed grave concerns about the upcoming quarters, anticipating sharper falls in sales as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. According to its earnings announcement, LG Electronics obtained 1.09 trillion won

Samsung Electronics said Wednesday the company is bracing for bigger adversities from the COVID-19 crisis, anticipating sharper falls in sales of some products. In its first quarter earnings announcement, the South Korean tech giant posted 6.45 trillion won ($5.29 billion) in operating profit, growing 3.43 percent from a year earlier. The company’s sales stood at 55.33 trillion won, up 5.61 percent from the same period last year. But its net profit dropped 3.15 percent to 4.88 trillion

LG Electronics will release its new flagship smartphone Velvet on May 15 in the Korean market only, the company announced Tuesday. Nicknamed the “water droplet phone,” the LG Velvet marks a design departure for the firm. The triple camera module on the rear, including the 48 million-pixel lens, has been designed to resemble water droplets. The new device also features a 6.8-inch organic light-emitting diode display trademarked as FullVision with a 20.5:9 aspect ratio, Qualcomm&rs

Samsung Electronics has adopted Elsa, the main character from Disney’s hit “Frozen” movies, as the exterior design of its flagship wind-free air conditioners, the company said Monday. The “Frozen 2” edition, only for the wall-mounted type, offers two exterior panels including the one with Elsa on it and the original version, allowing customers to change the panel design as they wish. The collaboration has been announced ahead of the Children’s Day holiday

SK hynix pledged Friday it will support contractors by ensuring early payments to help minimize the negative impact of the novel coronavirus spread. The company unveiled its plan to utilize 130 billion won ($105 million) from its co-growth fund for those in financial difficulty in front of Fair Trade Commission Chairperson Joh Sung-wook who visited its corporate campus in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province. SK hynix also highlighted that it is paying around 600 billion won to its contractors four t

LG Electronics said Friday it will hold an online launch event for its upcoming flagship Velvet smartphone on May 7. The South Korean tech giant released a video invitation on YouTube, which included the date, time and an online link. The 15-second clip highlighted the water drop design of the flagship model.  It shows water droplets in white, gray, green and red, to represent the product colors slated for the Velvet phone.  Putting much weight on the design factor, the phone l

SK hynix, the second-largest memory chipmaker in the world, announced an earnings surprise Thursday, with a 239 percent on-quarter increase in its operating profit in the first quarter. Despite concerns about a coronavirus downturn in the global economy, the South Korean chipmaker posted 7.19 trillion won ($6.4 billion) in sales and 800.3 billion own in operating profit during the January to March period, according to its regulatory filing. Its net profit stood at 649.1 billion won. Compar

The world’s major smartphone makers -- US-based Apple and South Korea’s Samsung and LG -- are seeking to restructure their product lineups, shifting from premium flagship models to midrange phones this year, following the global novel coronavirus pandemic, according to industry sources Wednesday. The market for less expensive and high-spec phones is growing worldwide amid slowing demand for new gadgets triggered by the outbreak. Market researcher Counterpoint said in a recent re

South Korea’s electronics industry is gearing up for a surge in demand in the post-coronavirus era, with some experts predicting it as early as the second half of this year, industry sources said Tuesday. Experts from the semiconductor, display, telecommunications and battery sectors gathered Tuesday at an event hosted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry to discuss how to prepare for a post-coronavirus market. Attendees agreed on the need for preemptive measures to respond

In tune with the extended use of smartphones and smartwatches, headphones have been going cordless, providing users with freedom and flexibility in daily activities. But some conservative consumers have shunned wireless earphones, as they tend to be wary of the battery lifespan and reluctant to learn how to connect the Bluetooth. But once you go cordless, it is hard to go back. Thanks to advancements in chip and battery technologies, these small earpieces are the epitome of cutting-edge aud

SK Energy on Sunday announced plans to accelerate its digital reform to innovate the conventional oil refinery business. The subsidiary of SK Innovation, South Korea’s leading energy firm, said it has finalized three directions for the digital transformation of its business model. The company is seeking digital operational excellency, accompanied by a green and next-generation platform. SK Energy has decided to expand the smart plant system that combines artificial intelligence and

Korean companies are making various donations to Indian organizations to help them fight the novel coronavirus as the country is under heavy lockdown, according to the industry on Wednesday. Although Korean businesses that have manufacturing facilities in India have suspended their operations upon state order since last month, the firms are coming up with measures to support local governments in the states where they are running the plants. Samsung Electronics said its India branch made a p