SK hynix, the world’s second-largest memory chip provider, has launched a data research lab to seek optimal solutions for its manufacturing processes and R&D projects via the use of artificial intelligence and data analysis. The new lab, along with the existing data science division, will be led by Kim Young-han, a computer engineering professor at University of California San Diego, renowned in the areas of learning theory and quantum information processing, the company said Monday. K

South Korean tech company Kakao has sent representatives of its character merchandising subsidiary to attend a popular US licensing festival in Las Vegas this week, as the Korean company is seeking to introduce its popular characters to the global market. According to Kakao IX, which runs Kakao’s character business, its popular characters were showcased during Licensing Expo 2019 held from Tuesday to Thursday. The company’s character booth was decorated under the theme of “Hell

　Major South Korean mobile carrier KT has urged global leaders to enhance cooperation to capitalize on the fifth-generation cellular network amid growing expectations over the technology’s business applications.　During the Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2019 in The Hague, Netherlands, from Monday to Wednesday, KT Chairman Hwang Chang-gyu met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other policymakers around the world to share insights in leading 5G transformation.　Stressing Korea’s

JEJU ISLAND -- A friendly match between US soccer teams was broadcast live on 12-inch screens installed into every seat of a shiny white sport utility vehicle cruising the streets of Korea’s southern Jeju Island. Broadcast from multiple angles in the stadium, the sporting event was punctuated by personalized TV commercials, streaming different content tailored to each passenger depending on their interests as preregistered with the car. The futuristic scene was the latest effort by SK Tele

　Most South Korean websites have designs that are too complicated for disabled people to navigate, a government study showed Monday, despite mounting calls for the government and companies to ensure equal access to internet use. 　According to research by the Ministry of Science and ICT on 1,000 websites operated by private entities in 2018, about 75 percent of them failed to meet the government’s standards for web accessibility. 　The standards aim to remove barriers for disabled people whe

　With an increasing number of people seeking to capitalize on YouTube and other streaming services as a lucrative business model, animation was found to be the most popular content among South Korean subscribers, an industry survey showed Sunday.  　According to local entertainment company CJ E&M, which analyzed its 1,400 affiliated streaming channels, those featuring animation content attracted the largest numbers of subscribers in April, about 1.19 million. 　Content targeting children

With the trade dispute between the US and China casting a shadow over the global economic outlook, South Korea’s exports fell for the sixth straight month in May, as the country’s shipments of semiconductors declined by about one-third from a year prior.　According to data released by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Saturday, South Korea exported some $45.9 billion worth of products in May, about 9.4 percent down from a month earlier.The government attributed the poor pe

 South Korea’s major mobile carrier KT on Thursday pledged to expand its network business with local corporations, with a focus on incorporating the 5G cellular network into manufacturing processes. During a press conference in downtown Seoul, KT said it would encourage local companies to adopt the 5G network in their factories and take advantage of smart factory solutions. The company vowed to expand its 5G business beyond commercial services for general consumers and to focus on sma

　Chinese tech giant Huawei’s event to promote its fifth-generation cellular network to South Korean customers this week remained low-key, with participation centered around smaller companies.　Huawei on Thursday held the celebration for the launch of its world’s first 5G open lab in Junggu, central Seoul. The company had decided to proceed with the ceremony despite the US pressure on its business in South Korea. 　 While SK Telecom and KT said they did not send

As South Korea’s mobile carriers focus on expanding the commercial use of 5G cellular network services since their launch last month, K-pop idols have emerged as an attractive draw to boost the popularity of 5G among consumers. 　SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus are introducing various services that allow subscribers to enjoy K-pop in an optimal environment by combining virtual reality technology with the hyperspeed network in a way that totally transforms the experience. 　Given the growing appe

　With confrontation between the Trump administration and Huawei showing no signs of abating, the Chinese tech giant has pledged to go ahead with its plan to celebrate the launch of a fifth-generation network research center in Seoul on Thursday. 　According to Huawei Korea on Tuesday, the company will hold an opening ceremony for the research center as scheduled. The event is expected to take place at Huawei Korea’s headquarters in Jung-gu, central Seoul. 　But the company said it would keep

 　As Bitcoin continued to extend its rally in South Korea with the price topping 10 million won ($8,400) for the first time since last year, analysts are scrambling to figure out what caused the world’s biggest cryptocurrency to suddenly recover. 　According to Seoul-based cryptocurrency exchange Upbit, Bitcoin was priced at 10.4 million won per coin as of 2 p.m. on Tuesday. The figure was 0.3 percent up from the previous day when it recovered to the 10-million-won range for the first

 　With the US government ramping up pressure on its allies to reject Huawei Technologies equipment for its 5G cellular networks, South Korea is struggling to come up with a response amid the escalating conflicts between the world’s two superpowers. 　The Trump administration has reportedly urged the Korean government to prevent companies from purchasing Huawei’s equipment. Citing LG Uplus as an example, an unnamed State Department official has demanded a halt to the mobile carrie

 　South Korean tech giant Naver said Thursday it will focus on four Asian countries in expanding its K-pop livestreaming service, as part of efforts to boost its global profile starting with the region with better business outlook. 　During a press conference in central Seoul, Naver V Live’s chief Park Sun-young said it had chosen Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and Japan as strategic countries for expansion and would encourage local pop stars and influencers to participate in the V Live

　Following hype over how to incorporate the fifth-generation network into autonomous driving since the network began commercial service here last month, the initial step toward the futuristic goal is expected to take off in Seoul later this year. 　South Korea’s biggest mobile carrier SK Telecom and Seoul City government said Thursday they have agreed to develop 5G-based maps for self-driving. By the second half of this year, 1,700 vehicles will be used to create a map by providing real-tim

With the Trump administration banning Huawei from selling technology to the US market, and its suppliers cutting ties with the Chinese firm, South Korean companies are scrambling to figure out how the confrontation will impact their business outlook. Following an executive order that allows the US government to block purchases of what it deems to be security-threatening technology, Google has pulled Huawei’s license to access the Android operation system. The Department of Commerce so

　Since returning to office in 2015, SK Group’s chief Chey Tae-won has come up with what appears to be an unorthodox business philosophy: Boosting social contribution is the best way to maximize corporate profits. 　While this has been raised at public events, including a meeting with global business leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, doubts have persisted over whether it is possible to quantitatively assess the company’s contribution to society. 　For the first time since it began to cr

　On March 7, South Korean ride-sharing company Kakao Mobility struck a deal with taxi unions that was expected to bring an end to protests by cab drivers. Two cab drivers had killed themselves by self-immolation to protest Kakao’s services, which they said would destroy their livelihoods. 　Although taxi unions accepted the agreement, which limits car-sharing services to four hours of operation daily on weekdays, some cab drivers remained unsettled, as other car-sharing services continued operati

　Major South Korean mobile carrier KT said Sunday it has discussed business cooperation with Russia’s biggest telecom firm, Mobile TeleSystems, to boost their partnership in the fifth-generation cellular network. 　KT’s chief Hwang Chang-gyu met with MTS Group CEO Alexey Kornya on Friday at KT’s headquarters in downtown Seoul. MTS is the largest mobile operator in Russia, with more than 100 million subscribers in Russia and neighboring countries.  KT’s chief Hwang Chang-gyu(left) shakes hands wit

　With LG Electronics’ first 5G-powered smartphone attracting more subscribers than its predecessors since its launch earlier this month, speculation is rife about the reasons behind the better-than-expected performance of the struggling smartphone manufacturer. 　According to Korean mobile carriers, they have sold up to 100,000 LG V50 ThinQ handsets since it hit the market on May 10. This is estimated to be four times more than sales of its predecessor V40 ThinQ that was rolled out last year.　The