Amid high uncertainty, current CEOs retain positions while key affiliates see new chiefs

Mobile carriers consolidate tech biz for new growth driversSouth Korean mobile carriers are merging their tech subsidiaries and consolidating new businesses to boost synergy as they search for new growth drivers beyond their telecommunication operations. Telecom giant KT Corp. announced it will merge its digital content distribution and television commerce subsidiary KT Hitel Co. and its mobile coupon and advertisement unit KT mhows Co. by July next year. KT said the consolidation of KT Hitel'

Samsung Electronics Co. is planning to use a double-stack technology to develop its next-generation V-NAND flash memory, industry officials said Tuesday, as the world's largest memory chip producer tries to further cement its leading position in the sector. At its investors' forum held Monday, Samsung revealed that it will apply "extreme two-stack" technology for its future NAND flash chip and that it is possible to develop a 256-layer device. "Our sixth-generation V-NAND feat

LG Innotek, the electronics parts making affiliate of LG Group, has been recognized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare for fulfilling its corporate social responsibilities, the firm said Tuesday. The Welfare Ministry selects businesses with outstanding corporate social responsibility programs every year in partnership with the Korea National Council on Social Welfare. LG Innotek’s plants in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, and in Gwangju Metropolitan City were credited by the minis

Samsung Electronics Co. maintained its leading position in the smartphone market of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region in the third quarter of the year, a report showed Tuesday. Samsung accounted for 45 percent of the GCC smartphone market in the July-September period in terms of units, up from 40 percent a quarter earlier, according to industry researcher International Data Corp. (IDC). "With its large portfolio of models in the entry-level and mid-range price bands, Samsung not

 LG Electronics announced Monday that the company had started a trial using the robot at GS Retail’s convenience stores inside LG Science Park in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. The delivery robot, CLOi, will collect ordered items and deliver them to customers after autonomously riding on elevators inside the building. CLOi is capable of carrying items weighing up to 15 kilograms. The robot delivery service is expected to be introduced at hotels, hospitals, offices and airports in the future, acc

The National Science Museum, operated by the Science and ICT Ministry, said Monday that it was reviewing a list of eight items that may qualify for official recognition as part of South Korea’s scientific heritage. They include an early coin-operated public telephone and a series of books about East Asian medicine that was recognized as a national treasure in 2015. Donguibogam, compiled and edited by Joseon-era physician Heo Jun, is an encyclopedia of East Asian medical knowledge and tec

The ICT ministry said Monday the redistribution price for past generation network frequency bands used by the country's major mobile carriers should be at least 3.17 trillion won ($2.9 billion). The ministry and the three telecom operators -- SK Telecom Co., KT Corp. and LG Uplus Corp. -- had been locked in a fierce debate in recent months over the redistribution price of 2G, 3G and 4G frequency bands that are set to expire next year. The Ministry of Science and ICT's final price offer, howeve

Apple Korea announced Monday it would open its second South Korean store in Yeouido, the financial district in northwestern Seoul, as part of a strategy to expand its sales and services in the country. Although the Seoul branch didn’t reveal an official date for the opening of the new Apple Store, the second shop is likely to open within the year. The second Apple Store of the global tech giant will be located in the first basement floor of the IFC Mall in Yeouido. Apple is opening

Several moves recently made by Samsung allude to a major change in the tech giant’s smartphone lineup strategy for 2021, according to various news reports on Monday. One of the biggest changes would be a reduction of the Galaxy Note, which used to be Samsung’s flagship smartphone model along with its signature S Pen and has been released in the second half of each year for the past 10 years. High-profile tipsters like Max Weinbach and Ice Universe, as well as smartphone-focus

South Korea's number of 5G users reached nearly 10 million as of end-October, ministry data showed Monday. The number of 5G subscribers stood at 9.98 million as of the end of October, up 735,113 from the previous month, according to data from the Ministry of Science and ICT. The 5G subscribers accounted for 14.2 percent of the country's mobile subscriptions totaling 70.4 million. South Korea commercially rolled out 5G in April 2019 for the first time in the world. The latest figure comes as

Apple Inc. said Monday it will open a new store in South Korea, expanding its presence in the country dominated by local tech giant Samsung Electronics Co. Apple said on its homepage that it will soon open a new store in Yeouido, western Seoul, its second official store in the country. Despite the US tech giant's popularity in the local market, it currently operates one official store in South Korea in southern Seoul. Apple's new iPhone 12 series has sold around 600,000 models since its launc

Apple Inc.'s iPhone 12 models have drawn a keen response in South Korea, with sales of the newest models estimated to be some 600,000 here since their launch late last month, industry sources said Monday, almost on par with the feat of Samsung Electronics Co.'s flagship models. The country's three major carriers -- SK Telecom Co., KT Corp. and LG Uplus Corp. -- are estimated to have sold around 500,000 iPhone 12 series models since Oct. 30, according to the sources. Considering that unlocked m

What is next Samsung’s move? Will it take advantage of other deals?

LG Uplus, the third-biggest mobile carrier by subscriptions in South Korea, said Sunday that it has created a division for new businesses that it hopes will propel the company’s growth. The telecom company said it has decided to combine small business units scattered across the organization -- covering areas ranging from smart health to security, education, advertising and data -- and form one group that will be the carrier’s core unit for new growth. It was part of the first org