With Ford, SK Innovation aims to become top battery supplier in US

SK Innovation and Ford will inject $11.4 billion and create nearly 11,000 new jobs at three new battery factories in Tennessee and Kentucky to produce electric vehicles and batteries. BlueOvalSK, a joint venture between the South Korean battery firm and the US automaker, will establish a twin lithium-ion battery plants in central Kentucky to power a new lineup of Ford and Lincoln EVs. Another one will be set up in west Tennessee, where Ford workers will build next-generation electric F-series

Sept. 28, 2021

Global Netflix hit 'Squid Game' signals new round of streaming competition

For South Koreans who were children in the 1970s and 1980s, the phrase “squid game” is likely to evoke a mix of thrills and nostalgia. The tag game on a squid-shaped board drawn in the dirt was fairly tough to play -- sometimes brutal to the point of causing injury -- but it remained hugely popular, as making it to the final goal area after physically clashing with those on the defense was nothing if not exhilarating. Hwang Dong-hyuk, the director of “Squid Game,” is no

Sept. 27, 2021

S. Korea's 5G users continue to soar, but base stations grow at slower pace

South Korea’s 5G users increased by millions this year, but 5G network base stations are still being rolled out slowly, a local agency said Monday. According to data compiled by the Korea Communications Agency, the number of 5G users increased by 1.99 million during the second quarter this year to reach 17 million, up 13.7 percent on-year. As of June, 5G users accounted for 23.8 percent of the total mobile network users here. The number of 4G and 3G network users reached 50.5 million a

Sept. 27, 2021

Hyundai to use Samsung sludge to make steel

Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Steel announced Monday that they had developed a new wastewater recycling technology that would allow sludge from the chip manufacturing process to be reused for steelmaking. Their joint research found that calcium fluoride in the sludge was similar to fluorite, a material used in steelmaking to reduce melting temperatures and remove impurities. Hyundai Steel said it expected the deal to help the company save on costs, since South Korean steelmakers rely entirel

Sept. 27, 2021

CJ OliveNetworks to introduce NFT ticketing at BIFF

CJ OliveNetworks will introduce the country’s first “non-fungible token” tickets at the Busan International Film Festival next month, the company said Monday. A type of blockchain technology, NFTs are unique and not interchangeable. NFT-based tickets, therefore, allow ticket issuers to track holders of each ticket and prevent scalping or fraud. The company has named the ticketing service “One Order Ticket.” CJ has partner with domestic blockchain platform firm

Sept. 27, 2021

Korean chipmakers in quandary over US request

The US government’s strategic interest in chips is putting South Korean chipmakers in a quandary, as Washington adds pressure on chipmakers to share sensitive data on technology, clients and inventory status. With a stated purpose of solving the chip shortage, which is affecting automotive and other industries around the world, US authorities on Thursday held an online meeting with major automakers and chipmakers, which Samsung Electronics attended. Following the meeting, the US Depart

Sept. 27, 2021

S. Korea's 5G base stations account for 11% of total in Q2: data

The number of 5G network base stations in South Korea accounted for just 11 percent of the total in the second quarter, data showed Monday, amid continued user complaints against the latest generation networks. As of the April-June period, there were 162,099 5G base stations in the country, compared with a total of 1.47 million mobile network base stations, according to data from the Korea Communications Agency. The number of 5G base stations was far outnumbered by around 1 million 4G base sta

Sept. 27, 2021

Samsung asked to reveal information about supply chains in US

Including South Korea’s Samsung Electronics, technology companies and automakers were asked to make efforts to improve transparency about their US supply chains during a meeting hosted by US Secretary of Commerce on Thursday, according to news reports. Samsung was among a list of companies including TSMC, Intel, Apple, Microsoft and some automakers, which tuned into the meeting held via teleconference, according to the reports. The companies were asked to submit documents including inf

Sept. 24, 2021

LG Energy Solution jointly develops new solid-state battery

South Korea’s leading battery maker LG Energy Solution announced Friday that the company and UC San Diego have co-developed a new solid-state battery that is safer and more durable than existing ones. The research results have been published in Science, one of the top peer-reviewed academic journals, the company added. According to LG Energy Solution, the new solid-state battery, which uses both a solid state electrolyte and an all-silicon anode, has shown positive results during initi

Sept. 24, 2021

DataStreams marks 20th anniversary, vows to grow further

DataStreams, a data management and cloud solutions provider, marked its 20th anniversary with a pledge to accelerate the company’s growth in the next two decades. The company hosted a ceremony for the 20th anniversary of its foundation last Friday, holding it online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Around 163 employees tuned into the event to celebrate the firm’s anniversary and its growth over the past 20 years. During the event, CEO Lee Young-sang highlighted the importance of l

Sept. 23, 2021

Celltrion to supply rapid COVID-19 tests to US govt.

Celltrion announced Thursday that it had won a contract to supply its rapid COVID-19 test DiaTrust to the US government. Starting Oct. 1, Celltrion USA, Celltrion’s US-based unit, will begin supplying COVID-19 tests to 25,000 sites, including military facilities, nursing homes and COVID-19 test centers. Under the deal signed with the US Defense Logistics Agency, the US authorities could buy more if needed. Celltrion said the total amount could reach 738.2 billion won ($626.61 million),

Sept. 23, 2021

S. Koreans spend all-time high on Netflix in Aug.: data

Netflix recorded record sales for South Korea in August, a local report said Thursday. According to the report released by industry tracker WiseApp, South Koreans’ payments to Netflix last month reached an estimated 75.3 billion won, up 78 percent from a year earlier. The number of people who subscribed to the US streaming service reached 5.14 million, increasing 63 percent from 3.16 million last year, according to WiseApp. By age groups, people in their 20s accounted for 40.1 percen

Sept. 23, 2021

LG buys Israeli automotive security firm, delves further into auto biz

LG Electronics is taking over an Israeli firm with expertise in cybersecurity for automobiles as part of its plan to strengthen its auto parts business portfolio. According to the South Korean electronics maker on Thursday, the company recently signed a deal with Tel Aviv-based Cybellum to acquire a 63.9 percent stake. Founded in 2016, the Israeli firm’s valuation is estimated at $140 million. It has around 50 employees. The company is recognized for a platform that is designed to analy

Sept. 23, 2021

Female scientists step up for leading roles in medical science: report

Four out of 10 medical research projects in South Korea are now led by female scientists, but in other fields of science, women are still significantly outnumbered by men, a local report revealed Wednesday. According to the Korean Federation of Women’s Science and Technology Association, a total of 5,028 medical research projects were led by women in the 2010-2019 period, taking up roughly 40 percent of the total. The study covered research projects in four categories of natural scienc

Sept. 22, 2021

LG’s plugless TV wins international design award

Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics scooped various accolades at an international industrial design competition, the two companies said Wednesday. LG Electronics bagged 10 prizes, including a gold award for its StanbyME TV, famous for its moving stand design, at the 41st International Design Excellence Awards. The plugless TV model has previously received the main prize at the iF Design Awards and the Red Dot Design Awards 2021. Four other products -- LG’s Soundbar Eclair, a laundr

Sept. 22, 2021

[Photo News] Apple unveils new lineup for 2021

On Sept. 14, Apple held a virtual “California Streaming” event unveiling the new iPhone 13 and Apple Watch Series 7.  The Apple Watch will come in new sizes at 41 mm and 45 mm, departing from its standard 40 mm and 44 mm sizing. No new health features are expected. The most significant difference is its all-new flat-edged design, in line with the iPhone 12’s sleek design.  Like previous models, the iPhone 13 will be offered in four different models – iPhone 13

Sept. 20, 2021

Spring flowers bloom earlier, ice freezes later than before: report

Spring flowers in Korea are blooming earlier while ice is forming increasingly later in the last three decades, a recent report from the Korea Meteorological Administration showed. The KMA on Tuesday released the latest climatological averages from 1991 to 2020, comparing the data with the previous figures recorded from 1981 to 2010. Used for analyzing changes in the ecosystem over a long period of time, seasonal observation is a study of animals, plants and weather phenomena at the same spot e

Sept. 19, 2021

Disney+ likely to be introduced via LG U+ first and possibly KT later

Disney+, the US entertainment giant’s streaming service, is expected to land in Korea via LG U+ first, the smallest of the country’s three IPTV providers. Then, it may team up with KT, the largest of the three, to further expand its reach. Earlier, Disney officially announced the Nov. 12 launch of Disney+, with a monthly subscription fee of 9,900 won ($8.40). It, however, did not disclose who its local partner is, fanning market speculation that the two Korean telecommunications

Sept. 19, 2021

KT creates investment arm for digital transformation

KT, one of South Korea’s leading telecom companies, said Friday it has created an organization dedicated to new investments and external partnerships in a bid to speed up the firm’s transformation into a digital platform business. The new organization is called “Group Transformation” and has been established under the CEO’s office. KT has appointed Yoon Kyung-lim, who had led KT’s media, future convergence and global businesses, as president of the new

Sept. 17, 2021

LG Energy Solution invests W35b in Chinese battery material supplier

South Korea’s leading battery maker LG Energy Solution will acquire a 4.8 percent stake in a Chinese battery material supplier for 35 billion won ($29.7 million), the company said Friday. The subsidiary of LG Chem said it has signed a deal with China’s Greatpower Nickel & Cobalt Materials for a stable supply of battery materials. Shanghai-based Greatpower has been building a plant in China for nickel sulfate, a major ingredient for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehi

Sept. 17, 2021