Korea Times K-Culture Reporter
Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Z Fold 5 smartphones and the Galaxy Watch 6 smartwatches decorated with the signature three-color pattern of U.S. fashion brand Thom Browne are displayed in this photo provided by the smartphone manufacturer. Samsung said Thursday that it collaborated with Thom Browne for the smartphones and the smartwatches and began selling them through an online raffle. Courtesy of Samsung Electronics
Cho Joo-wan, right, CEO of LG Electronics, speaks with Markus Knabl, left, senior manager of marketing at Magna International, during the IAA Mobility 2023 in Munich, Germany, Tuesday (local time). Courtesy of LG ElectronicsBy Baek Byung-yeulLG Electronics is strengthening cooperation with Canada-based automotive parts company Magana to expand its presence in the burgeoning automotive electronics business, the Korean company said Wednesday.LG said its CEO Cho Joo-wan visited Magna's booth during the IAA Mobility show, which is currently being held in Munich, Germany, and had a meeting with Diba Ilunga, president of Magna Powertrain, and other executives.The company has been operating LG Magna e-Powertrain, a joint venture with Magna. They announced at the IAA Mobility show on Sept. 4 that they would establish an electric vehicle (EV) parts production plant in northeastern Hungary and accelerate global business expansion.Upon completion of the new plant, its first in Europe, LG Magna e-Powertrain will operate a total of four plants in Incheon, Nanjing in China and Ramos Arizpe in Mexi
Choi Jin-han, right, CEO of Ozys, poses with Kim Jong-seung, director of SK Telecom, after signing a memorandum of understating about cooperation in Web3 business, Aug. 28. Courtesy of OzysBy Baek Byung-yeulOzys, a blockchain technology company, signed a partnership with SK Telecom to expand the ecosystem of Web3, the company said Tuesday. Ozys said it signed a memorandum of understanding with the country's largest mobile carrier SK Telecom on Aug. 28 for Web3, a term used to describe technologies that decentralize data ownership and control on the internet, including the blockchain.Ozys is a blockchain technology company specializing in developing user-friendly Web3 services. Its services include the decentralized finance service KLAYswap and the cross-chain platform Orbit Bridge.With the signing of this MOU, the two companies will create synergies centered on user-friendly services and focus on core competencies to expand the Web3 ecosystem. In particular, they plan to integrate Orbit Bridge's Native Coin Swap feature into SK Telecom's upcoming Web3 wallet.“The collaboration
Kim Hyong-soon, chief general manager of SFA, speaks during a press conference at FKI Tower in Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeulBy Baek Byung-yeulSFA, a local display equipment maker, is moving to diversify its business portfolio by expanding beyond displays, the company said Tuesday.Among the non-display sectors, the company said it will focus on equipment for electric vehicle (EV) batteries, saying it will apply the laser technologies it has accumulated in the display sector to its batteries to increase its presence in the growing EV battery market and keep up with rapidly changing market demands.“SFA will increase its presence in the battery equipment and semiconductor equipment markets with our smart factory technology that can deliver both growth and profitability,” Kim Hyong-soon, chief general manager of SFA, said at a press conference in Seoul.SFA is focusing on the commercialization of laser equipment to be used in the electrode process for EV batteries by combining its laser technology with electrode process equipment of CIS, an electrode-spec
Joko Widodo, left in the first row, president of Indonesia, signs Hyundai Motor's IONIQ 5 electric car, applauded by Chung Euisun, second from left in the first row, chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, during the inauguration of Hyundai Motor's plant in Indonesia, March 2022. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor GroupBy Baek Byung-yeulHyundai Motor has come in at the top of the electric vehicle (EV) market in Indonesia thanks to the growing popularity of its IONIQ 5, the carmaker said Tuesday. The company said it sold 3,913 EVs in Indonesia from January to July, taking a 56.5 percent market share. The figure is more than double the 28.1 percent share of Chinese EV maker Wuling, which sold 1,944 EVs during the same period. Wuling was the local market leader last yearIndonesia is the world's fourth most populous country with a population of 277 million, and is considered to have great market potential. The country is also expected to serve as a production base for the Southeast Asian market. Under Hyundai Motor's strategy, IONIQ 5 became the first EV model to be produced locally by an automaker in I
Koh Jean, chairman of the Presidential Committee on the Digital Platform Government, speaks during a press conference at the Korea Press Center building in Seoul, Monday. Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeulGov't to offer more user-friendly digital servicesBy Baek Byung-yeulThe government vowed to provide more user-friendly digital services such as allowing data sharing across ministries and enabling real estate registration applications without seal certification, the head of the Presidential Committee on the Digital Platform Government said, Monday. “A year ago, when I was asked to chair the Presidential Committee on the Digital Platform Government, I told President Yoon Suk Yeol that we would not just be an advisory committee, but a policy committee that would directly create tasks for a digital platform government with members from private companies and be responsible for our implementation,” Koh Jean, chairman of the committee said in a press conference, Seoul.“The president asked me to think of the committee as an organization that works together with him, not
Lee Jong-ho, CEO of Tmap Mobility, speaks during a press conference at SKT Tower in Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of Tmap MobilityBy Baek Byung-yeulTmap Mobility revamped its navigation app, Tmap, to offer a wider array of services ranging from searching for public transportation routes to booking restaurants and hotels in order to offer enhanced customer experience, its CEO said Monday.“Today, we're releasing version 10.0 of Tmap and embarking on a new journey. We offer an all-new personalized and integrated Tmap service powered by AI technology,” Lee Jong-ho, CEO of the company, said during a press conference in Seoul.The CEO said the revamped Tmap focuses on offering integrated and personalized services.“We've integrated public transportation services that used to be separate, allowing users to compare different types of transportation. If you are traveling to Incheon International Airport, you can easily book an airport bus on Tmap,” he said.Tmap Mobility is also expanding its services to what it calls mobility life area, which includes searching for places and
Corning Chairman and CEO Wendell Weeks, second from left, takes a look the company's product with Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong, left, at the U.S. company plant in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, Friday. Courtesy of Corning KoreaBy Baek Byung-yeulCorning, a U.S.-based multinational tech company, is investing $1.5 billion in Korea over the next five years, according to the company and the provincial office, Friday. The money is planned for developing advanced materials including ultra-thin bendable glass and expanding manufacturing capabilities at Corning's Asan factory in South Chungcheong Province to meet the growing global demand for next-generation displays.The company, which specializes in glass and ceramic materials, held an event to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its investment in Korea and the establishment of its manufacturing line for ultra-thin bendable glass at its Asan factory. The ceremony was attended by prominent figures including Corning Chairman and CEO Wendell Weeks, Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong and South Chungcheo
SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won wearing an olive-colored suit coat poses with employees during the group's in-house Icheon Forum at Icheon SKMS Institute in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, Aug. 24. Courtesy of SK GroupBy Baek Byung-yeulChey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, marked his 25th anniversary as chief on Sept. 1. The chairman has led the group from being the fifth-largest conglomerate to the second-largest conglomerate. He has emphasized the need for deep change to ensure the group's continued growth, according to industry officials, Friday.Chey became chairman of SK Inc. on Sept. 1, 1998, at the age of 38, just days after his father and Chairman Chey Jong-hyun passed away on Aug. 26 and the economic crisis doomed many companies here.At the time of his inauguration, Chey said “If today is the same as yesterday, it means stagnation, and if tomorrow is the same as today, it means regression,” emphasizing a “deep change” strategy that requires the group to pursue constant change to achieve growth.As a result, SK Group's business portfolio, which was centered on e
Wendell Weeks, chairman and CEO of Corning, speaks during a press conference at the Shilla Seoul hotel, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeulChairman of US company to meet with Samsung chief FridayBy Baek Byung-yeulU.S. specialty glass maker Corning has begun producing pliable glass in Korea to increase its presence in the bendable display market, which is increasingly being applied to foldable mobile devices and automotive parts, its chairman said, Thursday.“Today I'm excited to announce that we are building the world's first fully integrated supply chain to manufacture next-generation bendable glass technology right here in Korea,” Wendell Weeks, chairman and CEO of Corning, said during a press conference in Seoul.Corning is known for supplying smartphone glass covers, such as Gorilla Glass, to protect mobile devices from damage. The company said it has been developing bendable glass and recently began production at its plant in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, supplying the products to Samsung Electronics' latest foldable smartphones.The chairman visited Kore