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Kim Bo-eun

Korea Times Digital Content Reporter

Bo-eun leads the digital content team. She has covered foreign affairs, North Korea, tech, economy and gender issues at The Korea Times. She did a short stint at the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong, where she obtained a new perspective on news production and life. Small sources of joy for her are lounging in the sun, having a good latte and swimming.

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Tech & Science

Samsung, LG to see strong earnings in Q2

By Kim Bo-eunSamsung, LG's logos / Korea Time fileSamsung and LG electronics are set to continue displaying handsome earnings performances through the second quarter, backed by rising memory chip prices and booming sales of household appliances and TVs.Both electronics giants achieved record profits in the first quarter of this year, bolstered by growing demand for IT devices amid the COVID-19 pandemic. They are set to unveil their second quarter earnings guidance this week. According to financial data provider FnGuide, Samsung's earnings consensus for this period is 61.44 trillion won in sales and 10.74 trillion won in operating profit. This would be a 16 percent and 31.9 percent growth, respectively, year-on-year.Samsung's second quarter earnings are projected to be fueled by higher memory chip prices. According to market tracker DRAMeXchange, the fixed price of PC DRAM as of April stood at $3.8, up 26.67 percent from the previous month. The fixed price of NAND flash was $4.56 in April, up 8.57 percent compared to the previous month. DRAM and NAND flash chip prices flattened in the

Jul 4, 2021By Kim Bo-eun
Samsung, LG to see strong earnings in Q2
Tech & Science

Reporter's Notebook Telecom operators should maintain commitment to core biz

gettyimagesbankBy Kim Bo-eunKorea became the first country to commercialize 5G services in 2019, and is known globally for its high-speed internet. Yet the country's three major telecom firms are now facing a class action suit for subpar 5G services. A group of over 500 users of 5G services filed a compensation suit with the Seoul Central District Court, last week, against SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus.Members of the group claim that the telecom firms launched 5G services and attracted subscribers at a time when the infrastructure for the technology was not fully set up, and that resulted in them providing substandard services. They say that the price plans they have been paying for ― averaging 100,000 won a month ― provide greater grounds for receiving compensation.The lawsuit was filed after an expose by a star YouTuber snowballed, prompting the government to launch an inspection into the three companies' internet speeds.The latest developments take place at this time when telecom operators have turned their eyes to new businesses, as the local market for telecom services has become

Jul 2, 2021By Kim Bo-eun
[Reporter's Notebook] Telecom operators should maintain commitment to core biz
Tech & Science

LG has advantage as partner for Disney: CEO

LG Uplus CEO Hwang Hyeon-sik speaks during a press conference held at the telecom firm's headquarters in central Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of LG UplusCompany pledges to bring up percentage of non-telecom biz to 30% by 2025By Kim Bo-eunLG Uplus CEO Hwang Hyeon-sik is confident that he can strike a content deal with Disney as the Korean mobile carrier has a proven track record of handling a content-driven business with global top-tier providers such as Netlix and YouTube.“From Disney's standpoint, LG Uplus could be the right fit in terms of providing its content to mass consumers in a more convenient way. Once negotiations are finished, then we may be able to announce good news,” the CEO told reporters in a news conference at the company's head office in downtown Seoul. This was Hwang's first press conference since he took over the position in March.“What I've learnt from negotiations with Disney is Disney has higher standards both in terms of service, convenience and quality. It seems that LG Uplus' collaboration with Netflix and YouTube is helping us get a better p

Jul 1, 2021By Kim Bo-eun
LG has advantage as partner for Disney: CEO
Tech & Science

LG becomes more agile under Koo's leadership

LG zeroing in on auto parts, EV batteries and OLED panel businesses By Kim Bo-eunForty-year-old Koo Kwang-mo came under the spotlight when he took the helm at LG Group in June 2018. There were inevitably doubts at the time over whether the scion could prove himself as the chief of Korea's fourth largest conglomerate.In Koo's first three years as chairman, LG took drastic steps, including pulling out of the smartphone business, launching a separate electric vehicle (EV) battery affiliate and separating affiliates considered less central to the group. But the young leader is known to have remained mostly backstage. In the past few years, LG has scouted dozens of competent outside figures as senior executives of core affiliates, which was a shift from the group's former tendency to have key posts occupied by those inside the company. “Executives of the affiliated companies should be credited for their role in the latest steps that have been taken,” an industry official said.Koo has kept a low profile, with few cases of speaking out in public. His lack of visibility is why qu

Jun 30, 2021By Kim Bo-eun
LG becomes more agile under Koo's leadership
Tech & Science

Samsung Electronics forges partnership with Google for Galaxy Watch

The next-generation Galaxy Watch incorporating a new operating system (OS) and a joint platform with Google is set to provide users a more seamless experience between the watch and Android smartphones. Courtesy of Samsung ElectronicsBy Kim Bo-eunSamsung Electronics offered a sneak peek into a new operating system (OS) Tuesday that will be incorporated into its next-generation Galaxy Watch to be launched in the coming months, which will have a platform built with Google. The company unveiled the "One UI Watch" OS at a virtual event held for the World Mobile Congress 2021 that kicked off in Barcelona, Spain, Monday (local time). Samsung was the only participating firm from Korea, with the country's three telecom companies and LG Electronics not taking part this yearThe platform developed with Google offers a more seamless experience between the watch and Android smartphones. The new Galaxy Watch will be introduced at Samsung's Unpacked event in August.With the latest collaboration, Samsung appears to be aiming to catch up with Apple in the global market for smartwatches. Samsung has us

Jun 29, 2021By Kim Bo-eun
Samsung Electronics forges partnership with Google for Galaxy Watch
Tech & Science

Samsung SDS partners with US firm ServiceNow

ServiceNow CEO Bill McDermott, on screen on left, is seen with Samsung SDS CEO Hwang Sung-woo, center, and ServiceNow Korea's Managing Director Kim Kyu-ha at a ceremony marking the partnership of the two companies at Samsung SDS' headquarters in southern Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Samsung SDSBy Kim Bo-eunSamsung SDS said Tuesday it formed a partnership with U.S. software firm, ServiceNow, to offer enhanced services for clients, boost collaboration in new digital technologies and find business opportunities in the global market.Samsung SDS CEO Hwang Sung-woo and ServiceNow Korea's Managing Director Kim Kyu-ha signed the partnership at the former's headquarters in southern Seoul, Tuesday.ServiceNow develops a cloud computing platform to help companies manage digital workflows for enterprise operations. Based on the partnership, the two entities will assist in the digital transformations of client companies by offering services that link Samsung SDS's solutions with ServiceNow's platform.Samsung SDS, the IT service affiliate of Samsung, and ServiceNow will also strengthen collaboration

Jun 29, 2021By Kim Bo-eun
Samsung SDS partners with US firm ServiceNow
Companies

Shinsegae's eBay Korea acquisition to reshape e-commerce market

E-mart offline stores projected to create synergy with eBay's open market platformsBy Kim Bo-eunShinsegae Group's ambitious acquisition of the local unit of eBay is set to produce a retail giant that will rival the existing top players. With its latest acquisition, Shinsegae is set to jump into the competition between Naver and Coupang which has dominated the local e-commerce market.Shinsegae's offline discount chain E-mart signed an agreement to purchase 80 percent of eBay Korea's shares for 3.44 trillion won ($3.04 billion). Despite the higher-than-expected acquisition cost, Shinsegae is making a bold bet that the combination of its online and offline sales channels merging with eBay Korea's open market platforms will translate into bolstered competitiveness. Neither Naver nor Coupang have an offline sales channel.The latest deal is also set to result in the consolidation of top players and widen the gap with smaller players in the market.With the acquisition, Shinsegae is expected to become the No. 2 playe

Jun 26, 2021By Kim Bo-eun
Shinsegae's eBay Korea acquisition to reshape e-commerce market
Tech & Science

All eyes on Stellantis' possible partnerships with Korean battery makers

By Kim Bo-eunStellantis logo / Korea Times fileThe world's fourth-largest carmaker Stellantis is accelerating its switch to electric vehicles (EVs), and attention is growing over whether the automotive group will join hands with a Korean battery manufacturer to target the U.S. market.Stellantis, which launched as a merger between Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Group earlier this year, had lagged behind larger automotive groups in its drive for EVs, but in recent months has unveiled ambitious plans.The carmaker stated that by 2025, 96 percent of vehicles of Stellantis brands including Jeep, Ram, Dodge and Fiat will have electrified options, with all models offering a fully battery-electric option by 2030.CEO Carlos Tavares also said the company plans to control a larger portion of EV components including batteries and will announce plans this year to build a battery factory in North America.Given the group is a relative latecomer to the EV market, projections are that it will likely opt to strike partnerships with battery manufacturers in setting up its own battery plants.Expectati

Jun 25, 2021By Kim Bo-eun
All eyes on Stellantis' possible partnerships with Korean battery makers
Tech & Science

LG Uplus CEO extending support for patriots, veterans

LG Uplus CEO Hwang Hyeon-sik, left, poses with Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Hwang Ki-chul at a ceremony marking the telecom company's donation of 'smart pad' tablet devices for the purpose of preventing Alzheimer's disease in elderly patriots and military veterans. Courtesy of LG Uplus By Kim Bo-eunLG Uplus CEO Hwang Hyeon-sik is leading a variety of efforts for the company to contribute to society, the latest of which seeks to promote the physical well-being of patriots and veterans.LG Uplus and the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs have partnered to help prevent Alzheimer's disease in elderly people who have served their country. LG's telecom affiliate will be providing 1,200 'smart pad' tablet devices to those aged 65 and older, which they can use to maintain their cognitive abilities and will possibly enable early detection of the disease. The arrangements were made marking the month of June, which commemorates patriots and veterans on Memor

Jun 24, 2021By Kim Bo-eun
LG Uplus CEO extending support for patriots, veterans
Tech & Science

Disney partnership to boost LG Uplus share price

By Kim Bo-eunDisney Plus logo / Korea Times fileBoosting its share price has been a long-term task for LG Uplus, the third-ranking player in the local telecom services industry.LG Uplus' stock price had remained lackluster until recent months, with expectations of a partnership with Disney for its over-the-top (OTT) media services here among the contributing factors for its sudden rise. LG Uplus has been in talks with Disney for months over the launch of Disney Plus here. The launch appears imminent, with the OTT service expected to be introduced here in the latter half of this year. "A rise in subscribers and average revenue per user can be expected if content is supplemented," Hana Financial Investment analyst Kim Hong-sik stated in a report, Tuesday. "LG Uplus may be able to benefit in relation to its rivals as it has become likely to partner with Walt Disney in addition to Netflix."LG's telecom services affiliate made an exclusive deal with Netflix in 2018, and saw a 20 percent surge in its IPTV subscribers in two years.LG's affiliate in cable TV services, LG HelloVision, has als

Jun 23, 2021By Kim Bo-eun
Disney partnership to boost LG Uplus share price
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