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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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Companies

Biden presidency to benefit IT, green energy industries

Business leaders are present at a press conference on new regulations on occupational accidents held earlier this month. / YonhapReal challenge will be walking tightrope between US, ChinaBy Kim Bo-eunBusinesses are keeping a close eye on changes in industrial policy following the inauguration of U.S. President Joe Biden, given the Korean economy's high dependency on trade.They are observing developments as Biden immediately seeks to undo Trump's policies ― announcing plans to rejoin the Paris climate agreement on his first day as President.The environment was a major focus of Biden's election pledges. He has vowed to have the U.S. reach net zero emissions by 2050 and to invest $2 trillion in clean energy and infrastructureThis is expected to benefit the renewable energy sector, as well as electric vehicle and battery makers, which are currently working with U.S. entities.“The drive to boost the green industry presents opportunities for local businesses,” Kim Mun-tae, director of economic policy at the Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), said.“But given

Jan 21, 2021By Kim Bo-eun
Biden presidency to benefit IT, green energy industries
  • 'Biden's presidency to offer Korean economy greater chance'
  • 'Bidencare' triggers optimism among Korean healthcare firms in US
Tech & Science

Kakao hit for mishandling customer data

By Kim Bo-eunThe latest series of scandals surrounding tech firms' mishandling of personal data is pointing to the need for proper regulations to be set up and for businesses to raise their awareness of the importance of protecting private information.AI chatbot developer Scatter Lab recently came under scrutiny for a number of issues with its AI chatbot Lee Luda. One of the main issues was that the startup took data from another dating consultancy service it operated to develop the AI chatbot.This became known after the AI chatbot began providing names, addresses and bank account numbers of app users in its answers.The dating consultancy app provides advice to users after they submit excerpts of Kakaotalk conversations. The app has had 2.3 million downloads in Korea.Scatter Lab earlier promoted the app as having collected 10 billion Kakaotalk conversations to power its AI technology.Users of the app, however, were unaware of the fact that the Kakaotalk messages they submitted were being used to develop AI services.Scatter Lab's AI chatbot Lee Luda / Captured from Scatter Lab's websi

Jan 19, 2021By Kim Bo-eun
Kakao hit for mishandling customer data
Tech & Science

Lee's jail sentence casts cloud on Samsung's business

Leadership vacuum may hamper investment decisions amid growing competitionBy Kim Bo-eunSamsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong enters the Seoul High Court for a retrial hearing of a major bribery case involving him, Monday. / YonhapThe country's largest conglomerate has hit a major setback after an appellate court handed a prison sentence of two-and-a-half years to Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong in a re-hearing of a major bribery case, Monday. The court ruling puts the tech giant back into a leadership vacuum hampering major investment decisions in new businesses, which many expect will hurt the company's global competitive edgeRight after the ruling, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), the country's top business lobby group representing the interests of conglomerates, said it had no official comment regarding Lee's sentence. The Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), another business lobby, released a statement expressing regret over the court's decision.“Lee's sentence could put Samsung and the country's economy in jeopardy given its posi

Jan 18, 2021By Kim Bo-eun
Lee's jail sentence casts cloud on Samsung's business
Tech & Science

Biz community calls for leniency for Lee Jae-yong

By Kim Bo-eunKorea Chamber of Commerce and IndustryChairman Park Yong-maan enters a funeral hall for the late Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-heein southern Seoul, on Oct. 26, 2020. / Joint Press Corps.The business community is calling for leniency for Samsung Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, as an appellate court is set to issue a final ruling and sentences Monday after its rehearing of evidence in the major bribery case surrounding him, following a referral from the Supreme Court.Vice Chairman Lee faced a rehearing of evidence in the case involving former President Park Geun-hye and her top confidant Choi Soon-sil, both of whom are now in jail following guilty verdicts. Lee is said to have paid bribes to Park and Choi for their assistance in a smoother power transfer from his father Lee Kun-hee, who passed away last year. Prosecutors have sought a nine-year prison term for Lee.Lee's lawyers argued he was a victim of presidential power abuse and that Lee did not make any illegitimate requests. They said money provided by Lee went into equestrian training for Choi's daughter and a sports f

Jan 17, 2021By Kim Bo-eun
Biz community calls for leniency for Lee Jae-yong
Companies

POSCO shares logistics infrastructure with small clients

Steel products are loaded onto a vessel at a Pohang Steel Mill pier. / Courtesy of POSCOBy Kim Bo-eunPOSCO is set to institute a system that will allow small and medium enterprises (SME) that are its clients to ship their goods with those being exported by the steelmaker.According to the company, Thursday, POSCO developed the system based on the needs of SME clients, which faced difficulty in securing vessels to ship their smaller quantities of goods. As they were competing with larger shipments, this subjected the companies to higher fees and difficulty in meeting deadlines, resulting in poorer export competitiveness.POSCO has trial-operated the system since September. When it officially begins later this month, clients will be able to check vessels on which they can load their goods and make registrations.Up until now, clients have had to directly inquire with shipping companies to check when loading took place and make loading requests. During the trial period, a total of 42 SME clients loaded 56,000 tons of goods with POSCO shipments, saving 1.1 billion won in logistics costs, th

Jan 14, 2021By Kim Bo-eun
POSCO shares logistics infrastructure with small clients
Tech & Science

KT's presence at hotels grows with AI

Hotel workers Marriott Hotel & Residence in the southeastern city of Daegu operate a KT AI-powered robot in this photo. / Courtesy of KTBy Kim Bo-eunKT has been investing heavily in artificial intelligence (AI) as it is on track to transform into a digital platform-oriented entity. With the AI technology the firm has developed thus far, KT is scaling up its presence in the hotel industry.The telecom company said Thursday it has partnered with Marriott hotels in the southeastern city of Daegu to offer AI-based services. Currently, KT offers AI-based hotel services for 7,200 rooms at 35 hotels and it is aiming to expand to serve more clients not only locally, but globally. Its services are also available at Accor and Hyatt hotels."Given there are 1,883 registered hotels here with 154,000 rooms as well as the global market, we expect for the hotel AI solutions market developed by KT to see high rates of growth," a KT official said. At the hotels using KT's AI, guests are able to control lights and electronic equipment, play music and enjoy concierge services with Giga Genie ― KT's v

Jan 14, 2021By Kim Bo-eun
KT's presence at hotels grows with AI
Tech & Science

Reporter's notebook Platform giants may need to rethink strategy

By Kim Bo-eunAn image of Google Play store / Courtesy of GoogleThe departure of Google Korea CEO John Lee and the appointment of new chief Kim Kyoung-hoon is drawing attention back to the controversy surrounding the Google Play store's fee policy. Beginning this year, Google will charge all app developers a 30 percent fee on payments made by customers to them via Google Play. Currently, only mobile game developers are subject to this.In Korea, the introduction of the policy was pushed back to October, after a strong backlash from firms in the IT industry here. Lawmakers have proposed revisions to regulations that would block Google's move.Locally, Google Play is the dominant platform for purchasing apps. According to a report that compiled sales generated by app markets used here in 2019, Google Play made 6 trillion won, followed by Apple's App Store that made 2.3 trillion won, and the locally developed One Store that made 1.05 billion won. Google has immense influence over app developers given that the platform through which most Android users access the apps is the Google Play stor

Jan 14, 2021By Kim Bo-eun
[Reporter's notebook] Platform giants may need to rethink strategy
Tech & Science

Samsung, LG eye market for wireless earphone batteries

By Kim Bo-eunApple's AirPods Pro wireless in-ear headphones / Courtesy of Apple KoreaSamsung and LG are eyeing the micro battery market for wireless ear buds, as models evolve and demand for the devices grows. While EV batteries are their main business, the companies are also seeking to capture opportunities in the growing market for wireless listening device batteries.Two types of micro batteries are currently being used for wireless ear buds ― the cylindrical and coin cell, also known as button cells for its flat round form. The cylindrical battery has been used in Apple's AirPods models, but the electronics giant switched to the coin cell for its AirPods Pro model.Electronic gadget makers are seen to be opting for coin cells because they allow for a more diverse range of designs as opposed to the cylindrical type which typically fits into the stem of the headphones.Samsung SDI is also using the coin cell battery for its Galaxy Buds models, including Galaxy Buds Plus and Galaxy Buds Live. The battery maker stated in July in a conference call on its performance for the second quarte

Jan 14, 2021By Kim Bo-eun
Samsung, LG eye market for wireless earphone batteries
Tech & Science

Korean telecom firms still have solid glass ceiling

By Kim Bo-eunTelecommunications firms are part of the larger tech industry that is leading innovation in organizational culture, but data show they still have a long way to go in terms of gender representation at the board level.According to information provided by each company, there are only two women board members at the three major telecommunications companies ― SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus.SK Telecom and KT each have one, but both are outside directors. LG Uplus does not have any women on its board."We only have six board members. Those within the company are the CEO and CFO," a senior LG UPlus official said, adding that the company does have female executives; data show that women account for eight out of the company's 65 executives. "Current figures show there is progress to be made, but given the greater percentage of women in the workforce and evaluations based on performance, we will see improvements in years to come," the official said.Including executives that are not board members, women account for an average 7 percent of executives at all companies in the information an

Jan 12, 2021By Kim Bo-eun
Korean telecom firms still have solid glass ceiling
Tech & Science

KT struggling to sell off KT Submarine

By Kim Bo-eunKT is said to be tapping the market to sell off its affiliate specializing in submarine optical cables, but there appears to be little interest in the company.KT Submarine, established in 1995, constructs and maintains optical submarine cables. It also installs offshore drilling facilities.KT is seriously considering unloading its controlling stake in the affiliate. Previously, KT had attempted to sell the affiliate to Hyundai Heavy Industries in 2012.Sources familiar with the issue said Tuesday that KT resumed efforts recently to sell the unit as a way to restructure its group of affiliates to strengthen the group's core strengths through the sale of unprofitable business units. Last year, KT CEO Ku Hyeon-mo stated that preparations were being made for structural changes, and that results would be seen in 2021. KT currently has 44 affiliates in the sectors of broadcasting, online services, finance, security, real estate development, advertising and submarine cables employing 64,000 workers.Ku, who was appointed last year, has been seeking to make the group lighter and m

Jan 12, 2021By Kim Bo-eun
KT struggling to sell off KT Submarine
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