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SK to up IPTV users 7.1 mil. by 2015

Employees at SK Broadband try out the company’s in-house cloud streaming service at its headquarters in northern Seoul, Monday. / Courtesy of SK BroadbandBy Kim Yoo-chulSK Broadband, the broadband unit of SK Group, said Monday that it is aiming for 7.1 million Internet Protocol TVs (IPTVs) customers 2015 to solidify its leading position in the market.The firm pointed out that steady improvement in the speed of broadband and the availability of interactive applications would play a crucial role in the expansion of the local IPTV market.“We plan to expand our customer base in the coming years, including those subscribing to mobile IPTV,” said Lim Jin-chae, the head of the company’s new media division, in a news conference at its headquarters in northern Seoul.This is the first time in four years that the SK affiliate held an official press conference as the company’s IPTV business has so far been experiencing steep falls in profit.Mentioning the popularity of its converged wire- and wireless-related services, the executive said the firm added 147

May 20, 2013By Kim Yoo-chul
SK to up IPTV users 7.1 mil. by 2015
Tech & Science

LG to award W400 bil. contracts to SMEs

This is an aerial view of LG’s technology complex in Magok, western Seoul. The company plans to complete the complex by 2020. / Courtesy of LG GroupBy Kim Yoo-chulLG Group said Monday that it will award 400 billion won ($357 million) worth of contracts to smaller firms, in a bid to support the so-called shared growth initiative spearheaded by President Park Geun-hye and her administration.The group also decided to invest a total of 3.2 trillion won to build a cutting-edge software development center in Magok, western Seoul, by 2020, up from an original 2.4 trillion won investment.The move comes as part of the group’s efforts to support the government’s policies to support a creative economy and ensure co-growth between large firms and SMEs. The government has placed top priority on creating new business chances and more jobs by combining information and communication technologies with the cultural and other sectors.“We are ready to match President Park Geun-hye’s creative economy drive. The latest investment will help grow the local software in

May 20, 2013By Kim Yoo-chul
LG to award W400 bil. contracts to SMEs
Tech & Science

CJ adopts emergency strategy

By Kim Yoo-chulCJ Group, Korea’s 20th largest conglomerate, has adopted an emergency strategy as a steep decline in profits of its key affiliates is directly hitting the company’s bottom line, CJ officials said Sunday.Chairman Lee Jay-hyun is considering closing some of its money-losing businesses while focusing on core and lucrative areas to enhance profitability. The money that will be saved from the cost-cutting efforts will be used to find new cash-cows and to expand its overseas businesses.   “All of our affiliates went into emergency management mode since early this month. We’ve told employees to start work about an hour early,” said a group official.“That’s part of efforts to boost competitiveness amid market uncertainty. CEOs of the group affiliates agreed to draw up survival plans.”The group is tightening its belt. It asked executives to reduce expenditures using corporate credit cards. Only sales personnel are allowed to use cards to treat clients and business partners after regular working hours. “If one divis

May 19, 2013By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

Camera is Samsung's next cash-cow

Usain Bolt, a Jamaican sprinter who is the fastest person in the world, poses with Samsung Electronics’ latest premium mirrorless camera, the NX300. Courtesy of SamsungBy Kim Yoo-chulLast year was the hottest for Samsung’s camera business.It became Korea’s top vendor for mirrorless cameras by surpassing its long-time rival Japan’s Sony, which is still a big name in the camera industry despite its recent faltering electronics business.During the last three months of 2012, Samsung sold the most mirrorless cameras in Korea with a share of 39.0 percent, followed by Sony with 38.3 percent, according to data from Samsung, Sunday. “Over the past few years, we’ve been very consistent in expanding product lineups and shifting away from low-end compact cameras as a strategy to put more focus on the lucrative mirrorless cameras. This strategy was correct,” said Suk Won-ki, a company spokesman.The numbers tell it all. During the July-September period of last year, Sony dominated the local mirrorless camera market with a share of 46.5 percent, followed by

May 19, 2013By Kim Yoo-chul
Camera is Samsung's next cash-cow
Tech & Science

Microsoft ends dispute with defense ministry

By Kim Yoo-chulMicrosoft has made peace with the Ministry of National Defense after the software giant dropped an earlier demand for the ministry to pay billions of won for the use of Microsoft software.On Thursday, the defense ministry said Microsoft is no longer asking that the ministry pay licensing fees of about 200 billion won for past usage of its software.“We reached a consensus not to talk about the past. Rather, Microsoft and the ministry agreed to strengthen their bilateral partnership in business areas in which the two are currently involved,” a ministry spokesman said. “We believe Microsoft’s proven experience of handling cyber security and other related technologies will significantly help us improve the national cyber security,” the ministry said in a statement. It added it has been consistent in strengthening cyber security.Microsoft welcomed the new pact. “This agreement will help us solidify our partnership with the defense ministry. Yes, it’s true that Microsoft won’t talk about the past. We will talk about the future,

May 16, 2013By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

Regulator monitors Google's privacy policy

By Kim Yoo-chulThe nation’s top telecom regulator is checking on Google’s controversial privacy policy to see whether the search giant has followed its earlier promise to improve it.The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) recently concluded that the company has yet to implement its recommendations regarding personal information and Street View after it agreed with the regulator to cooperate in a policy update in April 2012.Google Street View is a technology featured in Google Maps and Google Earth that provides panoramic views from positions along many streets in the world.“We are reviewing whether Google is strictly following its earlier promises to improve its privacy policy. We hope Google will do more for Korea,” said a senior official at the KCC, asking not to be named.“There are some issues that need to be addressed and improved,” he stressed. The official recently ordered his team to request Google headquarters in the United States to improve its policy.“We have kept asking them to improve it but Google is resisting, claiming that it

May 16, 2013By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

Galaxy S4 sales to top 10 million

Mobile chief hints that sales may hit 100 million markBy Kim Yoo-chulShin Jong-kyunSamsung Electronics said Thursday it expects its latest flagship handset, the Galaxy S4, to surpass the 10 million mark in sales next week.“We are confident that we will pass more than 10 million sales of the S4 next week. It is selling much faster than the previous model S3,” Samsung Electronics co-CEO Shin Jong-kyun told reporters at an industry forum in Seoul, Thursday. That would make the mobile device the fastest selling smartphone in Samsung’s history.Samsung officials said the company’s increased spending on promotional campaigns significantly helped as Samsung directly targeted its users of its bitter rival Apple and touted some its hardware-driven features.The company started selling the S4 on its home ground of Korea in April 26 and it has been selling the device in 60 different countries, including the United States, China and India since April 27.“Samsung spent 50 days to pass the 10 million sales mark for the S3. The S4 will be Samsung’s first `10 millio

May 16, 2013By Kim Yoo-chul
Galaxy S4 sales to top 10 million
Tech & Science

NHN's dominance worries minister

Gov’t vows to cut telecom billsBy Kim Yoo-chul, Kim Da-yeChoi Moon-ki, Science, ICT and Future Planing MinisterChoi Moon-ki, the minister of science, ICT and future planning, has expressed concerns about the dominant structure of the Internet industry, saying the nation’s dominant portal operator NHN has “too much market power.”“NHN has focused too much on external growth under the helm of a young CEO. NHN should think more about making a social contribution to society. It has too much market power,” Choi said at a press conference at the government complex in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday.It was the first time the minister officially expressed concerns about NHN’s dominance of the Korean market. NHN owns Naver, the largest search portal.Referring to an ongoing probe by the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) over allegations NHN engaged in unfair business practices, the minister said the ministry won’t allow NHN to control the entire Web portal-related market.“The FTC is taking a cautious approach against NHN. A company whi

May 15, 2013By Kim Yoo-chul
NHN's dominance worries minister
Tech & Science

LG mulls buying Woongjin Chemical

By Kim Yoo-chulLG Chem, the nation’s biggest chemical company, may be moving to purchase Woongjin Chemical, the chemical arm of the troubled Woongjin Group to strengthen its petrochemical business.“LG Chem is mulling acquiring Woongjin Chemical. But nothing has been decided yet,” LG said in a filing to the Korea Exchange (KRX), Tuesday.Considering LG’s conservative stance toward big deals, the move came as a surprise. LG Group has so far been interested in small deals.  Woongjin is engaged in the production and supply of polyester fibers and related products. Shares of Woongjin Chemical are currently suspended from trading due to ongoing share consolidation.“Under the new CEO, the LG Group affiliate has been consistent in strengthening its traditionally-strong petrochemical business as CEO Park Jin-soo wants to transform LG Chem into a firm that can consistently generate profit regardless of the market situation,” said an official at one of LG’s affiliates.LG hired Samil PwC as its accounting advisor and Lee & Ko for legal services,

May 14, 2013By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

Foreign firms under scrutiny

By Kim Yoo-chulThe Fair Trade Commission (FTC) is checking global companies operating here to see whether they treat subcontractors unfairly, according to sources Tuesday. They include the Korean operations of Apple, Google, Microsoft, Cisco, IBM, Ford, Intel, Coca Cola, Nike, MetLife, Pfizer, Pepsi, Walt Disney, Gap, E-Bay, Xerox, 3M and Visa.The FTC investigations are aimed at fulfilling the government’s pledge to prevent big firms from bullying small firms. The anti-trust agency is now gathering information about business contracts foreign firms had with small companies. The Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business (Kbiz), a lobby group for small- and medium-sized enterprises, is providing that information.  “The FTC recently asked us for pertinent information,” said a Kbiz official.The source said the regulator will begin an on-site investigation against any company, if there is any evidence that it violates an antitrust law by exploiting subcontractors.When contacted, the regulator declined to comment on the matter.The FTC’s latest move is

May 14, 2013By Kim Yoo-chul
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