my timesThe Korea Times

Kim Yoo-chul

Korea Times Business Reporter

Go to Email

Read more

Tech & Science

Samsung to make splash in white goods market

By Kim Yoo-chul Samsung Electronics is very close to striking sizable acquisition deals in the home appliances sector. The top memory chipmaker also targets record sales in the non-volatile and value-added system LSI business. Samsung reached a broad consensus Wednesday for the need of acquisition deals in home appliances amid the growing demand for white goods. Hong Chang-wan, who leads Samsung’s home appliances division, said that the global market for washers and refrigerators is expected to reach $220 billion with the market for other white goods to surpass $400 billion. "We need action," he said at a news conference held in Samsung's headquarters in Seoul. Samsung also plans to release more healthcare-focused products in a follow-up move and the executive said its home appliances facility in Poland will pave the way for the firm to increase its shares in Europe's white-goods market. "Samsung will also go for another acquisition deal in healthcare-related sectors," said Hong. Samsung has so far risen by focusing on manufacturing rather than acquiring or

Mar 23, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

Samsung hopes to upset Apple in tablet bout

Korean tech firm readies new touch-screen computer, lowers prices of devices By Kim Yoo-chul Samsung Electronics has cut the price of its 7-inch Galaxy Tab on the heels of Apple’s launch of the iPad 2. The decision is also aimed at easing the Korean firm's inventory ahead of the launch of its 10.1-inch Tab. Samsung moved 2.5 million Tabs up to March 6 both domestically and abroad. Of those, Samsung sold 500,000 to SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus. The Tab is selling at 896,500 won domestically, down from 995,000 won, minus subsidies and contracts with carriers. Galaxy smartphones are also available to Korean consumers at a discount, according to carriers and Samsung. "Samsung is feeling heat from the iPad 2 and a price cut is set for a battle with Apple in the nascent market," said a high-ranking Samsung source, asking not to be identified. "It's a smart move. Samsung is reconsidering its price strategy on the next Galaxy Tab with a 10.1-inch screen." A Samsung spokesman said the price cuts were "expected" and don't mean anything more. KT, the first carrie

Mar 22, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul
Companies

LS Industrial changes corporate name to LSIS

By Kim Yoo-chul LS Industrial, the nation’s leading maker of electric power and other related equipment, said Monday that it has decided to change its English corporate name to LSIS or spelled out “LS Industrial System.” ``LSIS will make its first international debut to our overseas clients in Germany, April,’’ said a company spokesman Kim Bong-kyu. LS is injecting more of its resources to strengthen overseas businesses. Its CEO Koo Ja-kyun said the company is planning to strike an acquisition deal in ``greener’’ businesses in China to boost its traditionally strengths and find new areas of business. Kim declined to unveil this year’s exact overseas sales target, but said it aims to create at least $200 million in revenue this year from $120 million last year from China alone. ``The English name change will help us get better recognition from oversea clients because it’s simple to memorize,’’ said Kim, adding his company’s long-term sales goal in China was $1.1 billion in 2015. LS’s automation segment offers programmable logic controller (PLC) products, inverters

Mar 21, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul
Companies

Korea gets momentum in premium flat panels

By Kim Yoo-chul Korean companies may have secured momentum in their bid for leadership in the active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AM OLED) sector of the premium flat-panel industry as a crucial patent in the industry has been invalidated. Universal Display Corporation (UDC) of the United States recently lost a lawsuit in Japan regarding a key material used for such panels. Princeton University and the University of Southern California initially filed a patent on phosphorescent materials that was accepted in the United States, while UDC earned the right to charge royalties on licensees. The patent at issue has been a stumbling block for Korean AM OLED manufacturers such as Samsung Mobile Display and LG Display in their attempts to preempt the global market. Phosphorescent materials help enhance the brightness of such panels as well as offering savings in energy consumption, although they are somewhat pricey compared to conventional fluorescent materials. It is not known whether UDC will try to overturn the ruling as UDC representatives in Korea were not

Mar 20, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

Korea gets momentum in AM-OLED

By Kim Yoo-chul Korean companies may have secured momentum in their bid for leadership in the active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AM OLED) sector of the premium flat-panel industry as a crucial patent in the industry has been invalidated. Universal Display Corporation (UDC) of the United States recently lost a lawsuit in Japan regarding a key material used for such panels. Princeton University and the University of Southern California initially filed a patent on phosphorescent materials that was accepted in the United States, while UDC earned the right to charge royalties on licensees. The patent at issue has been a stumbling block for Korean AM OLED manufacturers such as Samsung Mobile Display and LG Display in their attempts to preempt the global market. Phosphorescent materials help enhance the brightness of such panels as well as offering savings in energy consumption, although they are somewhat pricey compared to conventional fluorescent materials. It is not known whether UDC will try to overturn the ruling as UDC representatives in Korea were not

Mar 20, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

LG, HP see future in 3D glasses

Tech giants may collaborate on stereoscopic computers, mobile devices By Kim Yoo-chul It would remain secret to the last minute what is in the mind of Hewlett-Packard (HP) CEO Leo Apotheker, who took charge of the global juggernaut late last year, on the firm's strategies on three-dimensional (3D) technologies. Under his stewardship, HP can adopt either the mainstream active-shutter glasses (SG) or the alternative film patterned retarder (FPR) on its products like desktops, laptops and monitors. People may have a reason to pick the latter. On his visit to Seoul early this month, Apotheker met top executives of LG, which works on FPR, to check the advantages and flaws of the technology. It is not known whether he visited Samsung Electronics that is betting on SG. "LG Electronics Vice Chairman Koo Bon-joon briefed about the strengths of the FPR technology to Apotheker during his visit," said a senior executive of LG Group, who is closely involved in the matter, Sunday. "The HP CEO was impressed by the FPR tech and the talks were quite constructive." Base

Mar 20, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

LG leader takes R&D initiatives as top priority

By Kim Yoo-chul In only a few months since LG Group brought about a much-anticipated change in management structure at LG Electronics, Chairman Koo Bon-moo is taking the conglomerate to the next stage for sustainability. Koo's efforts are focused on boosting research and development (R&D) personnel and facilities. LG said it will increase its R&D staff by 5,000 to number some 31,000 by the end of this year. Koo has also approved a 1 trillion won investment plan to pursue next earnings drivers such as green energy and healthcare. "We will invest more, if it is deemed necessary," said an LG spokesman Jeong Jung-wook, referring to Koo's initiatives. "R&D personnel will account for 30 percent of the total 110,000 employees," said a company spokesman. LG has LG Electronics, LG Display, LG Innotek, LG Chem and LG Uplus under its wing. LG Electronics trails Samsung Electronics in the global flat-screen TV market, and is behind Nokia and Samsung in handsets. LG Display competes with Samsung in flat panels and is under pressure to invest more in next-generation busine

Mar 16, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

Overseas expansion tests new SK Telecom CEO

Two predecessors' fall attributed to lackluster attempts to grow out of saturated domestic market By Kim Yoo-chul SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won apparently knows his conglomerate’s future lies abroad. Chey’s message of looking beyond the borders of the nation to find new growth engines for the conglomerate is evinced in the strengthening presence in China. Its flagship, SK Telecom has plans to expand outside the saturated domestic market, while SK Innovation, formerly known as SK Energy, has also outlined the same scheme. Chey’s conundrum is that the group’s expansion efforts are taking longer than expected, requiring a lot of patience. SK Telecom’s international businesses have been stalling without breakthroughs,’’ said a top-ranking SK source, asking not to be identified, adding that much of the attention of its CEO Ha Sung-min is focused on it, because going overseas is the only way out. SK Telecom is eager to bolster its international profile to move away from its heavy dependence on the saturated local telecom market, although previous efforts didn’t

Mar 16, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

Samsung leader offers olive branch

'Lee’s remarks don’t mean what they sounded like' By Kim Yoo-chul Samsung Group offered an olive branch to the government, irked by Lee Kun-hee’s criticism of its economic policy and a proposal that will put pressure on conglomerates to share profits with small businesses. "We are sorry our chairman's remarks were interpreted in a way that doesn't reflect his true meaning," said Rhee In-yong, a chief Samsung communication officer, in a media briefing, Wednesday. Reports stated President Lee Myung-bak was upset after the Samsung leader publicly put down the government’s economic performance, while rejecting the profit-sharing proposal by former Prime Minister Chung Un-chan, who is leading a blue-ribbon commission advocating the interest of small businesses. President Lee calls himself a CEO President, devoting most of his political agenda to economic affairs. Samsung rarely clarifies remarks made by its head. Rhee denied that his boss was critical of the government's economic policy. The Samsung Electronics chairman had told reporters that the government w

Mar 16, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul
Tech & Science

LG vows to further reduce gas emissions

By Kim Yoo-chul LG Electronics said Tuesday that it plans to accelerate its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 14 million tons this year. This marks an 8-percent improvement from last year when the Seoul-based firm cut emissions by 12.91 million tons. ``LG Electronics expects to attain its savings target of 30 million tons in 2020 on a yearly basis and a cumulative amount of 200 million tons by then,’’ LG spokesman Yoon Won-il said. ``In addition, we are developing our own emissions trading scheme.’’ LG is one of the bigger local players to join global initiatives in cutting emissions of greenhouse gases, which are widely believed to be a major factor in climate change. Korea has the infamy of racking up the fastest growth in carbon emissions among the member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). In order to amend its bad reputation, Korea is to spend 27.5 trillion won over the next two decades to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Along the same line it hopes to save some 30 trillion won in energy imports.

Mar 15, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul
previous page
256257258259260
next page

Top 5 stories

Korea Times
About Us
Introduction
History
Contact Us
Products & Services
Subscribe
E-paper
RSS Service
Content Sales
Site Map
Policy
Code of Ethics
Ombudsman
Privacy Policy
Youth Protection Policy
Terms of Service
Copyright Policy
Family Site
Hankookilbo
Dongwha Group
FacebookXYoutubeInstagram
CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.