The Korea Times

Blue chip

Hynix aiming high with advanced chip manufacturing technology By Kim Yoo-chul The memory chip industry is cyclical and volatile upon economic moves because consumers usually cut back on their spending on chip-embedded digital devices when economies get into trouble. Volume is the key word to gauge the intensity of corporate sustainability as more volume means increased possibility to secure the "bottom line" even in the industry's cyclical slump. Korea's Hynix Semiconductor, which only trails industry leader Samsung Electronics, is one of them which has already realized the "economies of scale" in its chip-making business. It controls more than 20 percent of the global demand for DRAM chips used in traditional computers, according to market research firm iSuppli, while the Icheon, Gyeonggi Province-based outfit is the world's third-biggest NAND flash memory chip player. NAND flashes can store data even when the machine is switched off and are used in high-end personal devices such as smartphones, tablet PCs and camcorders. Hynix, which received its best

Feb 22, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul

Tech & Science

Two brothers leading LGs resurgency

Group owners teaming up for business upturn By Kim Yoo-chul At LG Group, the nation’s top-tier conglomerate, the roles of the eldest brother seem to be take care of internal jobs including research while that the younger brother in charge of its flagship is about the group's global businesses. LG Group Chairman Koo Bon-moo is consistently asking chief executives at its key subsidiaries to foster R&D initiatives via paying rare visits to local manufacturing sites. His younger brother Bon-joon, who leads LG Electronics, has vigorously inspected facilities outside of the country, according to a top-ranking LG executive. ``The CEO will fly to South America and the United States, respectively, this month to respond to pending issues and check up strategic products there,’’ said the top-ranking LG executive, asking not to be identified, on Monday. The anonymous executive added that the chief executive has recently returned from his trips to India, Saudi Arabia and Dubai. ``The CEO is directly caring for overseas partners. We’ve already seen some progresses of soothi

Feb 21, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul

Tech & Science

Droid invasion

Newest Google gadget hits Korean shelves this week By Kim Yoo-chul Korea's stiff smartphone competition dominated by Apple and Samsung Electronics is expected to feature more of Google with the advent of the long-awaited Nexus S this week. An official at the Korea Communications Commission said Sunday that the country’s wireless carriers had recently gained approval to sell the smartphone. The nation's leading wireless operators SK Telecom and KT confirmed that they are poised to market the handset featuring the latest Google operating system (OS). "We plan to start selling Google's advanced smartphone from this week at the earliest," SK Telecom spokeswoman Kim Ji-won said. SK Telecom is the No. 1 mobile carrier. Spokesman Lee In-won at SK Telecom's cross-town rival KT also disclosed a similar plan. Both said that they recently finished compatibility tests for their networks and the Nexus S. The model, which hit the overseas markets despite a delay here, is manufactured by Samsung but is called the "pure Google phone." The device gained the moniker since it

Feb 20, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul

Tech & Science

Samsung downplays LGs new 3D TV

TV chief says LG's film-based 3D technology outdated By Kim Yoo-chul SUWON, Gyeonggi Province ― Debates concerning the competitive edge of leading three dimensional (3D) TV technology are flaring up. 3D has already emerged as the next big thing for TV majors, which are eager to find their next revenue source. With help from Japan's Sony, Samsung Electronics is pushing its shutter glass (SG) 3D technology Its biggest cross-town rival LG is hoping to break the current Samsung lead by promoting film-type patterned retarder (FPR) 3D technology. LG's FPR has been known to have some merits in terms of little flicker or cross-talk ― the major criticisms of SG. But the chief of Samsung's TV division stated that FPR is outdated. "LG Electronics is saying that its FPR is the next technology in the 3D world, but that isn’t right since it was developed in the 1930s," said Yoon Boo-keun, who leads Samsung's TV business, Thursday. Samsung launched a new line of full high-definition (HD) 3D TVs that help viewers get better access to online content and use social networking se

Feb 17, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul

Tech & Science

LG unveils theater-quality 3D television

By Kim Yoo-chul LG Electronics unveiled a plan Wednesday to push its LCD TV with film-type patterned retarder (FPR) 3D technology. FPR is said to make pictures sharper and clearer so as to provide viewers with theater-quality images. LG's television unit is focusing on 3D television to better compete with Samsung and Sony in the highly-lucrative market. Sales targets are upbeat. The chief of LG's television unit said it was aiming to control 20 percent of the global market for 3D by selling at least eight million televisions. "The global 3D TV market is on a fast development phase. LG is confident about the proliferation of 3D televisions with FPR technology," said its chief Kwon Hee-won in a news conference to introduce its new 3D TV model. The Cinema 3D LCD TV removes any kind of dizziness or eye fatigue, which is common with existing shutter glass 3D TV. LG is promoting light, inexpensive 3D spectacles, without batteries, which are required by Samsung's. "LG wants to become the leader in 3D TVs. Bigger retailers from China to the United States are asking

Feb 16, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul

Companies

Cable firms fined for collusion

By Kim Yoo-chul The Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) said Tuesday it will fine 13 local electric wire manufacturers a total of 56.5 billion won for price collusion. The announcement followed efforts by the KFTC to ferret out price fixing to help the government’s anti-inflation battle. The antitrust watchdog asked prosecutors to launch a thorough investigation into seven of them including Taihan Electric Wire, the leading Korean cable manufacturer. LS Cable, Gaon Cable and Taihan were ordered to pay 34.02 billion, 6.75 billion and 3.03 billion won, respectively. Samsung Electronics was slapped with a 2.19 billion won fine. The electronics giant said that it was not included in the list of firms to be put under investigation. ``These wire manufacturers were found to have worked together in price fixing schemes for their electric wire products from 2003 to 2006,’’ said Jeong Jung-won, an official at the regulator’s cartel bureau, in a background briefing to reporters. Jeong said the affected firms were also suspected of covertly conspiring to fix bidding prices for

Feb 15, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul

Tech & Science

Is Samsung happy about high chip prices?

Biggest memory chipmaker hopes to corner overseas rivals By Kim Yoo-chul GIHEUNG/HWASEONG, Gyeonggi Province ― Being a top-tier player is crucial in the global memory chip industry because an advanced position equals more bargaining power in the sector. Samsung Electronics is the current leader controlling over 40 percent of global demand, which helps it accelerate its moves toward finer technologies. The leading position also enables Samsung to secure its bottom line even in a market downturn as it can create revenue by offering highly-efficient and cost-competitive products to its bigger clients such as Apple. Analysts say this year will be favorable for the company as economic recovery will probably spur consumer spending on electronic devices, which will lower inventories and tighten supply, keeping chip prices strong. But it seems Samsung is not entirely happy about such a favorable market situation; what it wants is faster consolidation in the industry by letting chip prices continue to remain weak. “Chip prices are rising. That is good for Samsung. But I’

Feb 14, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul

Tech & Science

Doosan offers new model for Korea Inc.

By Kim Yoo-chul Doosan Group sees this year as crucial in raising its international presence with strong signs of economic recovery in emerging and developed markets. Doosan is upbeat about this year’s revenue target. It aims to reap 27.7 trillion won for the year from 24.6 trillion won a year ago. In operating profit, Doosan is aiming for 2.2 trillion won, up from 1.8 trillion during the same period, said spokesman Lee Jay-hyung. ``One of the noticeable things is that the group is trying to create some 60 percent of the total revenue outside the peninsula," said Lee. Doosan, the nation’s oldest conglomerate, has business interests from desalination, construction equipment and water treatment to power plants. Officials say the solid contribution of its key affiliates will play a pivotal role that will make a so-called ``quantum leap’’ in future sustainability. It plans to put more focus on strengthening its infrastructure support business (ISB) by restructuring non-IBS units in a strategy for corporate-wide migration to target businesses, Doosan officials told Th

Feb 14, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul

Tech & Science

Enspert challenges iPads, Tabs

By Kim Yoo-chul Desktops and laptops are out, tablets are in. Apple's iPads and Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Tabs are seen everywhere but it doesn’t mean that the world of tablets only belong to these giants. Here is one competitor in Korea that is throwing down the gauntlet to these Goliaths. Enspert, Korea's mid-sized tablet PC manufacturer, is upbeat on finding a niche amid the tough competition between Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Tab and Apple’s iPad. The Seoul-based outfit has released its latest Identity Cron tablet. The successor of the Identity Tab has a 7-inch screen and runs on Google’s Android 2.2 mobile operating system. The slate is equipped with a 1-gigahert processor and supports 1.3- and 5-megapixel cameras on the front and back, respectively, while enabling users to share and download mobile content, it said at the recent launch event held in downtown Seoul. The Cron will be available from the nation’s second-biggest mobile carrier KT with the price at 500,000 won ($450). Its Wi-Fi models will initially go on sale this month and WiBro ver

Feb 13, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul

Tech & Science

Health arguments may sour 3D TV buzz

Top TV maker Samsung attempts to ease safety concerns, but debate continues By Kim Yoo-chul Nothing is perfect. Developments in technology let people enjoy an easier life, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that today’s issues will be resolved in the foreseeable future. That’s the case with three dimensional (3D) televisions _ the next cash-cow actively embraced by TV majors including Samsung, LG and Sony. Debates are continuing over the safety of images produced by 3D televisions. Calls are rising that viewers, especially children, should be kept away from them. It has been a major issue for TV vendors. Easing safety concerns over 3D viewing is necessary to extend the sale of the premium televisions, as the industry pushes the technology. ``Statistics indicate that 3D TVs will make millions of people either uncomfortable or sick. Optometrists are also claiming that as many as one in four viewers has problems when watching 3D movies and televisions,’’ an optometrist in a Seoul hospital said. Doctors say the 3D technology will turn developing eyes inward. As ill

Feb 11, 2011By Kim Yoo-chul

Kim Yoo-chul

Read more

Blue chip

Two brothers leading LGs resurgency

Droid invasion

Samsung downplays LGs new 3D TV

LG unveils theater-quality 3D television

Cable firms fined for collusion

Is Samsung happy about high chip prices?

Doosan offers new model for Korea Inc.

Enspert challenges iPads, Tabs

Health arguments may sour 3D TV buzz

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