Business

Samsung Electronics to adopt AI coding assistant to boost developer productivity

Samsung Electronics said Sunday it will adopt an artificial intelligence (AI) coding assistant service called Cline next month to enhance productivity among its software development employees. In a recent internal notice, the company said it has launched a beta test of Cline for employees in the Device eXperience (DX) division, which includes its mobile, TV and home appliances businesses. Cline is an open-source AI tool that helps developers write, edit and test code using simple natural language commands like "create a login function." Unlike conventional coding assistants limited to basic tasks, Cline can handle more complex software development processes, significantly boosting productivity. Samsung plans to continue beta testing through the end of this month and aims to launch the official version as early as next month. As part of its transition into an AI-driven company, Samsung has also established a dedicated AI productivity innovation group within its DX division. The new group serves as a central control tower, overseeing the development of companywide AI infrastructure and syst

Jun 8, 2025By Yonhap

Samsung Electronics to adopt AI coding assistant to boost developer productivity

Tech & Science

Naver to set up investment arm for Silicon Valley startups

Korea’s internet service conglomerate Naver will establish an investment arm in Silicon Valley to back promising tech startups, with video artificial intelligence (AI) startup Twelve Labs confirmed as its first investment target. According to Naver on Sunday, Naver Ventures will complete its establishment within this month, with Chief Financial Officer Kim Nam-sun leading the investment firm. Before its official launch, the company's executives held a networking event titled “Venturing Naver’s Next Chapter” at Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley on Thursday (local time), with Naver Board Chairman Lee Hae-jin, CEO Choi Soo-yeon and Kim attending. The event drew about 200 participants, including prominent entrepreneurs, engineers and investors based in Silicon Valley. Sendbird CEO Kim Dong-shin, Moloco CEO Ahn Ik-jin and Kim Sung-moo of DataRise were among participants. “At a time when many startups are struggling to secure funding due to global uncertainty, Naver aims to play a supportive role not only in Korea but also in North America, helping them receive stable investment and

Jun 8, 2025By Nam Hyun-woo

Naver to set up investment arm for Silicon Valley startups

Tech & Science

Instagram account suspensions leave users frustrated

A growing number of Instagram users are complaining that their accounts are being suspended abruptly without explanation, fueling doubts about the platform’s transparency and enforcement of community guidelines. Complaints from its users have been increasingly surfacing online, sharing that their accounts have been disabled or deleted without any clear explanation or proper appeal process. “I’ve been using my account for three years to post personal memories. Then, out of nowhere, it was deactivated,” a user wrote on dcinside, an online forum. “I’ve never posted anything suspicious or inappropriate to get disabled, and I didn’t even get a chance to appeal … it was just an unexplained notice.” According to users who shared similar experiences on the forum and a KakaoTalk open group chat, Instagram has been informing the accounts that they’re blocked for reasons such as sexual exploitation and abuse of children, along with community guidelines and integrity rules violations. However, many claimed that they had not engaged in any such behavior and had not violated any of

Jun 6, 2025By Lee Gyu-lee

Instagram account suspensions leave users frustrated

Companies

Tim Hortons, Blue Bottle struggle with fast-changing consumer tastes

Foreign premium coffee chains are losing ground in Korea’s fiercely competitive market, with the recent closure of a Tim Hortons store in Incheon’s Cheongna International City signaling the growing challenges they face. BKR, the Korean licensee of the Canada-headquartered brand, shut down the company-operated store on June 1, just over a year after it opened in April 2024. It was the first time BKR has closed a Tim Hortons store since December 2023, when it introduced the brand to Seoul and drew long lines of customers eager to get a taste. The company said it is looking for a better location to open another store in Incheon, but the closure is widely seen as a signal that the brand was outcompeted by lower-priced local rivals, as Tim Hortons has faced criticism for charging higher prices in Korea than in Canada. Without directly addressing the pricing issue, BKR recently decided to cut the price of the Tim Hortons Original Iced Capp to 1,999 won ($1.47) from 5,100 won between the June 5 and 18 period. Even after the promotional period, consumers will be able to purchase the blended

Jun 6, 2025By Park Jae-hyuk

Tim Hortons, Blue Bottle struggle with fast-changing consumer tastes

Others

Shares of holding firms rise as President Lee pledges to retire treasury stocks

The stock prices of holding companies, which had long remained in the doldrums, are now soaring amid expectations that President Lee Jae-myung will enforce the retirement of treasury shares, industry officials said Friday. According to the Korea Exchange, Hanwha Corp's stock price has surged by 80.3 percent over the past two weeks. Other major holding companies also posted significant gains: SK Inc. (35.9 percent), Doosan Corp. (33.6 percent), Lotte Corp. (22.6 percent), CJ Corp. (21.2 percent) and LS Corp. (19.7 percent). Holding companies have long been regarded as typical low price-to-book ratio stocks — key targets of the government's Corporate Value-up Program. Factors such as the dual listing of subsidiaries and owner-centric decision-making have contributed to their undervaluation. Individual investors have also criticized these companies for their passive approach to retiring treasury shares, which they see as a means of defending the management rights of controlling shareholders. Expectations are rising that the new administration may address these issues. During the campaign,

Jun 6, 2025By Lee Yeon-woo

Shares of holding firms rise as President Lee pledges to retire treasury stocks

Companies

President's idea to mandate treasury stock cancellation frightens firms

President Lee Jae-myung’s idea of obliging listed firms to cancel their own treasury shares is raising concerns among firms with high holdings, prompting some smaller companies to delist themselves. Companies including LS Corp and Hanssem have been using their high holdings of their own shares to protect their managing rights from hostile investors, but the new government’s initiative is adding greater uncertainties, fueling worries that such strategies may no longer be viable. Throughout his campaign, Lee pledged to institutionalize a rule requiring listed companies to cancel treasury shares “in principle,” so that they can be returned to shareholders as benefits and ultimately buoy the domestic stock market. “There are some cases of companies purchasing their own shares with their own capital and selling them to friendly parties to serve the private interests of the largest shareholders,” Lee said. “Considering such issues, the government will move quickly to establish new rules.” Though the meaning of “in principle” and other details remain under wraps, industry of

Jun 6, 2025By Nam Hyun-woo

President's idea to mandate treasury stock cancellation frightens firms

Tech & Science

Galaxy Watch earns EU certification on sleep apnea feature

Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy Watch series has received the European Union’s Conformite Europeenne (CE) certification for its sleep apnea detection feature, expanding its availability worldwide. The company announced Friday that the feature recently gained certification for the European Economic Area of 34 markets. Along with Korea, the United States, Australia and Singapore, the feature is now available in 70 markets. The CE certification, which translates to European conformity, confirms a product meets the European Union’s safety, health, environmental and consumer protection requirements. The CE marking is obligatory for products like medical devices, electronics, machinery and toys to be marketed in the EU. Sleep apnea is a condition in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, potentially leading to serious health complications. When breathing temporarily stops, it reduces oxygen levels in the blood, disrupting sleep quality and resulting in daytime fatigue. According to the U.S. National Sleep Foundation, around 25 percent of men and 10 percent of women in the

Jun 6, 2025By Lee Gyu-lee

Galaxy Watch earns EU certification on sleep apnea feature

Companies

Conglomerates in dilemma over manpower expansion

Major conglomerates are facing a dilemma over President Lee Jae-myung’s pro-labor policy of raising the legal retirement age, as it could prevent job creation for the younger generation, industry officials said Thursday. Lee’s major policies include the gradual extension of the retirement age from 60 to 65, along with introducing a 4.5-day workweek system. Both are drawing concerns from major business groups, as they are expected to increase labor costs and make it tough to ensure productivity under possibly reduced working hours. However, his proposals seem highly feasible thanks to the parliamentary majority of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). The ruling bloc holds 167 seats in the 300-seat National Assembly. If both pledges pass the National Assembly, industry officials argue they will have to tighten their belts either by reducing recruitment of new employees or shrinking investment. “If the policies are realized, companies will have to cover more labor costs to pay for the experienced older workers for a longer period of time,” an official from a conglomerate said.

Jun 6, 2025By Lee Min-hyung

Conglomerates in dilemma over manpower expansion

Companies

Nintendo Switch 2 launch draws eager fans

TOKYO — Eager customers lined up outside electronics stores in Tokyo hours in advance to collect their pre-ordered Nintendo Switch 2 video game consoles. The much anticipated Switch 2, being released around the world Thursday, is an upgrade to its eight-year-old predecessor with new social features meant to draw players into online gaming. Nintendo is counting on the Switch 2 to boost sagging sales. In the U.S., a chaotic pre-order process in April left some fans frustrated after the consoles quickly sold out. In Japan, the new consoles were sold through a competitive lottery system that Nintendo said got about 2.2 million applications. Outside the official draw, some retailers offered their own lotteries to pre-order the devices. Koji Takahashi was among those who missed out on the official draw but he was selected in the second round of a lottery held by a major electronics retailer in Japan. He was first in line waiting outside the store, arriving four hours ahead of its opening. He hoped to secure a limited supply of Nintendo accessories to buy along with his pre-ordered Switch 2. “

Jun 5, 2025By AP

Nintendo Switch 2 launch draws eager fans

Companies

Risks remain to Czech nuclear deal signed on Lee's inauguration day

Questions are mounting over whether the new government supports the Czech nuclear reactor deal signed Wednesday, the same day President Lee Jae-myung took office. During opening remarks at the administration's first Cabinet meeting on Thursday morning, Lee made no mention of the multibillion-dollar agreement, which was finalized immediately after the Czech Supreme Administrative Court lifted an injunction imposed by a regional court. At the request of French energy company EDF — a losing bidder in the tender process — a regional court in the Czech city of Brno issued the injunction last month, preventing the Korean delegation in Prague from signing the final contract at the last minute. Throughout his election campaign, Lee pledged to prioritize renewable energy development over expanding nuclear power. Although he was cautious about promoting a swift nuclear phase-out, he did not hesitate to highlight the risks of nuclear power during televised debates, citing historic disasters at Japan's Fukushima and the Soviet Union's Chernobyl plants. Anti-nuclear civic groups have urged Lee to

Jun 5, 2025By Park Jae-hyuk

Risks remain to Czech nuclear deal signed on Lee's inauguration day

S. Korea's KHNP signs final nuclear plant contract with Czech Republic after court injunction lifted: report

Tech leaders showcase technology at Quantum Korea 2026

Shinhan, Kiwoom face probe over JTBC bond sales amid default fallout

Korea expresses regret over US House committee’s 'lopsided' Coupang report

KEPCO rallies industry to commercialize direct current power systems

BYD Korea looks to offset subsidy exclusion with PHEV sales

Business

Tech leaders showcase technology at Quantum Korea 2026

Shinhan, Kiwoom face probe over JTBC bond sales amid default fallout

Korea expresses regret over US House committee’s 'lopsided' Coupang report

KEPCO rallies industry to commercialize direct current power systems

BYD Korea looks to offset subsidy exclusion with PHEV sales

Read more

Samsung Electronics to adopt AI coding assistant to boost developer productivity

Naver to set up investment arm for Silicon Valley startups

Instagram account suspensions leave users frustrated

Tim Hortons, Blue Bottle struggle with fast-changing consumer tastes

Shares of holding firms rise as President Lee pledges to retire treasury stocks

President's idea to mandate treasury stock cancellation frightens firms

Galaxy Watch earns EU certification on sleep apnea feature

Conglomerates in dilemma over manpower expansion

Nintendo Switch 2 launch draws eager fans

Risks remain to Czech nuclear deal signed on Lee's inauguration day

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