Uber bets on Naver partnership to break Kakao’s 90% ride-hailing grip

In a bold move to crack South Korea’s tightly controlled ride-hailing market, Uber Technologies is joining forces with internet behemoth Naver to take on Kakao Mobility, the operator of the country’s leading taxi-hailing service Kakao T. Uber has launched its subscription-based loyalty program, Uber One, exclusively for Naver Plus Membership users in early October. The rollout is part of Uber’s broader strategy to expand its foothold in Korea by leveraging Naver’s vast digital ecosystem and cust

Oct. 8, 2025

Nearly 60% of S. Koreans fear lagging behind in AI-driven investment

Nearly 60 percent of South Koreans feel a sense of anxiety about falling behind the trend of using generative artificial intelligence models to help with investments, a survey showed Monday. According to the poll by the Korea Press Foundation on 1,000 South Koreans, 59.1 percent of respondents expressed unease over lagging behind the trend of using AI for investment advice. Respondents in their 30s posted the highest ratio among all age groups with 64.5 percent, the survey showed. "The figure in

Oct. 6, 2025

OpenAI officials tour Samsung Electronics' chip plant

OpenAI officials have toured Samsung Electronics Co.'s semiconductor manufacturing facilities in South Korea following a partnership deal for its Stargate project, sources said Thursday. According to the sources, six research and development (R&D) staff from OpenAI visited Samsung Electronics' Pyeongtaek Campus, the company's largest chip plant located about 70 kilometers south of Seoul, on Wednesday. The site produces about half of Samsung Electronics' dynamic random access memory (DRAM) wafers

Oct. 2, 2025

[HIT Forum] US tariffs test Asia’s resilience, show need for new partnerships

Asia should strengthen cooperation not only through existing trade agreements but also by exploring new avenues — particularly in emerging technology sectors — to better navigate the mounting challenges of global protectionism. This was the headline takeaway from the first panel discussion at The Korea Herald HIT Forum, held at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul on Thursday, as editors of three key news outlets — Nguyen Minh, editor-in-chief of Vietnam News; Wang Yu, business ed

Oct. 2, 2025

KAIST robotics startups step into the real world

Robotics startups founded at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology are taking their innovations beyond the lab and into workplaces and city streets, the university said Tuesday. In September, a humanoid robot developed by URobotics, a startup founded by four students in KAIST's electrical engineering lab, went viral after videos showed it walking naturally among commuters in Seoul’s Gangnam district during rush hour. The company has developed a “blind” walking control system tha

Oct. 1, 2025

Samsung expected to unveil tri-folding smartphone at APEC summit: sources

Samsung Electronics is expected to unveil its first tri-folding smartphone at the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, industry sources said Tuesday, According to the sources, the South Korean tech giant plans to showcase the new model at an exhibition on the sidelines of the multilateral summit, scheduled to take place in the southeastern city of Gyeongju on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. The tri-folding device is an evolution of Samsung Electronics' existing Galaxy foldable series, w

Sept. 30, 2025

Samsung Biologics to target top 40 pharma clients at Bio Japan 2025

Samsung Biologics said Tuesday it will operate its first independent booth at Bio Japan 2025, Asia’s largest biotechnology and pharmaceutical exhibition, as the Korean contract drug manufacturer seeks to expand its client base beyond the world’s top 20 drugmakers. The company opened a sales office in Tokyo earlier this year to bolster its presence in Asia, after having previously established a US office. Bio Japan, launched in 1986 by the Japan Bioindustry Association, runs Oct. 8-10 in Yokohama

Sept. 30, 2025

LG Innotek maps out W5tr future mobility, robotics push by 2030

LG Innotek CEO Moon Hyuk-soo has unveiled an ambitious blueprint to drive the company’s next phase of growth, aiming to boost the portion of future businesses such as mobility and robotics to over 25 percent of total revenue by 2030, the company said on Tuesday. During a recent on-site visit, Moon told employees that the company’s push into next-generation technologies is “rapidly gaining momentum,” underscoring the firm’s strategy for long-term, sustainable growth. Since taking the helm in late

Sept. 30, 2025

S. Korea to launch Nuri space rocket on Nov. 27: KASA

The Korea AeroSpace Administration said Tuesday it has finalized the date for the fourth launch of the country's homegrown Nuri space rocket. The Nuri, formally the Korea Space Launch Vehicle II, will be launched Nov. 27. The date was finalized following a launch management committee meeting held Friday and a separate meeting reviewing the transportation of the main payload, a next-generation midsized satellite, Monday. The backup launch window has been set between Nov. 28 and Dec. 4. The rocket

Sept. 30, 2025

Kakao rolls back KakaoTalk revamp amid user complaints

Kakao Corp. will roll back part of a controversial redesign of its flagship KakaoTalk messenger after users complained that the new “feed-style” interface exposed too much personal information and turned the country’s most widely used chat app into an “unwanted” social network. The company said Monday it will restore the “friends” tab to its previous contact list format and give users the option to choose between the old and new display styles. Kakao last week introduced the feed-style friends l

Sept. 29, 2025

Merck veteran named as new CEO

German science and technology firm Merck said Monday it has appointed electronics head Kai Beckmann as its next chief executive, to succeed Belen Garijo when she steps down at the end of May 2026. Beckmann has led the performance materials business sector since 2017 and served on the executive board since 2011. He will take over as chair of the executive board and CEO on May 1, 2026, the company said. He will continue to lead the company's electronics division as deputy CEO, effective immediatel

Sept. 29, 2025

Samsung Electro-Mechanics showcases advanced MLCC in China

Samsung Electro-Mechanics, the electronic parts subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, said Sunday it showcased its advanced multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) and other core auto components to global automotive and electronics companies at a forum held in Tianjin, China. The company hosted the 2025 Samsung Automotive Component Tech Day in the Chinese city from Thursday to Friday, bringing together more than 100 executives from some 30 global automakers and electronics firms. At the annual event,

Sept. 28, 2025

KakaoTalk’s biggest update in 15 years sparks backlash over Instagram-style revamp

KakaoTalk’s largest revamp in 15 years was meant to modernize the app — but the Instagram-style makeover has left many users angry, calling it cluttered and unrecognizable. Some users welcomed features such as clearer separation of unread chats, but many bristled at the new feed-style friends tab with oversized profile photos, saying the update stripped KakaoTalk of its identity. “I tried not to update KakaoTalk, but is it right to change it without the user’s consent?” 23-year-old South Korean

Sept. 26, 2025

LG chief warns of China’s edge, calls for faster AI push

LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo underscored Thursday the importance of artificial intelligence transformation to strengthen structural competitiveness, warning that Chinese rivals are investing "three to four times more" in capital and manpower. Gathering more than 40 CEOs and chief digital officers from key affiliates — including LG Electronics, LG Display, LG Chem, LG Energy Solution and LG Uplus — Koo emphasized that LG’s core businesses are locked in fierce competition with Chinese companies

Sept. 25, 2025

Xiaomi deepens Korea footing with new stores

Chinese electronics powerhouse Xiaomi is intensifying its efforts to rebrand itself as a premium player in the South Korean market, moving beyond its traditional image as a budget-friendly manufacturer. At a press conference held in Seoul on Thursday, Jony Wu, general manager of Xiaomi Korea, unveiled plans to open two additional flagship stores and launch an exclusive service center as part of its broader strategy to enhance localization and high-end brand positioning. “We have continuously str

Sept. 25, 2025