Korea delays decision on Apple’s request to export high-precision map data

The South Korean government has postponed a decision on whether to allow Apple to export high-precision digital map data, citing the need for further deliberation on national security and industrial implications. The National Geographic Information Institute, under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, announced Friday that the review period for Apple’s export request will be extended by 60 days. A final decision is now expected by Dec. 8. Apple submitted its application on June 16

Sept. 5, 2025

Samsung, LG face off at IFA 2025 with AI-powered homes

South Korean electronics giants Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are set to go head-to-head at IFA 2025, Europe's largest tech and home appliance trade show, with both spotlighting their latest AI-powered home solutions. Opening Friday in Berlin for a five-day run, this year's exhibition is expected to move beyond unveiling new appliances, serving as a stage to present a sustainable vision of future daily life. Opening a massive 6,235-square-meter booth under the theme "AI Home: Future Liv

Sept. 4, 2025

LG to build W50b cooling tech hub to power AI data centers

LG Electronics said Wednesday it will invest 50 billion won ($35.87 million) to establish a new research and development center for heating, ventilation and air conditioning in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, amid the tech giant's broader HVAC push. The company signed an agreement with Changwon National University to build the LG Electronics HVAC Research Center. The signing ceremony was attended by LG Vice President Lee Jae-sung, head of the company's eco solutions division that oversees t

Sept. 3, 2025

China’s chip self-sufficiency push narrows gap with Samsung, SK hynix

China’s drive for semiconductor self-sufficiency is starting to bear fruit, raising concerns that South Korea’s two big memory chipmakers — Samsung Electronics and SK hynix — could face intensifying pressure as Chinese IT firms ramp up their in-house development and production. According to industry sources on Monday, Chinese IT giants — buoyed by sweeping state support — are accelerating efforts to develop and mass-produce homegrown artificial intelligence chips. This development is widely seen

Sept. 1, 2025

Science ministry seeks record budget for 2026 to support R&D projects

The science ministry said Monday it will seek a record budget for next year to revitalize research and development projects, and secure leadership in artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technolUogies. The 2026 budget proposal, to be submitted to the National Assembly, calls for a record 23.7 trillion won ($17 billion) in annual spending, up 12.9 percent from this year's 21 trillion won, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT. "The budget proposal for 2026 reflects the strong com

Sept. 1, 2025

Samsung, SK hynix brace for fallout from loss of US waiver

The Trump administration has rescinded permits that allowed Samsung Electronics and SK hynix to import US-made chipmaking equipment into their Chinese factories, raising concerns of production disruptions. According to industry sources and reports Sunday, the US Commerce Department removed the two Korean chipmakers from its “validated end-user” list, which had exempted them from time-consuming, case-by-case licensing reviews. The move marks a sharp shift in Washington’s export control regime. Si

Aug. 31, 2025

SK, AWS break ground on Korea's largest AI center in Ulsan

SK Telecom and SK Ecoplant began construction of a new artificial intelligence data center in Ulsan on Friday, in partnership with Amazon Web Services and the city government, aiming to build South Korea’s largest AI facility outside the capital region. SK Group has positioned the project as a new growth pillar, with Chair Chey Tae-won calling it the conglomerate’s “fourth quantum leap” after energy, information and communication technology and semiconductors. “This project is not just about put

Aug. 29, 2025

Samsung to unveil Galaxy S25 FE, Tab S11 next week

Samsung Electronics said Thursday it will unveil new Galaxy devices next week in Berlin, including the Galaxy S25 Fan Edition and the latest Galaxy Tab S11. The tech giant announced it will host a “Galaxy Event” on Sept. 4 in the German capital, a day before the opening of IFA 2025, Europe’s largest consumer electronics show taking place from Sept. 5-9. An invitation video unveiled Thursday teased the familiar triple-camera vertical design of the S25 series, followed by Samsung’s Galaxy AI logo,

Aug. 28, 2025

SK Telecom hit with record privacy fine after massive data leak

South Korea’s privacy regulator imposed a record fine of 134.8 billion won ($97.2 million) on SK Telecom on Thursday over a hacking attack disclosed in April that exposed the SIM card information of over 23 million mobile users. The Personal Information Protection Commission said it had also levied a 9.6 million won administrative penalty, citing “basic security failures and poor management” that left the country’s largest mobile carrier vulnerable to cyber intrusion. SKT acknowledged “heavy res

Aug. 28, 2025

SK hynix launches first heat-cutting mobile DRAM

SK hynix said Thursday it has begun supplying mobile DRAM products that adopt a High-K Epoxy Molding Compound, an industry first designed to tackle overheating in smartphones powered by on-device AI. The memory chip giant said it is the first company to develop the High-K EMC material, which effectively solves the issue of heat generation and performance degradation from fast data transfers for on-device AI applications. The new mobile DRAM product’s thermal conductivity has been improved by 3.5

Aug. 28, 2025

From coal to clean power: Mongolia looks to Korea for energy transition

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia -- "The forum will pave the way for new cooperation between the two countries. I am confident that the strengthening of the strategic partnership between Mongolia and Korea will lead to a healthier society in the future." Mongolian First Deputy Prime Minister Nyam-Osor Uchral said in his opening speech at the 4th Republic of Korea-Mongolia Future Strategy Forum, held at the Government Palace in Ulaanbaatar on Aug. 20. "Mongolia has the resources to develop renewable energy

Aug. 27, 2025

Mongolia pushes ‘1 Billion Trees’ project to fight desertification, seeks Korea’s support

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia — The most frequently mentioned keyword at the Korea-Mongolia Future Strategy Forum last week was Mongolia's “Planting 1 Billion Trees” project. Tserendorj Uranchimeg, director general of Mongolia's Natural Resources Policy and Coordination Department at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, introduced the initiative during the forum, co-hosted by Herald Media Group and Anse Foundation, held at the Government Palace in Ulaanbaatar on Aug. 20. “For Mongolians, the

Aug. 27, 2025

SPC Group to shorten night shifts, add 250 jobs in labor overhaul

South Korean bakery giant SPC Group said it will cut night shifts for production workers to eight hours or less starting Sept. 1, moving up its earlier plan by a month and pledging additional hiring and wage support to offset the reduced hours. SPC announced the change after President Lee Jae Myung visited SPC Samlip’s Sihwa plant in July, where the company committed to eliminating long overnight work. Since then, SPC has restructured production schedules and reached provisional agreements with

Aug. 27, 2025

Hyundai Mobis maps out new growth in EVs, chips, robotics

Hyundai Mobis on Wednesday laid out plans to accelerate its electrification and software-defined vehicles, or SDVs, while entering the automotive semiconductor and robotics business, as it seeks new growth in a fast-changing mobility market. At its 2025 CEO Investor Day in Seoul, Hyundai Mobis CEO Lee Gyu-suk outlined a three-pillar strategy to secure growth: strengthening technology competitiveness, improving profitability and expanding its global client base. The auto parts-maker highlighted a

Aug. 27, 2025

FADU secures SSD controller deals with two global hyperscalers

South Korean fabless semiconductor company FADU said Wednesday it has secured a deal to provide its flagship solid-state drive controller to two of the world’s largest cloud service providers. “We have been confirmed for mass production supply for two of the four global hyperscalers,” FADU founder and CEO Lee Ji-hyo told reporters at a press conference marking the company’s 10th anniversary in Seoul on Wednesday. “ We are also in talks with another hyperscaler, and we expect to finalize that dea

Aug. 27, 2025