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LG enters global AI race with hybrid Exaone 4.0 model
LG AI Research, the artificial intelligence arm of LG Group, on Tuesday unveiled Exaone 4.0, Korea’s first "hybrid" AI model that combines the language fluency of large language models with the advanced problem-solving abilities of reasoning AI. This breakthrough represents a major leap in Korea’s ambition to lead in next-generation AI, as the model can both understand human language and logically reason through complex tasks. “We will continue to advance research and development so that Exaone
July 15, 2025 -
KT bets W1tr on cybersecurity over next five years
South Korean telecommunications giant KT said Tuesday it will invest more than 1 trillion won ($724 million) over the next five years to fortify cybersecurity, amid heightened consumer concerns following a massive data breach at bigger rival SK Telecom. The planned investment surpasses SKT’s 700 billion won pledge announced on July 4. SKT, the country’s largest mobile carrier, made the commitment following a large scale cyberattack and subsequent data breach of customers’ USIM data in April, pro
July 15, 2025 -
Industry minister pick eyes Korean version of US IRA
Kim Jung-kwan, the Lee Jae Myung's nominee for industry minister, has pledged to introduce a production-linked tax incentive system for key industries such as semiconductors and batteries, modeled after the US Inflation Reduction Act. In a written response submitted to the National Assembly ahead of his confirmation hearing this week, Kim emphasized the need for aggressive government support that matches policies implemented by competing nations. “It is time for strategic and proactive governmen
July 15, 2025 -
With tariff clock ticking, Korea seeks ‘practical, win-win’ deal with US
SEJONG ― With under three weeks to go before the US activates its "reciprocal" tariffs on Aug. 1, South Korea is accelerating negotiations to prevent heavy duties on key export items, aiming for a "practical, win-win" agreement. Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo said Monday that while time is limited, "the real game begins now," noting that Korea "will not sacrifice substance for speed." “With less than 20 days remaining, this is a period of decisions and strategic choices," Yeo told reporters in a bri
July 14, 2025 -
LG’s hit portable screen StanbyME 2 goes global
LG Electronics is expanding the overseas reach of its portable screen StanbyME 2 with a global rollout, the company said Monday. The stylish tablet product will launch this week in Hong Kong and Turkey, to be followed by releases in the US, Canada, Vietnam and Singapore later this month. It will debut in major European markets including the UK, Germany, France and Spain in August. StanbyME 2 has shown immense popularity in Korea since its launch in February. More than 1,000 units sold out in 38
July 14, 2025 -
Samsung chief vows to 'work hard' after returning from exclusive Sun Valley conference
Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong returned to South Korea on Monday after attending the exclusive Sun Valley conference in Idaho, joining some of the world’s most powerful business leaders for a week of closed-door discussions and networking. Arriving in the morning at Seoul Gimpo Business Aviation Center, Lee said, “I will work hard,” when asked about Samsung’s performance outlook for the second half of the year. He also noted that he felt tired after a packed schedule. Hosted by US bou
July 14, 2025 -
Meta faces backlash in South Korea over mysterious account bans
A growing number of South Korean users are demanding answers from Meta after their Facebook and Instagram accounts were suspended without clear reason. Some were even flagged for violating policies related to sexual exploitation of minors, allegations users say are not only false but deeply damaging to their personal reputations. Meta Korea has acknowledged a technical error, but frustration continues to grow. Accounts remain locked, and users say there’s no direct way to appeal or receive help.
July 13, 2025 -
K-culture expansion architect: Chae Hwi-young, tech and media veteran, named culture minister
Chae Hwi-young, CEO of Nol Universe and a veteran of journalism, IT and cultural content, was nominated Friday as minister of culture, sports and tourism in the final appointment to complete President Lee Jae Myung’s first Cabinet. At a presidential briefing, Kang Hoon-sik, presidential chief of staff, announced the nomination, describing Chae as a private-sector leader whose vision aligns closely with President Lee’s goal of expanding the cultural industry. “Chae brings a diverse background as
July 11, 2025 -
Korean exporters urge bold policy shift in response to US tariffs
South Korea’s trade sector has identified strategic trade policy as the top priority for the new government, particularly in response to growing risks such as US tariffs, a survey showed Friday. According to a report released by the Korea International Trade Association, 20.7 percent of 416 trade industry professionals surveyed on June 10-11 selected the implementation of a strategic trade policy — aimed at maximizing national interest and strengthening industrial competitiveness — as the most u
July 11, 2025 -
Samsung to launch AI Health Coach beta in US by year-end
Samsung Electronics is set to unveil a beta version of its AI Health Coach through the Samsung Health app in the US, marking a significant AI-driven push to deliver medical guidance at home. At the Galaxy Tech Forum held in New York on Thursday, Samsung introduced the new feature, which uses AI to analyze users’ daily health data collected from wearable devices and provide personalized health care guidance. “We will release a beta version of the AI Health Coach that supports users in implementin
July 11, 2025 -
Hands-on: Samsung’s Z Flip7 and Fold7 refine design, boost performance
Samsung Electronics’ latest foldables — the Galaxy Z Flip7 and Z Fold7 — surprised with sleeker designs and more powerful performance at Galaxy Unpacked 2025 in New York, and The Korea Herald got an early hands-on look the following day in Seoul. The Galaxy Z Flip7 arrived with a noticeably sleeker aesthetic. The bezel has been slimmed down to just 1.25 millimeters, while the front-facing Flex Window has grown to 4.1 inches — an 11 percent increase over its predecessor — offering a more intuitiv
July 11, 2025 -
Samsung takes margin hit to strengthen foldable leadership
Samsung Electronics unveiled its latest foldable smartphones — the Galaxy Z Flip7 and Z Fold7 — at the Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event in New York on Wednesday, drawing attention for keeping price hikes to a minimum despite upgraded features and rising trade tensions. Samsung has decided to maintain the price of the Flip7 in both Korea and the US, while the Fold7 saw a modest increase of around 150,000 won ($109), or about 6 percent, from its predecessor — a smaller hike than the 10 to 20 percent ant
July 10, 2025 -
LG CNS debuts new LLM beating GPT-4o
LG CNS, a Korean information technology solutions provider under LG Group, has partnered with artificial intelligence startup Cohere from Canada to jointly develop a new inference large language model supporting 23 languages, including Korean and English. With 111 billion parameters, the model outperformed leading global LLMs such as OpenAI's GPT-4o and Anthropic's Claude 3.7 Sonnet, the Korean company said. The latest model comes just two months after LG CNS and Cohere unveiled a 7-billion para
July 10, 2025 -
In test-obsessed Korea, AI boom arrives in exams, ahead of the technology itself
A wave of artificial intelligence certifications has flooded the market in South Korea over the past two years. But according to government data, most of these tests exist only on paper, and have never been used by a single person. As of Wednesday, there were 505 privately issued AI-related certifications registered with the Korea Research Institute for Professional Education and Training, a state-funded body under the Prime Minister’s Office. This is nearly five times the number recorded in 202
July 10, 2025 -
Samsung pushes foldable frontier with AI-powered Z Flip7, Fold7
Samsung Electronics unveiled its new slimmer, lighter and even more advanced artificial intelligence-powered foldable phones -- the Galaxy Z Flip7 and Z Fold7 -- in New York on Wednesday. It marks the first time in three years that the Korean tech giant has held an unveiling event in the US city since the release of the Galaxy Z Flip4 and Fold4 in August 2022. As the venue for the biggest product launch in the latter half of this year, Samsung chose Duggal Greenhouse in Brooklyn, inviting some 1
July 9, 2025