Samsung says 256-layer V-NAND memory possible with double-stack technology

Samsung Electronics Co. is planning to use a double-stack technology to develop its next-generation V-NAND flash memory, industry officials said Tuesday, as the world's largest memory chip producer tries to further cement its leading position in the sector. At its investors' forum held Monday, Samsung revealed that it will apply "extreme two-stack" technology for its future NAND flash chip and that it is possible to develop a 256-layer device. "Our sixth-generation V-NAND feat

Dec. 1, 2020

SK sets up hydrogen business group

SK Group is poised to make a big bet on the rising hydrogen market, seeing the fuel as a next-generation eco-friendly energy source. SK Holdings said Tuesday it established a hydrogen business promotion group, an organization dedicated to the hydrogen project, which consists of about 20 experts from related companies such as SK Innovation and SK E&S. The holding firm said it has been reviewing the feasibility of the hydrogen project and establishing strategies since early this year. And,

Dec. 1, 2020

S. Korean builder sentiment rises for 3rd month in Nov.

South Korean builders' business sentiment increased for the third consecutive month in November on a recovery in new orders despite the prolonged coronavirus crisis, a poll showed Tuesday. The construction business survey index (CBSI) stood at 85.3 last month, up 5.4 points from the previous month, according to the survey by the Construction and Economy Research Institute of Korea. The November figure was the highest monthly tally for this year, but it was still below the benchmark level. A r

Dec. 1, 2020

LG Innotek recognized for helping communities

LG Innotek, the electronics parts making affiliate of LG Group, has been recognized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare for fulfilling its corporate social responsibilities, the firm said Tuesday. The Welfare Ministry selects businesses with outstanding corporate social responsibility programs every year in partnership with the Korea National Council on Social Welfare. LG Innotek’s plants in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, and in Gwangju Metropolitan City were credited by the minis

Dec. 1, 2020

[News Focus] 2020 payouts for jobless likely to reach W12tr

SEJONG -- If current trends continue, the annual tally for payouts for the jobless will hover around an unprecedented 12 trillion won ($10.8 billion) in 2020, data from the Korean Employment Information Service showed. Over the first 10 months of this year, the payment of unemployment benefits came to 10.26 trillion won. This has already outstripped the former record high of 8.35 trillion won in 2019. The 2020 projection would be a 160 percent increase compared to 2015, when the yearly be

Dec. 1, 2020

Life expectancy of S. Koreans rises to 83.3 years in 2019

South Korean babies born in 2019 are expected to live more than 83 years, data showed Tuesday, amid improved public awareness about health and better medical systems. Life expectancy at birth averaged 83.3 years last year, six months longer than a year earlier, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea. Compared with 10 years ago, the average life expectancy became 3.2 years longer. The tally also marked a sharp hike from 62.3 years in 1970, when the country began compiling related da

Dec. 1, 2020

[Monitor] Despite carbon neutrality pledge, Korea heavily dependent on coal power

Despite Moon Jae-in administration’s pledge to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and replace coal power with renewable energy, Korea’s dependence on coal power remains at 36.8 percent in the Jan.-Sept. period this year. Carbon neutrality refers to the absorption of as much carbon dioxide as it emits, making real emissions zero. The Moon administration aims to slash the number of coal-fired power plants by half to 30 by 2034.  (khnews@heraldcorp.com)

Dec. 1, 2020

[Graphic News] Alcohol imports drop for 1st time in 10 years in 2019

　South Korea‘s alcohol imports fell for the first time in 10 years in 2019, amid a boycott of Japanese beer due to a bilateral trade row, data showed. 　South Korea’s liquor imports came to 466,000 kiloliters in 2019, down 6 percent from the previous year, according to data from the Korea Customs Service and local alcohol industry. 　It represents the first on-year decrease since 2009, shortly after the global financial crisis. 　Last year’s decline was attributed mainly to

Dec. 1, 2020

S. Korea embarks on global tech tie-up project

South Korea launched a global research and development cooperation program Tuesday to help local materials, parts and equipment makers forge technology tie-ups with German auto giant BMW and other foreign firms. Under the program, the government will invest 100 billion won ($90.1 million) over the next three years starting in 2021 to help domestic firms to make inroads into global supply chains, the industry ministry said. For this year's pilot project, Seoul has chosen seven consortia between

Dec. 1, 2020

Samsung top smartphone vendor in Gulf region in Q3: report

Samsung Electronics Co. maintained its leading position in the smartphone market of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region in the third quarter of the year, a report showed Tuesday. Samsung accounted for 45 percent of the GCC smartphone market in the July-September period in terms of units, up from 40 percent a quarter earlier, according to industry researcher International Data Corp. (IDC). "With its large portfolio of models in the entry-level and mid-range price bands, Samsung not

Dec. 1, 2020

Seoul stocks open higher on economic recovery hopes

South Korean stocks opened higher Tuesday on the back of upbeat economic data that raised hopes for a faster-than-expected recovery amid the pandemic. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 36.05 points, or 1.39 percent, to 2,627.39 in the first 15 minutes of trading. South Korea's economy grew 2.1 percent in the July-September period from the previous quarter, faster than its earlier estimate of 1.9 percent expansion. The country's exports also rebounded, rising 4 perce

Dec. 1, 2020

Chip export prices for Oct. hit new low on strong won

South Korea's semiconductor export prices sank to a new record low in October due to a strong local currency and slowing demand stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, central bank data showed Tuesday. The won-based export price index for chips came to 69.61 for October, the lowest level since the Bank of Korea began tracking related data in January 1985. The figure is also off more than 30 percent from the index's base year of 2015. The index reached 104.32 in December 2018. Since January 20

Dec. 1, 2020

Exports rebound in Nov. on solid chip sales amid virus resurgence

South Korea's exports rebounded by rising 4 percent in November on-year on the back of strong sales of chips, data showed Tuesday, though a resurgence in new virus cases still poses risks of delaying a full-fledged recovery. Outbound shipments came to $45.8 billion last month, compared with $44 billion a year earlier, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Imports fell 2.1 percent to $39.8 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $5.93 billion. It marked

Dec. 1, 2020

S. Korea's economy grows faster than estimated at 2.1% in Q3: BOK

South Korea's economy expanded at a faster-than-estimated pace in the third quarter on the back of a modest recovery in exports amid the coronavirus pandemic, central bank data showed Tuesday. The country's real gross domestic product (GDP) grew 2.1 percent in the July-September period from the previous quarter, according to the data from the Bank of Korea (BOK). The reading marks a slight increase from an earlier estimate of a 1.9 percent on-quarter expansion estimated in October and compares

Dec. 1, 2020

Lotte Mart apologizes for turning away guide dog in training

A day after receiving flak on social media, Lotte Mart issued an apology Monday over a recent incident where one of its employees refused entry to a dog being trained to assist a person with a disability. On Sunday, a social media user shared pictures of a dog sitting inside Lotte Mart’s Jamsil branch in Seoul and said an employee had refused to allow the dog and trainer into the store. “The employee raised their voice, blaming the woman for bringing a dog in when she is not eve

Nov. 30, 2020

S-Oil recognizes community heroes with awards

S-Oil on Monday awarded 140 million won ($127,000) to 19 people here who risked their lives to save others. At the annual Hero Citizens Award Ceremony held at its headquarters in Mapo-gu in western Seoul, the South Korean refinery delivered 10 million won each to two community heroes who suffered injuries while helping others. It also presented 10 million won each to eight individuals and four groups totaling nine people who carried out acts of self-sacrifice. Awardees include Shin Dong-ju

Nov. 30, 2020

LS Cable & System expands footprint to solar power biz

LS Cable & System is expanding its portfolio and entering the solar power business by acquiring international technology and safety certifications for its cables and supplying them to massive solar power projects. The world‘s third-largest wire and cable maker by sales says it has supplied its cables to more than 30 solar power projects, including South Korea’s biggest solar power plant in Haenam, South Jeolla Province. “Based on its knowledge from working with submari

Nov. 30, 2020

Korean COVID-19 drug developments hasten overseas

South Korean companies developing COVID-19 treatments overseas are one after another announcing how their endeavors are progressing. On Monday, NeoImmuneTech said it finished administering its NT-I7, an interleukin-7 pipeline stabilized with a patented technology, on lightly affected COVID-19 patients in the US.  The company has yet to derive a result from the test, but NT-I7 was previously demonstrated as safe and efficacious in cancer patients by creating new lymphocytes. Lymphocytes

Nov. 30, 2020

[Photo News] LG Electronics brings robot to convenience stores

 LG Electronics announced Monday that the company had started a trial using the robot at GS Retail’s convenience stores inside LG Science Park in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. The delivery robot, CLOi, will collect ordered items and deliver them to customers after autonomously riding on elevators inside the building. CLOi is capable of carrying items weighing up to 15 kilograms. The robot delivery service is expected to be introduced at hotels, hospitals, offices and airports in the future, acc

Nov. 30, 2020

Innovative companies awarded at KGCCI ceremony

The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry held its 6th KGCCI Innovation Awards ceremony Friday in Seoul in a toned-down setting to comply with Level 2 social distancing rules and safety measures, the KGCCI said Monday. The KGCCI Innovation Awards were initiated in 2015 with the purpose of showcasing innovative products, technologies and business strategies of Korean and German companies. The event was held in a hybrid format and livestreamed due to the prolonged COVID-19 situation.

Nov. 30, 2020