Saturday, October 13, 2007

[The Chosun Ilbo, October 12 2007] Sohn Wins Second Phone Vote in UNDP Primary

Sohn Hak-kyu again took first place in the second round of a mobile phone vote in the primary of the United New Democratic Party on Thursday, winning 38.4 percent or 21,359 out of 55,682 valid votes. Ex-Uri Party chairman Chung Dong-young, who unexpectedly won several rounds of regional votes, came second with 34.6 percent or 19,288 votes, trailed by former premier Lee Hae-chan with 27 percent or 15,035 votes.
[The Chosun Ilbo, October 12 2007] Gov't Cuts Off Reporters' Internet Access

The Government Information Agency on Thursday started shutting up the pressrooms in major government buildings, cutting off all Internet connections at the government complexes in Sejongro, Seoul and in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. It also cut off both Internet and telephone connections in the pressroom at the Ministry of Construction and Transportation in Gwacheon.

But most journalists on the government beat insist they will not move into a new integrated briefing center they say was established as part of a government attempt to muzzle the press, and showed up at the old pressrooms. But they found it difficult to file stories because they had to use normal phone lines with slow Internet connections.
[The Chosun Ilbo, October 12 2007] Korean Team Develops Faster 4G Wireless Technology

Korean researchers have developed a mobile communications technology that can transmit a file big enough to hold the entire Encyclopedia Britannica (4.7GB DVD) in less than 10.5 seconds.

The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) announced Thursday that it has developed the fourth-generation mobile communications technology that allows an increased transmission rate of 3.6 gigabits per second (gbps).
[The Chosun Ilbo, October 12 2007] Get Ready for Water-Powered Cell Phones

In 2010 your mobile phone may be powered by water. Samsung Electro-Mechanics announced Thursday that it has developed a micro-fuel cell and hydrogen generator that runs on H20.

"When the handset is turned on, metal and water in the phone react to produce hydrogen gas," explained Oh Yong-soo, vice president of Samsung Electro-Mechanics' research center. "The gas is then supplied to the fuel cell where it reacts with oxygen in the air to generate power." Other fuel cells need methanol to produce hydrogen, while Samsung's needs only water.
[The Chosun Ilbo, October 11 2007] Scientists Reveal Korea's First Internet Surgery Robot

Korean researchers have developed the nation's first surgical robot that can be remotely controlled over the Internet.
The researchers on Tuesday unveiled the robot system called Kyung Hee SR1. The team was led by Prof. Kim Yoon-hyuk from Kyung Hee University's College of Advanced Technology and Prof. Rha Koon-ho and Prof. Hyung Woo-jin from Yonsei University College of Medicine's Robot Surgery Center.

Kyung Hee SR1 was built with W150 million (US$1=W916) from the Korea Food & Drug Administration. The 70 kg system has two robotic arms that measure 90 centimeters across. With the machine connected to the Internet, it's possible for a doctor to operate on a patient from anywhere in the world.
[The Chosun Ilbo, October 11 2007] Samsung SDI Starts Mass-Producing AMOLED Displays

Samsung SDI has won the race to start mass-producing a next-generation display screen using active-matrix light-emitting diodes or AMOLED. AMOLED is clearer than the LCD or PDP formats currently used for display screens to a point where the display screen remains clear even under direct sunlight. Electronics companies all over the world have been racing to mass-produce it.
[The Chosun Ilbo, October 11 2007] Virtual World Second Life to Open for Koreans

Linden Lab, the developer of virtual world Second Life, has signed a deal making the Korean online game company T-entertainment to provide its services in Korea. This month, the virtual world developer plans to launch new Second Life services tailored for Korean netizens. The firm offers a web-based virtual environment made largely of 3D graphics where netizens' avatars lead their second lives, trading virtual land, shopping and going about their routines. IBM already holds staff meetings in the virtual world.
[The Chosun Ilbo, October 11 2007] Naver Ranks Among World's Top 5 Search Engines

Google is the seemingly invincible leader in the global Internet search market but Korean and Chinese rivals are chasing it in their countries, U.S. Internet researcher comScore said Tuesday.

...

"Seeing Asian search engines like China's Baidu.com and Korea's NHN ranked alongside Google and Yahoo underscores the fact that search has become a truly global phenomenon," said Bob Ivins, comScore's vice president of international markets.
[The Chosun Ilbo, October 10 2007] Korean Scientists Build Fuel Cell-Powered UAV

A team of Korean researchers has developed an unmanned aerial vehicle, or drone, capable of flying more than 10 hours on one charge of its hydrogen fuel cell. That's a remarkable feat considering a U.S.-made drone that is powered by batteries can fly only 40 to 60 minutes. The researchers expect the hydrogen fuel cell used in the drone will also be used in digital cameras and robots.
[The Chosun Ilbo, October 10 2007] Sony Returns to Korea Electronics Show After 6 Years

Sony has joined hands with KT for its latest advance into Korea. At the 2007 Korea Electronics Show (KES), Sony Korea and KT launched an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service for Sony's PlayStation 3 game console.

Sony Korea also unveiled new products including an 11-inch OLED (organic light emitting diode) TV, considered the next big thing in displays. The last time Sony participated in the KES was in 2001.
[The Chosun Ilbo, October 10 2007] Sohn Hak-kyu Wins Phone Vote in UNDP Primary

Sohn Hak-kyu took first place in the first round of a mobile phone vote as part of the primary of the United New Democratic Party on Tuesday. It is the first time the popular favorite came first in an election in the scandal-ridden presidential primaries that started Sept. 15. The victory is likely to affect the rescheduled remaining primary elections in eight regions on Sunday and the second and third round of mobile votes.
[The Chosun Ilbo, October 10 2007] Hackers Threaten Cyber Money Sites

Korea’s W1 trillion (US$1=W919) digital money market is reeling after a series of virtual-item trading sites on the web started to encounter connection problems since the end of last month. Internet users are increasingly alarmed amid rumors that hackers have broken into the sites demanding money from the online trading firms. “Virtual items” are bonus weaponry and other aids acquired through progress in a game that function like virtual credit -- “cyber money” -- and are bought by impatient gamers online to allow them to progress to the next stage.

◆ Trading sites freeze

As of Tuesday afternoon, Korea’s main game item trading sites -- ItemBay, Item Mania and Item Play Forum ? were all experiencing log-in difficulties. The sites went through similar connection problems from Sept. 24 to 26. Users can post an item or “cyber money” on the sites or browse the site to pick up the item of their choice. Sought-after items can go for as much as W1 million. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism said that some W860 billion were traded on these sites last year with the number estimated to go up to W1 trillion this year.
[The Chosun Ilbo, October 9 2007] Leak Prompts Argument on Value of Personal Information

A debate has flared over the value of personal information. Netizens have been swapping conflicting opinions about compensation from SK Telecom for people whose personal information was leaked on the Internet.

On Sept. 18, the private information of 2,500 people was made public on Tossi, SK Telecom's mobile phone and Internet blogging website. Tossi's administration page, which should have been locked, was accidentally left open for several hours. The mistake allowed the private information of bloggers, including their names, mobile phone numbers and blog addresses, to be accessed. SK Telecom admitted its mistake and sent gift certificates worth W70,000 (US$1=W916) to each of the victims, for a total of W175 million.
[The Chosun Ilbo, October 9 2007] Korean TV Makers Shaken By Budget Rivals in U.S

A pricing revolution is taking place in the digital television market in the U.S., the world's largest market and a directional indicator for markets in other countries.
[The Chosun Ilbo, October 8 2007] LG to Outsource Digital TV Production

In an attempt to lower cost, LG Electronics decided to outsource significant portion of the digital TVs it has been producing at home. Except for domestic consumption, LG has been making most of its digital TVs overseas, where labor costs are much lower. Recently, however, even the small portion produced at home was apparently thought to be unnecessary.
[The Chosun Ilbo, October 8 2007] Samsung to Unveil Dual SIM Phone in Europe

Samsung Electronics announced on Sunday that it will introduce the D880 DuoS mobile phone, which includes two SIM card slots, to attract users in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), including Russia, starting November. With the DuoS slider, users can install two different numbers in one phone.

...

The DuoS slider “is a highly customized and value-added product targeting dual phone holders,” Samsung Electronics Russia said.
[The Chosun Ilbo, October 8 2007] Int'l Awards Only the Start for Jeon, Kang

A crowd swarmed Haeundae Beach in Busan on Saturday, hoping to catch a glimpse of "the lady of Cannes" and "the lady of Venice." Kang Soo-yeon, winner of the Best Actress award at the 1987 Venice Film Festival for her role in "The Surrogate Womb", and Jeon Do-yeon, who won the same award at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival for "Secret Sunshine", were the star guests of an open talk show at the 12th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF).
[The Chosun Ilbo, October 8 2007] Movie Buffs and Industry Bigwigs Blanket Busan

The 12th Pusan International Film Festival kicked off last Thursday. The nine-day festival is Asia's biggest with screenings taking place simultaneously at dozens of theaters around the port city.

Some 275 movies from 64 nations are on offer. Film screenings will take place all around the port city from the Haeundae yacht arena to downtown cineplexes.
[The Hankyoreh, October 13 2007] Pusan film festival ends after nine-day run

The 12th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF), which drew record audiences, closed Friday after featuring its biggest line-up of films, including its largest-ever number of world premiers.

Asia's largest annual film festival in the southeastern port city of Busan opened October 4 and featured 275 films from 64 countries, including 66 world premiers, and attracted over 198,000 moviegoers.
[The Hankyoreh, October 12 2007] Sohn wins second mobile voting round

High voter turnout upsets UNDP primary, making outcome of Sunday’s final round of voting hard to predict

Former Gyeonggi Governer Sohn Hak-gyu won the second round of mobile voting in the government-affiliated United New Democratic Party’s primary yesterday. In the run-up to the conclusion of the party primary on Sunday, Sohn has achieved his second win in the mobile voting round, but is still behind Chung Dong-young in the overall count. Former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan was third in the overall tally.

In the second round of mobile voting, in which citizens have been invited to use their mobile phones to cast their votes, Sohn garnered 21,359 votes of the total 56,211, accounting for 38.4 percent of the total, while Chung received 19,288 votes, or 34.6 percent, and Lee, 15,036 votes, or 27 percent.
[The Hankyoreh, October 11 2007] S. Korea develops faster data transmission technology

South Korea has developed and successfully demonstrated a mobile communications technology designed to allow users to download data at much faster rates, helping the country stay ahead in the global race to preempt next-generation mobile communications markets, a state-run institute said Thursday.

The technology named "New Nomadic Local Area Wireless Access (NoLA)" enables users to download data at 3.6 gigabits per second (gbps), higher than 1 gbps, an international benchmark for fourth-generation (4G) mobile communications, the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) said in a statement.
[The Hankyoreh, October 11 2007] Samsung to mass produce organic screens

Next-generation display screens could be used in mobile phones within the year

For the first time in the world, Samsung SDI will mass produce its two-inch AM-OLED panels, meaning that customers are likely to see their mobile phones equipped with what many call the next-generation of display screens within the year.

Samsung SDI, a unit of Samsung Group, said that it will produce 1.5 million units of AM-OLED, or active-matrix organic light emitting diode, screens every month and Sony, LG and Toshiba will likely follow suit soon, prompting fierce competition among display manufactures at home and abroad to preempt the emerging display market.
[The Hankyoreh, October 11 2007] Gov’t and journalists locked in debate over press room closures

Reporters refuse to vacate five ministries and take action in defiance of gov’t plan

The Government Information Agency announced that the existing press rooms of the ministries will close on October 11 and reporters covering the Office of the Prime Minister and the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Construction and Transportation, Information and Communication, and Maritime Affairs and Fisheries said on October 10 they will continue to work in the press rooms in defiance of the GIA’s plan.

Reporters covering five government agencies held a meeting on October 10 and agreed to continue to work in the press rooms without moving to a joint briefing center prepared by the government. In August, two other consolidated briefing rooms began operating in Seoul and Gwacheon. However, the new press briefing formula is not working well due to strong resistance from the reporters who have refused to attend the briefings.
[The Hankyoreh, October 10 2007] Former governor Sohn comes in first in mobile voting

Former Gyeonggi Province governor Sohn Hak-kyu came in first in a mobile phone poll that will help determine the presidential candidate for the pro-government party, election officials said Tuesday.

Of the 30,000 people who took part in the poll, Sohn won 36.5 percent or 7,649 of the total. Chung Dong-young, a former Unification Minister and current front-runner, came in second with 7,004 votes, followed by Lee Hae-chan, who had been prime minister under incumbent President Roh Moo-hyun.
[The Hankyoreh, October 10 2007] S. Korean martial arts comedy on off-Broadway draws mixed reviews

South Korea's martial arts comedy that has lately made inroads into off-Broadway received mixed reviews Tuesday from local media, raising both hopes and doubts over its prospect as the second nonverbal show from the country to hit the world's hot spot of performing arts.
[The Hankyoreh, October 8 2007] S. Korean, U.S. engineers develop low-voltage flexible transistor

South Korean and U.S. engineers said Monday they have developed a low-voltage flexible transistor that could be used to make wristwatch mobile phones and computers that can be worn like clothes.

Transistors, which amplify electric signals, are key components of semiconductors. The manufacturing of flexible transistors has been an important goal of engineers for the past several years, the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) said.
[The Hankyoreh, October 6 2007] N. Korean leader calls himself 'Internet expert'

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il called himself an "Internet expert" during his summit talks with South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun in Pyongyang on Wednesday, according to the South's summit delegates.

Kim allegedly made the remark as Roh suggested opening the Internet at the South-invested industrial park in the North's border town of Kaesong, said the delegates.

"At the summit talks, Roh stressed the need to help facilitate business operations of South Korean firms operating at the Kaesong industrial park by opening Internet service there. But Kim turned down Roh's offer," said a delegate, asking to remain anonymous.
[The Hankyoreh, October 6 2007] Cancelling Chosun Ilbo subscriptions

Leaders of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, the largest Buddhist order in South Korea, gathered to discuss measures to clean up its image, which has been tarnished by the involvement of several Buddhist monks in the fake degree scandal revolving around Shin Jeong-ah, at Jogye Temple in Seoul on October 5. The scandal that started as suspicion over her forged degrees has led to an investigation of upper-level government officials and the Buddhist clergy.

...

The Buddhist leaders have also announced that the Jogye Order will launch a campaign calling on Buddhist practitioners and organizations to cancel their subscriptions to the Chosun Ilbo, a conservative South Korean daily, for printing what they consider to be malignant, anti-Buddhist stories written out of religious prejudice and political motivation.

Friday, October 12, 2007

AsiaMedia :: KOREA: Government issues ultimatum to shut down pressroom

AsiaMedia :: KOREA: Government issues ultimatum to shut down pressroom:
"The Government Information Agency will cut all services in old government pressrooms this Thursday

The Korea Times
Monday, October 8, 2007
By Yoon Won-sup

The Government Information Agency said Monday that it will close down all the government pressrooms on Thursday, except the newly built pressroom of the Central Government Complex in Seoul. 'Because the government conducts all the briefings in the central pressroom, the pressrooms in government agencies will not operate from Oct. 11,' the agency said in a statement. The agency further said that any support or service of facilitating reporters' coverage will stop in those pressrooms starting Thursday, and asked reporters to move to the new central pressroom by Wednesday."

Bordellit kiellettiin, korealaiset kääntyivät verkon puoleen / Yhteiskunta / Digitoday

Bordellit kiellettiin, korealaiset kääntyivät verkon puoleen / Digitoday [11.10.2007]

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

[Korea.net News, Society, October 4 2007] Real-name scheme conducive to cutting cyber slandering: poll

The Korean government's efforts to cut down cyber slandering are having an impact in reducing malicious rumor mongering on Internet bulletin boards, a survey showed Thursday (Oct. 4).

According to the survey commissioned by the Ministry of Information and Communication, malicious comments on the nation's major cyber bulletin boards accounted for an average of 13.9 percent of the opinions posted on the sites, down 1.9 percent from May.
[Korea.net News, Society, September 8 2007] Netizens give president heaps of pre-summit advice


What would be your request for the second inter-Korean summit?

It seems Koreans from all walks of life have something to say regarding the high-level talks in October. The bulletin board of a government website run jointly by Cheong Wa Dae Briefing (www.president.go.kr) and Gukjeong Briefing (www.Korea.kr) had proposals literally pouring in after the site encouraged people to send in their opinions on the coming summit.
[Korea.net News, Science / Tech, October 9 2007] Engineers unveil long range, fuel cell-powered UAV

Engineers on Tuesday (Oct. 9) unveiled a fuel cell-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that can stay in the air much longer than existing machines.
[Korea.net News, Science / Tech, October 9 2007] Korea's top electronics fair showcases latest high-tech digital products

Korea's top electronics fair was to kick off later Tuesday (Oct. 9) with 650 companies from around the world showing off their latest developments in digital products, organizers for the annual event said.

The 2007 Korea Electronics Show (KES) that will run for five days at the Korea International Exhibition Center northwest of Seoul, will display over 250,000 products and allow businesses to examine the latest developments and gauge future trends.
[Korea.net News, Science / Tech, October 8 2007] Korean, U.S. engineers develop low-voltage flexible transistor

Korean and U.S. engineers said Monday (Oct. 8) they have developed a low-voltage flexible transistor that could be used to make wristwatch mobile phones and computers that can be worn like clothes.

Transistors, which amplify electric signals, are key components of semiconductors. The manufacturing of flexible transistors has been an important goal of engineers for the past several years, the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) said.
[Korea.net News, Science / Tech, October 7 2007] Korea plans to open science education center for ASEAN elite students

Officials from Korea and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will meet here in November to follow up on their agreement to set up a science education center in Korea, officials said Sunday (Oct. 7).
[Korea.net News, Science / Tech, October 3 2007] Korean lab develops remote-controlled robot to change fuel cells in heavy water reactor

Korea's state-run atomic energy laboratory said Wednesday (Oct. 3) that it has developed a fully mobile, remote-controlled robot that can quickly and effectively change the fuel of pressurized heavy water reactors.
[Korea.net News, Science / Tech, October 1 2007] Hynix, Ovonyx in cross-licensing agreement on next-generation memory chips

Korean chipmaker Hynix Semiconductor Inc. said Monday (Oct. 1) it has reached a cross-licensing agreement with Ovonyx of the United States to develop next-generation memory chips.

The deal allows Hynix, the world's second-largest maker of computer memory chips, to use Ovonyx's patents on phase-change memory chips, or PRAM, which many scientists say offer a higher level of performance than flash chips, widely used in digital cameras and other handheld gadgets.
[Korea.net News, Science / Tech, September 18 2007] Korea's largest chip, display fair kicks off in Seoul

Korea's largest semiconductor and display exhibition kicked off in Seoul on Tuesday (Sept. 18) with over 170 companies from seven countries taking part in the annual gathering.

This year's International Semiconductor Display Exhibition (i-SEDEX) sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy will showcase such latest developments as the high-intensity 16Gb multi-level cell NAND flash memory module and the next generation 2GB DDR3 memory kit.
[Korea.net News, Science / Tech, September 16 2007] Korea to make mandatory setting up of 'ubiquitous city'

The government said Sunday (Sept. 16) it will soon submit legislation to make it mandatory starting next year for the central and provincial governments to create a "ubiquitous city" with state-of-the-art communication networks if they are building a city 3.3 million square meters or bigger.

A "ubiquitous city" refers to a city in which people can log onto the Internet anywhere and where there are intelligent sensors on infrastructures that allow city dwellers to receive information about many things, including transportation.
[Korea.net News, Science / Tech, September 12 2007] Samsung develops DDR2 DRAMs using 60-nano technology

Korea's Samsung Electronics Co. said Wednesday (Sept. 12) that it has developed 2-gigabit double data rate (DDR) 2 dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips using its 60-nano technology.

Samsung, the world's largest computer memory-chip maker, said it will start mass production of the new DDR2 DRAMs, which boast faster data-processing speed and consume less power than ordinary DRAMs. They are mostly used in personal computers.
[Korea.net News, Science / Tech, September 9 2007] Samsung Electro-Mechanics unveils world's thinnest semiconductor substrate

Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co. said Sunday (Sept. 9) it has developed the world's thinnest semiconductor substrate that is 20 percent more compact than the best existing one.

Substrate is a supporting material on which circuits are formed or fabricated. It acts as a bridge between semiconductors and the mainboards of various electronic appliances including computers
[Korea.net News, Science / Tech, September 5 2007] Hynix Semiconductor develops improved multi-chip package for portable devices

Hynix Semiconductor said Wednesday (Sept. 5) that it has developed a multi-chip package (MCP), a memory product made of 24 flash memories, setting a benchmark for small-sized but high-capacity chip products.

Hynix said that the memory chip can provide up to 48 gigabytes of storage capacity, allowing users to carry 25 movie clips or 12,000 digital music files in a coin-sized MCP.
[Korea.net News, Science / Tech, September 3 2007] Korea's e-government captures China's attention


To mark the 15 yeas of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and the People's Republic of China, Korea held a two-day Dynamic Korea event from Aug. 22 in Beijing.

During the event , Korea's Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs launched an e-government publicity booth to promote the Korean government's vision and strategy of e-government and introduce the nation's top five electronic public services: On-nara Business Process System (BPS), information network village (Invil), the electronic procurement service, the immigration system named Korea Immigration Smart Service, and the mobile phone-based rescue service named U-119.
[Korea.net News, Science / Tech, August 29 2007] Samsung Electronics improves 14.3-inch electronic paper

Korea's Samsung Electronics Co. said Wednesday (Aug. 29) it has improved the resolution of its 14.3-inch electronic paper, a flexible display with paper-like qualities.

Samsung Electronics increased by two and a half-fold the resolution of the 14.3-inch black-and-white flexible display, which was developed last year, the company said.
[Korea.net News, Science / Tech, August 27 2007] Korea to host Asia's largest electronics exhibition in 2008

Next year, Korea will host Asia's largest electronics industry exhibition that aims to attract more than 1,000 domestic and overseas companies, the government said Monday (Aug. 27).

The envisioned fair, tentatively named the Korea Electronics Industry Exhibition, is to be held in October and will be a merging of three existing fairs that are held separately, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy said.
[Korea.net News, Science / Tech, August 27 2007] Samsung to build mobile Internet network in New York

Samsung Electronics Co. said Monday (Aug. 27) that it will build a mobile Internet network in New York to expand its homegrown technology in the United States, one of the world's largest communications markets.

"Recently, we received a request from Sprint Nextel Corp. for the establishment of a WiBro network in New York," Choi Gee-sung, head of Samsung's telecommunications business, told reporters at the 4G Forum currently underway in central Seoul. However, he didn't give details on timetables.
[Korea.net News, Science / Tech, August 26 2007] Samsung to hold international forum on 4G technologies this week


Samsung Electronics Co. said Sunday (Aug. 26) that it will hold an international forum this week to discuss how to develop advanced mobile communications technologies.

The 4G Forum, which will kick off on Monday for a two-day run, will be attended by around 130 experts from academia, business, and governments of 26 countries, Samsung officials said.
[Korea.net News, Science / Tech, August 26 2007] Samsung to hold international forum on 4G technologies this week


Samsung Electronics Co. said Sunday (Aug. 26) that it will hold an international forum this week to discuss how to develop advanced mobile communications technologies.

The 4G Forum, which will kick off on Monday for a two-day run, will be attended by around 130 experts from academia, business, and governments of 26 countries, Samsung officials said.
[Korea.net News, Science / Tech, August 24 2007] Korea opens virtual reality, i-Fashion clothing store

Korea on Friday (Aug. 24) opened a virtual reality i-Fashion store that is expected to help enhance customer choices and boost clothing sales.

The shop, operated by Shinsegae Department Store, will be the first of its kind in the world, and aims to use the country's extensive ubiquitous information technology (IT) infrastructure to help consumers pick clothes without actually coming to stores to try them on.
[Korea.net News, Science / Tech, August 22 2007] Global IT conference kicks off in Seoul

A global IT conference kicked off in Seoul Wednesday (Aug. 22) to provide a chance for the world's experts in mobile communications to exchange opinions on how to develop their fast-changing industry.

The iMOBICON 2007 Korea, the third of its kind, started at the COEX mall in southern Seoul for a three-day run, said the government-affiliated Korea Software Industry Promotion Agency.
[Korea.net News, Science / Tech, August 22 2007] Korean Air develops indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle

Korean Air said Wednesday (Aug. 22) that it has successfully developed and tested an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) using local technology.

The UAV, developed with research funding from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy, can stay in the air for two-and-a-half hours with an operational radius of about 40 kilometers.
[Korea.net News, Science / Tech, August 21 2007] Korea to pick site for robot complex by November

Korea plans to select the site for an industrial city for the local robotics industry late this year to help hone its competitive edge, the government said Tuesday (Aug. 20).

A special government committee will pick the site for "Robot Land," which would be the first of its kind in the world, by November, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy said.
[Korea.net News, Culture / Events, October 8 2007] Korea's martial arts comedy makes celebrated debut off-Broadway

A high-flying martial arts comedy from Korea made its successful debut Sunday (Oct. 8) in New York's off-Broadway, becoming the second nonverbal show from this country to hit a world top-spot in performing arts.
[Korea.net News, Culture / Events, October 4 2007] Pusan film festival opens with Chinese war drama

The Pusan International Film Festival opened here Thursday (Oct.4) with an unprecedented foreign opener and the largest number of world premiers in its 12-year history.
[Korea.net News, Culture / Events, September 16 2007] D-War' ranks 5th in U.S. box office with $1.55 mil.-1st day earnings

Korea's science fiction blockbuster "D-War" ranked fifth in U.S. box office earnings with $1.55 million on its first day of showing Friday (Sept. 16), trailing U.S. box office hits "The Brave One" and "Mr. Woodcock," an online entertainment magazine said Sunday.
[Korea.net News, Culture / Events, September 8 2007] D-War to hold U.S. premier in downtown Hollywood

Korea's science fiction blockbuster "D-War" will hold its U.S. premier in downtown Hollywood, industry sources said Saturday (Sept. 8).
[Korea.net News, Culture / Events, September 5 2007] Cinema of harsh reality at Pusan Film Festival

The Pusan International Film Festival, one of the biggest film festivals in Asia, will celebrate its 12th year in October with a cascade of Asian films, many of them portraying individuals grappling with modern-day issues like war, family fall-out and urban poverty.
[Korea.net News, Finance, September 19 2007] Korea's electronic financial transactions increase

Korea's electronic financial transactions rose in the second quarter from three months earlier as online securities trading sharply gained, the financial watchdog said Wednesday (Sept. 19).
[Korea.net News, Economy / Industry, October 3 2007] Samsung Electronics sponsors world video game championships in Seattle

Samsung Electronics, the world's largest maker of computer memory chips, said Wednesday (Oct. 3) it is sponsoring this week's World Cyber Games championships in the U.S. western port city of Seattle.
[Korea.net News, Economy / Industry, October 2 2007] Korean IT exports grow in Sept. despite decline in working days

Korean exports of information technology (IT) goods inched up last month despite a decrease in operating days, bolstered by strong demand of mobile phones and flat panel products, a government report showed Tuesday (Oct. 2).

Korean companies exported a total of $10.8 billion worth of IT goods in September, up 0.8 percent from a year earlier, according to the report by the Ministry of Information and Communication. It is the third consecutive month for IT exports to exceed the $10 billion mark.
[Korea.net News, Economy / Industry, September 28 2007] Korea's mobile carriers post over 1 tln won in combined SMS sales

Korea's three mobile carriers reported more than 1 trillion won ($1.08 billion) in combined sales over the past three years through short messaging services (SMS), a report showed Friday (Sept. 28).

According to the report, which was compiled by the Ministry of Information and Communication, SK Telecom Co., KTF Co. and LG Telecom Ltd. posted a total of 1.36 trillion won in SMS sales between 2004 and 2006.
[Korea.net News, Economy / Industry, September 17 2007] Samsung's accumulative LCD shipments exceed 200 mln units


Korea's tech giant Samsung Electronics Co. said Monday (Sept. 17) that its accumulative shipments of liquid crystal display (LCD) panels had exceeded 200 million units for the first time in the flat-panel industry.

Monday, October 08, 2007

Samsung Electronics to consider investment in N.Korea if preconditions are met : Business : Home

Samsung Electronics to consider investment in N.Korea if preconditions are met [Hankyoreh 8.10.2007]: "South Korean electronics giant Samsung Electronics Co. will consider investing in North Korea if the communist country provides better infrastructure and business-related regulations as promised in an agreement reached during the just-ended inter-Korean summit talks, the company's top executive said Friday."

Cancelling Chosun Ilbo subscriptions : Arts & Entertainment : Home

Cancelling Chosun Ilbo subscriptions [Hankyoreh 6.10.2007]:
"Cancelling Chosun Ilbo subscriptions Leaders of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, the largest Buddhist order in South Korea, gathered to discuss measures to clean up its image, which has been tarnished by the involvement of several Buddhist monks in the fake degree scandal revolving around Shin Jeong-ah, at Jogye Temple in Seoul on October 5. The scandal that started as suspicion over her forged degrees has led to an investigation of upper-level government officials and the Buddhist clergy."

N. Korean leader calls himself 'Internet expert' : National : Home

N. Korean leader calls himself 'Internet expert' [Hankyoreh 6.10.2007]:
"North Korean leader Kim Jong-il called himself an 'Internet expert' during his summit talks with South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun in Pyongyang on Wednesday, according to the South's summit delegates."

YLE uutiset / Pop-uutiset

YLE uutiset / Pop-uutiset 7.10.2007: "Eteläkorealaiset saippuasarjat haastavat telenovelat"

Sunday, October 07, 2007

[Korea.net News, Nation, October 4 2007] Rodong Sinmun covers summit extensively

On Wednesday (Oct. 3), the second day of President Roh Moo-hyun's stay in Pyongyang, the Rodong Sinmun, the paper of the KWP Central Committee, front-paged his arrival on Tuesday in Pyongyang.

The North Korean daily extensively covered President Roh's arrival on the entire front page. It carried three photos, including one showing President Roh and Chairman Kim Jong Il shaking hands, as well as an article entitled “President Roh Moo-hyun Arrives in Pyongyang; the Great Leader Comrade Kim Jong Il Welcomes President Roh.”
[Korea.net News, Nation, October 2 2007] S. Korea's special entourage visits electronics library in the North

Members of the special entourage accompanying President Roh Moo-hyun to Pyongyang visited electronics library of Kim Chaek University of Technology on Oct. 2.

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On a floor space of 16,500 sq-m, the library has 12 e-library rooms, 11 reading rooms for printed books, and 4 open-stack reading rooms. Its total seating capacity exceeds 2,000. The facility has about 2 million printed books and is furnished with 11.5 million electronic books which are accessible via LAN computer outside the campus and through telephone cable lines at home as well as inside the campus.
[Korea.net News, Nation, October 2 2007] Journalists set up live S. Korean broadcast in Pyongyang

South Korean journalists said Tuesday (Oct. 2) they have set up a live broadcast system in Pyongyang to allow transmission of South Korean media coverage of the second inter-Korean summit into the heart of North Korea.

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, who arrived in the isolated communist country for his three-day summit with its leader Kim Jong-il, has also watched the broadcast on a liquid crystal display brought from his country at a state guesthouse in Pyongyang, they said in a pool report.
[Korea.net News, Nation, October 2 2007] Internet lines of two Koreas to be linked during summit

South and North Korea will be linked via the Internet during the summit of their leaders from Tuesday to Thursday, South Korea's top communications service provider said on Monday (Oct. 1).

KT Corp. said that it will reopen for three days the optical communication network which was established in July 2005 for the video reunions of families separated by the inter-Korean border, enabling the South Korean entourage and press corps to use the Internet.
[The Chosun Ilbo, October 5 2007] Korean Mobile Makers Step Up iPhone Attack

LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics will confront Apple in a Christmas battle to take down the iPhone, the "blue chip" phone in the U.S. Verizon, one of the leading U.S. mobile operators, on Wednesday unveiled three new mobile phones to compete with the iPhone, which is available only through Verizon's rival AT&T.
[The Chosun Ilbo, October 5 2007] Korea Leads World In Computer Ownership, Internet Use

Korea still has the world’s highest rates of computer ownership and Internet use. Market researcher ACNielsen Korea said in a media index for 2006 and 2007 that Korea’s computer ownership stood at 88 percent and Internet use at 80 percent. That means 88 percent of Korean households own a computer and 80 percent of Koreans have logged on to the Internet during the last week.
[The Chosun Ilbo, October 4 2007] Court Experiments with High-Tech Tools

A large 1-m by 1-m screen was hung in a courtroom at the Seoul Central District Court on Thursday. As a digital projector displayed an image on the screen, an attorney pleaded his case using a laser pointer to indicate various items.

"This shows the article posted on a jobs website. When you click the bottom of the article, people can see the photos of LG Electronics applicants. When you click a photo, the person's personal details including college and test scores are fully exposed," the attorney explained.

The trial was a lawsuit filed by people who had applied for jobs at LG Electronics on its website and whose personal information had been stolen and exposed on another website. The applicants who filed the suit are claiming damages of W20 million each.

Unlike traditional trials that use only physical documents, both parties in this case used the digital projector and screen and easy to understand language instead of technical terms. This may be the sort of "electronic trial" of the 21st century that the court has been planning.
[The Chosun Ilbo, October 4 2007] Build Robot Korean Scientists to Fix Nuke Plants

Korean researchers have built a robot that can handle problems in nuclear power plants so its human operators can stay safe. The KAEROT-m3 robot can also be used in chemical plants to deal with toxic materials, so the robot has great export potential.
[The Chosun Ilbo, October 4 2007] Samsung SDS Partners With French IT Services Leader

Korea’s IT service industry is now actively cultivating the global market by forging partnerships with foreign industry leaders. Samsung SDS signed a strategic alliance with the world’s no.3 IT firm Capgemini and started making inroads into overseas market. So far, Korean IT service companies focused on the domestic market without any overseas sales.
[The Chosun Ilbo, October 4 2007] LG Electronics Debuts Global Roaming Phone

LG Electronics launched a global roaming WCDMA phone on Wednesday. The LG-KH1600 offers automatic roaming services in 121 countries so that users can use their own phone. In 41 countries that support WCDMA services such as the U.K., Australia, Hong Kong and Japan, LG’s new phone permits automatic roaming services for video calls as well, while the 117 countries using the GSM system, the phone still offers services for audio calls.