Friday, November 30, 2007

KBS WORLD

KBS WORLD: [30.11.2007] "The “Ubiquitous Fashionable Computer” (UFC) fashion show took place on Nov. 29th at COEX Pacific Hall in Seoul’s Samseong-dong"

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

[Korea.net News, Society, November 27 2007] Universal Studios to build new theme park in Korea by 2012

Korea’s Gyeonggi-do (province) and Universal Parks & Resorts of the U.S. have signed a memorandum of understanding to build a 2.9 trillion won ($3.1 billion) theme park south of Seoul, the provincial government said Tuesday (Nov. 27).

The park will be built in Hwaseong, a city about 70 kilometers southwest of Seoul, Gyeonngi province by 2012, the provincial government said in a statement.
[Korea.net News, Society, November 26 2007] Experience Ubiquitous Seoul at Cheonggyecheon event

Experience a rush of high-tech cyberspace and nature in one central-Seoul spot.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Monday (Nov. 26) that it would launch a ubiquitous service along the city’s reclaimed stream Cheonggyechon from Tuesday to Friday (Nov. 27 -30). Dubbed "U-Cheonggyecheon Test bed," the event is co-hosted by the Ministry of Information and Communication and will provide samples of future technology.

In the information both, visitors can interact with the Media Board and Free Board. The former promises a Hollywood-like experience in a three-dimensional virtual reality, while the latter will provide the means for people to make their own photo albums and create UCC to e-mail friends and relatives. Visitors will also be able to sign a digital guest book.

Then there’s a GPS-based, multilingual history tour that visitors can access from a mobile phone. The handset will automatically perceive one’s position and provide an account of the location and history of the area where the tourist is standing.
[Korea.net News, Society, November 15 2007] Yeosu is making last-minute efforts to host Expo

For more than 500 days, Yeosu has been working hard to secure the rights to host the 2012 World Expo.

With the final decision coming in about 10 days, the port city, its citizens, government, and businesspeople are making all-out efforts to win, and various events are going on nationwide to wish them good luck.
[Korea.net News, Society, November 12 2007] Roh appeals for global support of Yeosu's world expo bid

President Roh Moo-hyun on Monday (Nov. 12) appealed to the global community to support the Korean city of Yeosu’s bid for the World Expo in 2012, saying a Yeosu expo would contribute to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
[Korea.net News, Society, November 8 2007] Movie in Japan celebrates Korean actor's birthday

A movie about popular Korean actor and TV talent So Ji-sub has been screened in Japan to commemorate the actor's birthday, said a Japanese talent management agency.

According to So's Tokyo-based management agency IMX Inc., Tokyo's Q-Ax Cinema screened an 80-minute-long film of the actor from Nov. 3 to 6 to celebrate So's 30th birthday.

Tickets for the birthday screening sold out as soon as they were released, confirming that So's popularity in Japan is as strong as ever. Due to requests from fans, the event was extended and additional showings are scheduled from Nov. 9 to 11.
[Korea.net News, Science / Tech, November 25 2007] Hynix plans to produce new DRAM chips in 2nd half of next year

Hynix said it has completed developing 1-gigabit double data rate (DDR) 2 DRAM chips using 54-nano technology, and that the new chips have been validated by global computer central processing unit (CPU) giant Intel Corp. The approval means that the chips can properly operate with CPU chips manufactured by Intel.Hynix added that it plans to mass-produce the new chips, which have faster data-processing speed and consume less power than ordinary DRAMs, starting in the second half of 2008. The chips are used mostly in personal computers.Hynix became the second chipmaker to gain approval from Intel on 1-gigabit DRAMs using 50-nano level technology after South Korea’s tech bellwether Samsung Electronics Co.
[Korea.net News, Science / Tech, November 25 2007] Korean gov't helping robots transition from starring roles to common appliances

When UK filmmaker Stanley Kubrick presented "2001 Space Odyssey" in 1968, viewers of all ages were mesmerized by the mystery of the universe Arthur C. Clark, the author of the original story, portrayed and Hal, the robot. Since then, robots have been shown as super heroes, helpers or sometimes enemies in many science fiction movies and animations.

Now, in 2007, we can see actual robots in our homes and offices. They help and amuse by cleaning the floor, singing and even performing sophisticated medical operations. Robots can make decisions and operate for themselves by analyzing the environment with their artificial intelligence and sensors that function as human senses.

One of Korea’s best known robots is Albert Hubo, a two-legged walking robot with a human-like head resembling Albert Einstein that charmed influential world leaders, including the U.S. President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin, at the APEC Busan 2005. A year later, Albert Hubo was even a guest on “Good Morning America.” Automated singers and entertainers Ever-1 and Ever-2 are also high-profile products of the robot industry.

Robots enter service industry

Korean cities emerging as robotics centers
[Korea.net News, Science / Tech, November 24 2007] Gov't to start supporting R&D of 15 key industrial technologies next year

Korea said Friday (Nov. 23) that it plans to support research and development (R&D) of 15 key industrial technologies beginning in 2008.

The support, which will run through 2015, is aimed at helping local companies and laboratories acquire basic technology and engineering skills that are critical for sustained growth, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy said. It added the support will help companies deal with the effects of free trade agreements being pursued by Seoul to expand market access and stimulate competition.

In the first year, the ministry said, it wants to spend 435.2 billion won ($466.1 million) on seven growth industries, four future high-tech sectors, and four business and technology processes.

The money will augment R&D by private companies and laboratories that are already spending huge sums in these areas.
[Korea.net News, Science / Tech, November 24 2007] Post Tower champions new skyline, new era of postal service

For those who still think of red mailboxes and postmen as a symbol of the post office in Korea, it is time to jettison your old archetype and get with the times.

Myeongdong, shopping district in downtown Seoul, officially welcomed a new addition to its skyline on Thursday (Nov. 22) as Korea Post celebrated the opening of its environment-friendly, high-tech Post Tower. The Minister of Information and Communication Yoo Young-hwan and 250 participants attended the celebration.

The tower, built on the site of Korea Post’s old headquarters, extends a 124-year history to a new era for central Seoul -- transforming its old box-shaped building into an intelligent structure with state-of-the-art technology.

To maximize energy efficiency, the 21-story Post Tower is equipped with a hot water supply system using geothermal energy and solar energy inverters. The tower has an automatic mail sorting system, online banking and distribution, an office network and automatic parking control systems using the latest IT technology infrastructure. It also has a videoconference room that enables users to run a videoconference with simultaneous interpreting equipment involving up to eight languages.

For first-comers who often lose their ways at the office, the tower provides broadcasting service and multiple channel video messages based on a multimedia distribution system inside the building that even guides visitors to empty parking spots.
[Korea.net News, Sceince / Tech, November 21 2007] Special parliamentary committee fixes IPTV bill

A special committee of the National Assembly on Tuesday fixed and resolved a bill on Internet Protocol Television (IPTV), ending three years of heated debate on the introduction of the new media service in the country (Nov. 20).

Instead of being delivered through traditional broadcast and cable formats, IPTV delivers digital television service via Internet Protocol by using computer network infrastructure such as broadband.

In Korea, the introduction of IPTV has been delayed as the ministry and local broadcasters have argued over how to regulate the new service. The ministry wanted IPTV to be regarded as a new medium, while local broadcasters said it should be regulated by existing broadcasting law.

The National Assembly's broadcasting and communication special committee resolved the provisionally named "Bill on Internet Multimedia Broadcasting Business" at its plenary session earlier in the day.

After going through the Assembly's legislation and judiciary committee, the bill is expected to be handled during the ongoing Assembly's regular session that will end on Friday.

The bill, if passed, will enable the launch of IPTV service in May or June next year, and will serve as an enormous economic boost, experts said.
[Korea.net News, Sceince / Tech, November 20 2007] Korea aims to launch lunar probe in 2020

Korea plans to launch a lunar probe using an indigenous rocket in 2020, the government said Tuesday (Nov. 20).

The road map calls for a step-by-step development plan so the country can become fully independent in the building of boosters and the unmanned probe, the Ministry of Science and Technology said.

It said scientists and engineers will build and test a 300-ton Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-II) booster by 2017, and that the "standard bus module" technology needed to make the probe would be be acquired by 2016.

"Know-how to make high resolution electro-optic and synthetic aperture radar are to be acquired through the launch of multipurpose satellites in the coming years," said Lee Ki-sung, head of the ministry's space technology division.
[Korea.net News, Science /Tech, November 20 2007] Korea aims to develop two-stage lunar rocket by 2017

Korea plans to develop a powerful two-stage rocket that can send a satellite to the moon by 2017, the government said Tuesday (Nov. 20).

The road map calls for the building and testing of the 300-ton Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-II) booster rocket so the country can launch its first lunar exploration satellite in 2020, the Ministry of Science and Technology said.
[Korea.net News, Science / Tech, November 16 2007] Korea Air Force IT saves gov't 140 billion won

Work by a research and development unit has made it possible to shave 140 billion won off the defense budget over the past ten years, the Air Force said.

The Software Development Center (SDC), under the Air Force Logistics Command, has independently developed software for airplanes, simulators, electronic warfare and guidance weapons since its establishment in 1997.

The SDC has so far developed 140.8 billion won worth of high-tech software for aircraft control systems.
[Korea.net News, Science / Tech, November 15 2007] Korean mobile phones sweep int'l awards


Korean-made mobile phones have been recognized as the most innovative products among global competitors.

Cell phones made by Samsung, LG and Pantech have won 13 out of 20 International CES Innovations 2008 Design and Engineering Showcase Awards. The prizes are given to the most innovative and efficient mobile phones. CES stands for Consumer Electronics Show, an international event that has been held since 1967 in the U.S.

A widely renowned consumer technology awards program that began in 1989, the prestigious Innovations Design and Engineering Awards recognize achievements in product design and engineering.

Samsung’s award-winners include a personal mobile broadband base station, eight handheld cellular phones, four Bluetooth(R) Headsets, four HDTVs, an HD camcorder, two monitors, one large format display, two laser printers, an ultra-Mobile PC and a French door refrigerator.

LG products were honored in multiple highly competitive categories, including Video Displays, Video Components, Personal Electronics, Home Appliance, and Wireless Communications.
[Korea.net News, Science / Tech, November 15 2007] Hynix develops graphic memory chip with larger storage capacity, faster speed

Hynix Semiconductor Inc., the world's second-largest manufacturer of computer-memory chips, said Thursday (Nov. 15) that it has developed a graphic memory chip with larger storage capacity and enhanced data processing speeds.

The 1-gigabit GDDR5 DRAM can deal with up to 20 gigabytes of data per second, 60 percent faster than the previous GDDR4 models in terms of data-processing speed, the company said in a statement.

GDDR DRAM is a graphic memory chip mostly used for game consoles and other devices that require vivid and dynamic moving images. Hynix said it will start mass-producing the latest memory chips during the first half of next year.
[Korea.net News, Science / Tech, November 13 2007] Korea to build robot theme parks

Korea will build two robot theme parks, the first of their kind in the world, as part of efforts to boost the competitiveness of the local robot industry, the government said Tuesday (Nov. 13).

The robot theme parks will be built in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul, and Masan, a port city on the south coast, at the combined cost of 1.48 trillion won ($1.61 billion), the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy said.

Construction will begin in 2009 for completion by 2013, and the government will provide 50 billion won to each city, it said.

"The two cities will be developed as meccas for the country's robot industry, while having amusement park areas, exhibition halls and stadiums where robots can compete in various events," the ministry said.
[Korea.net News, Science / Tech, November 8 2007] Korea's broadband penetration rate tops 30%

Korea's high-speed Internet penetration rate (the number of broadband subscriptions per 100 citizens) exceeded 30% for the first time in late September.

According to the data released by Korea's Ministry of Information and Communication and the local telecommunication industry Thursday (Nov. 8), the penetration rate reached 29.97% in August and 30.11% in September.

In January this year, 28.95% of the population had high-speed Internet access, and the percentage has risen consecutively for the past eight months.
[Korea.net News, Culture / Events, November 18 2007] Incheon preparing for World City Expo 2009

Representatives from 200 cities, 100 overseas firms and 30 institutions will come to Incheon, Korea's international gateway, for the World City Expo (WCE) in 2009.

On the theme of "A City with Dream," the expo organizing committee plans to run exhibitions and various events around the U-city promotional booth, the New Songdo City business district, Songdo Convensia (convention center), Central Park, and across the city from Aug. 7 to Oct. 2, 2009, on a 199.4 billion-won budget.
[Korea.net News, Economy / Industry, November 26 2007] Samsung's two screen units to be merged for better market competitiveness

Samsung Corning Precision Glass,a unit of Samsung Group that produces glass substrates for liquid crystal display panels, said Monday (Nov. 26) it has decided to merge with Samsung Corning in a bid to enhance its competitiveness in TV-screen markets.

Samsung Corning Precision Glass was spun off in 2000 from Samsung Corning, a maker of cathode-ray tube (CRT) glass that was a joint venture formed by Samsung and Corning of the U.S. in the 1970s.
[Korea.net News, Economy / Industry, November 26 2007] Samsung Electronics to sponsor 2008 Beijing Paralympics


Korea’s Samsung Electronics said Monday (Nov. 26) it has signed a sponsorship deal with the Chinese government to provide technical support for mobile communications during the Paralympics, which will be held next year after the Beijing Olympics.
[Korea.net News, Economy / Industry, November 21 2007] Samsung to reinforce status as global memory market leader: report

Korea's Samsung Electronics Co. will consolidate its leading position in global markets for DRAMs and NAND flash memories during the fourth quarter of this year based on its technological prowess, a report forecast Wednesday (Nov. 21).

According to the report by market researcher iSuppli, Samsung's sales of DRAMs and NAND flash chips, mostly used in computers and portable devices, respectively, will amount to $2.34 billion and $1.71 billion in the October-December period.
[Korea.net News, Nation, November 27 2007] Gov't out to develop the east coast in earnest

Korea’s relatively rural east coast is to be reborn as a center for high-tech clusters and tourist attractions.

With the Nov. 22 passage of the Special Law for the Coastal Area Development, the east coast’s Gangwon-do Province, the Gyeongsang provinces and Ulsan Metropolitan City can begin long-waited development projects in earnest with about 94 trillion won in support from Seoul, local government officials said Monday (Nov. 26).

The four local governments submitted a package of coastal area development plans totaling 93.82 trillion won to the central government in 2005.

Experts predict that the projects will generate a 140 trillion won worth economic effect and 1.3 million new jobs by the time of completion in 2020.

Bloomberg.com: Worldwide

Bloomberg.com: Worldwide: "Nov. 27 (Bloomberg) -- South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun said he will appoint an independent investigator to probe bribery allegations against Samsung Group, escalating a corruption scandal that has engulfed the nation's largest industrial group. "
[Korea.net News, Government Press Releases, November 21 2007] Ministry Trains Global Leaders in Educational ICT in Hands with the World Bank

"ICT for Education Leaders: From Vision to Reality," a new course offering on ICT and Education, took place on November 12~16, 2007 in Seoul, Korea, under the co-host of the Korean Ministry of Education & Human Resources Development and the World Bank Institute.

Organized by the Korean Education Research and Information Service(KERIS), with partnership support from InfoDev and UNESCO-Bangkok, the new initiative brought together around 40 mid-level government officials and educational experts from 23 developing countries, to explore how a country’s education system and policies can be enriched through the application of advanced information and communications technologies.

The special course came as an effort to help policy makers identify the imperatives that traditional education systems are facing, by raising awareness and understanding about the essential elements of effective ICT integration. For the participants, the course also offered venue to co-address the issue of the worldwide digital divide, and develop partnerships towards bridging the different speed sand levels of knowledge and information development.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 27 2007] LG Electronics Improves Dual Format Optical Drive

LG Electronics on Monday unveiled an upgraded version of its Super Multi Blue Drive, a dual format stand-alone Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD player and writer. LG is the only company that makes drives that can read and write both of the competing format. The improved Super Multi Blue Drive boasts 6X recording speed, which is 30 percent faster than existing Blu-ray writers.

LG Electronics introduced is first dual format player in March. That machine could write to Blu-ray and HD DVD discs at 4X speed and cost around W900,000 (US$1=W929). The company expects the upgraded drive will sell well, thanks to a price that is below W500,000, much cheaper than the former drive.

"The Super Multi Blue drive can store 10 DVD movies and reproduce high-definition video clips from footage recorded by HD camcorders or digital cameras," LG Electronics said. "The Super Multi Blue drive also allows high-definition images and high quality audio since it can store uncompressed audio."
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 27 2007] Samsung to Merge 2 Screen Units

Samsung Corning Precision Glass said Monday that it has decided to merge with Samsung Corning, a maker of cathode-ray tube (CRT) glass. The decision comes as Samsung Corning suffers a serious business downturn due to the depressed CRT TV market.

Once considered a blue chip, the CRT glass maker has undergone massive restructuring. Decreasing demand for CRT TVs worldwide and poor business performance prompted it to shut down production lines in plants in Gumi, Suwon and Germany.

Samsung Corning Precision Glass, which makes glass substrates for liquid crystal display panels, plans to foster Samsung Corning's display parts and materials business as a core unit along with its existing LCD glass substrates business. The CRT glass business will be operated from overseas offices in markets with strong price competitiveness, such as China and Malaysia.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 27 2007] Samsung to Merge 2 Screen Units

Samsung Corning Precision Glass said Monday that it has decided to merge with Samsung Corning, a maker of cathode-ray tube (CRT) glass. The decision comes as Samsung Corning suffers a serious business downturn due to the depressed CRT TV market.

Once considered a blue chip, the CRT glass maker has undergone massive restructuring. Decreasing demand for CRT TVs worldwide and poor business performance prompted it to shut down production lines in plants in Gumi, Suwon and Germany.

Samsung Corning Precision Glass, which makes glass substrates for liquid crystal display panels, plans to foster Samsung Corning's display parts and materials business as a core unit along with its existing LCD glass substrates business. The CRT glass business will be operated from overseas offices in markets with strong price competitiveness, such as China and Malaysia.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 27 2007] 3G Mobile Technology Is Catching On

Audi Korea staffer Lee Yun-kyung, who often travels overseas on business, has bought a 3G mobile phone because it’s easy to sign up for the roaming service. The service is not wide open, but it also allows subscribers to send text messages and make video calls from Europe to Korea, a marked improvement from 2G phones that permitted voice calls only.

The market for 3G mobile communication is emerging, as closely watched as new “killer applications” in the early 2000s. A “killer application” is such a big hit product or service that it sweeps all other rivals aside and reorganizes the market. Then, mobile operators around the world poured some trillions into spectrum auctions. Korea, with SK Telecom, KT and LG Telecom, was no exception, but the fever fizzled out when the dotcom bubble burst. Several years on, now armed with improved technology, the telecoms are stepping up 3G service marketing again to find a breakthrough from the saturated 2G market.

◆ European 3G
◆ Fierce Competition
Keywords
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 27 2007] New Buildings Must Provide Satellite TV

Add Satellite TV to the growing list of perks drawing house hunters to newly built apartment complexes.

The Information and Communication Ministry said that starting Monday new apartment buildings will be required to install a communal satellite dish to be shared by all residents.

With such a master dish in place, residents will get to enjoy satellite TV broadcasts without having to set up their own dish. It also means they will also gain free access to digital broadcasting.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 27 2007] Yeosu Wins World Expo Bid

The port city of Yeosu has been selected to host the 2012 World Expo, beating Morocco’s Tangier. The Paris-based International Exhibitions Bureau announced Yeosu as the host city of the 2012 event at its 142nd general assembly on Tuesday morning. The Korean city won 77 votes from 140 IBE members and the Moroccan city 63.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 26 2007] Hynix to Mass Produce 54-nano DRAM in 2008

Hynix Semiconductor said Sunday that it plans to start mass producing 54-nano DRAM chips in the second half of next year.

The plan follows the memory chip maker's certification from Intel of the U.S. for 1-Gb DDR2 DRAM it developed using the 54-nano processing technology.

The 54-nano process is expected to raise productivity by 40 percent compared to the current 66-nano process.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 23 2007] Kookmin Bank Introduces Movie-Playing Credit Card

Kookmin Bank and Samsung SDI have developed a multimedia credit card and holder that allows users to watch video clips and check on their transaction histories.

Kookmin Bank on Thursday introduced the multimedia credit card with an embedded flash memory chip and its special case with an AMOLED display.

The case, which is 6 cm wide by 10 cm long and 1 cm thick, is a portable media player, using the AMOLED display to show multimedia content such as video clips and photos. Users can also search information stored on the card's memory chip to look up their transaction records, browse their banking histories and even check their credit card bonus points.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 23 2007] SK Challenges Auto Retailers with Gray-Market Imports

SK Group's advance into Korea's auto retailing industry could cause a major shift in a market that is compartmentalized between homemade and imported brands. SK Networks announced on Thursday that it will deal five foreign auto brands -- Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Lexus and Toyota -- at its new imports-only stores in Seoul and Gyeongi Province.

The full impact of SK's move into the market is yet to be felt. While SK is confident that providing a diversity of imported cars at affordable prices will bring about significant changes in the market, domestic carmakers and import companies are skeptical, questioning just how deep an effect the company will make. But Kang Cheol-gu, director of the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association, said SK's move will benefit Korean drivers. "It's ultimately good news for consumers as they will enjoy either lower prices or better service driven by the heightened competition among companies," Kang said.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 23 2007] Samsung Plans W2 Tril. Expansion for LCD Line

Samsung Electronics has decided to make an investment to expand its eighth-generation production line, called 8-1 line, at its liquid crystal display plant in Tangjeong, South Chungcheong Province.

Korea's largest electronics maker said Thursday that it will spend W2 trillion (US$1=W933) to carry out the second phase of expansion for the 8-1 line, with a view to beginning operation in the third quarter of next year. The first phase of the line is a joint investment by Samsung and Japan's Sony through a joint venture called S-LCD Corp. Sony will not participate in the second phase.

Monday, November 26, 2007

[The Chosun Ilbo, November 23 2007] More Info on Sex Offenders Available Next Year

The Government Youth Commission announced Wednesday that the Juvenile Sex Protection Act will be modified to improve the protection of children from sex crimes.

...

However, starting Feb. 4 caretakers of children such as parents and teachers will be able to easily access offenders' personal data through the local police station and online through the Youth Commission's website.

...

For instance in the U.S., the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act signed by the president last year organizes all sex offenders into three categories in which the highest-level offenders must register and update their address every three months.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 22 2007] Weather Forecasters in Influence Peddling Scandal

Officials in the Korea Meteorological Administration are accused of improper relationships with equipment suppliers. Some KMA staffers allegedly helped certain suppliers win contracts to provide equipment to government agencies in return for an executive position with the companies after they retire from the KMA. One former KMA staffer who hacked into the computer network of his former employer to steal a massive amount of weather forecast information has been arrested.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 22 2007] Former TV Anchor Sues Website Over Divorce Report

Former KBS anchor No Hyung-jung and her husband Chung Dae-sun on Wednesday filed a law suit against a news website that incorrectly reported that the couple had divorced. They are seeking W500 million in damages (US$1=W929).

On Friday the couple filed libel charges against the same website.

"The couple is suing the head of the news website, the chief editor and the reporter who wrote the article for W500 million in damages," said ACE Law Group, which represents the couple.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 22 2007] Song Hye-gyo Poised for U.S. Debut

The popular Korean actress Song Hye-gyo is to make her U.S. debut with a leading role in independent film “Fetish.” The movie, which will be shot in New York, is a thriller about a woman with psychic abilities. Song will star opposite Austrian actor Arno Frisch who featured in "Funny Games.”

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The film is to be directed by Korean filmmaker Sohn Soo-pum. The New York University graduate is a laureate of the 2002 Student Academy Awards and was invited to the Cannes Film Festival that same year. With this movie, Sohn will present a story about oriental sorcery staged in New York. It will be released next year. Song left for New York on Wednesday for a month-long shoot.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 22 2007] Way Cleared for IPTV

A special committee of the National Assembly on Tuesday passed a bill on Internet Protocol Television, clearing the way for the new media service in Korea. IPTV enables viewers to search information for items they see on TV and even buy them without interrupting the program they are watching. Seong Jang-hyun, a manager with the KT Media division preparing for the launch of the service, said a full IPTV is possible in the first half of next year.

KT and Hanaro Telecom are already operating the MegaTV and HanaTV services, an early stage of IPTV.

This reporter visited the KT Media building at Yeouido in Seoul on Wednesday morning to experience the IPTV test service. When KT staff pushed buttons on a remote control, the online Chosun Ilbo appeared on TV. The service also enables viewers to search articles. For example, if a viewer types the word “restaurant” into the remote, all relevant articles that contain search term are displayed on the TV. People can trade stocks in real time, just as they can on their computers.

Then there are weather forecasts specifically for the region where the viewers live -- or a stadium of golf club they want to visit -- unlike existing forecasts that cover only major cities. The service figures out where a viewer lives through the IP number. HanaTV, which was launched ahead of MegaTV, already provides 70,000 programs to call up, and over 700,000 subscribers can enjoy each program at a time. Currently, the monthly subscription fee is W13,000 (US$1=W929) for HanaTV and W10,000 for MegaTV. When the full IPTV service starts, the subscription fee is likely to rise, but the full service will provide a greater variety of programs as well as live terrestrial programs plus more additional services.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 21 2007] LG's U.S. Subsidiary Proves Golden Goose After All

LG Electronic’s U.S. subsidiary Zenith, which has been held up as an example of a failed takeover for a decade, is now earning handsome profits for its parent company in Korea. In 1995, LG Electronics acquired the TV maker for US$500 million to advance into the North American market. But Zenith initially proved a drag for LG because the electronic manufacturer went into the red, losing out in competition with Japanese firms.

Now the tide has turned. According to a senior LG Electronics executive, Zenith is now making handsome profits on the back of the digital TV boom in North America. Zenith owns a source technology dubbed VSB which is essential for making digital TVs in North America, and manufacturers must pay US$5 per TV to Zenith for using the technology.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 21 2007] Road Map Details Plan for Korean Space Exploration

Korea plans to launch a satellite to orbit the moon in 2020 and a probe to explore the moon's surface in 2025. The Ministry of Science and Technology said Tuesday that it adopted a road map for space development at a space development working committee meeting.

Established under the Space Development Promotion Act, the committee, which is under the National Space Committee, is responsible for the deliberation and decision of activities to carry out the government space development plan.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 21 2007] ETS Improves Korea's TOEFL Services

Educational Testing Service, the U.S. non-profit organization that administers the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), has added many new test locations and will provide online practice tests for Koreans next year.

Paul Ramsey, the senior vice president of the company's global division, told the Chosun Ilbo on Friday that ETS next year will provide online learning programs such as TPO (TOEFL Practice Online) which offers questions from real tests for Korean test takers, who account for 20 percent of global TOEFL takers.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 21 2007] A Grueling 'Seven Days' for Kim Yun-jin

“Seven Days,” starring “Lost” star Kim Yun-jin is getting an explosive response. With a fast-paced storyline and a complicated plot, the movie released on Nov. 14 appeals especially to movie fans in their 20s. Overseas markets have also shown interest: at the American Film Market recently, U.S. production firm Summit Entertainment, the maker of popular movies such as “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” (2005) and “Vanilla Sky” (2001) snapped up the right to a remake for US$1 million. It plans to spend $30 million on the Hollywood version.
[The Chosun Ilbo, November 21 2007] Poisoning Ivy

Ivy is a singer who on the strength of her hit song "Sonata of Temptation" came into the spotlight as the sexiest female pop idol since Lee Hyo-lee. Not long ago, Ivy found herself embroiled in a scandal after she reported her former boyfriend of several years to police. According to the victim's testimony and the arrest warrant, the boyfriend threatened to release a "scandalous" video clip, beat her up and extorted money from her. The man is now behind bars.

Now everything is in the hands of law enforcement authorities, so the Ivy case can be shut, right? Not quite -- on the Internet, the case is still pending. Last week Ivy failed to show up at an awards ceremony hosted by a cable TV station. More precisely, she couldn't attend the ceremony because she still fears the negative attention of netizens and online media outlets.

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You may understand by now how female celebrities should behave from this point on. They should never part with their boyfriends. They should never meet other men even if they don't like their current boyfriends. They should never report their old boyfriends to police for hitting them or threatening to release a video. It's as if our female celebrities are walking on tightropes, chased by blackmailers carrying knives, with netizens and yellow journalists waiting for them to fall into a pot of boiling water below.