[Korea.net News, Science / Tech, January 30 2008] Google Korea to intensify R&D efforts this year

Google Inc., the U.S.-based Internet search giant, will work on expanding its research and development (R&D) activities in Korea to provide services tailored to meet rising demand from local web users, a top executive of its Korean branch said Wednesday (Jan. 30).

Google Korea is also increasing efforts to provide optimal search services, whereby users can find what they want on the Internet more swiftly and accurately, Google Korea CEO Lee Won-jin told reporters during a press conference on its 2008 business plans.

"Google’s basic business strategy is to invest 70 percent of its efforts into search engines, 20 percent into related projects and 10 percent into unrelated but experimental areas such as mobile businesses," Lee said.

"Especially, Google Korea plans to increase investment in the mobile sector given that Korea boasts an unparalleled mobile business environment," He said. "We are currently considering launching mobile content and mobile advertisement businesses."

To that end, Lee noted that Google needs to step up its R&D activities in Korea, adding that it will not just bring in foreign technologies but it will make efforts to localize them as well.
Google, the world’s largest Internet search engine, launched its Korean operation in 2004 but has been struggling to increase its presence here in the face of such homegrown tech giants as NHN and Daum.