The Korea Herald

Hynix Semiconductor unveils advanced chip

IndustryApr 4, 2011

Hynix Semiconductor Inc., the world’s No. 2 maker of computer memory chips, said Monday that it has developed an advanced DDR4 dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chip and will start mass production in the second half of 2012. Hynix developed the 2-gigabit DDR4 DRAM device based on 30-nanometer class process technology, it said in a statement. The energy-efficient DDR4 DRAM transfers data twice as
Regulator to control credit card spending

Apr 4, 2011

Package of measures against surging household debts to be unveiled SundayFinancial authorities plan to induce the public to control their use of credit cards to address rising household debts.Instead, the usage of check cards ― which refer to cards containing functions of both credit and debit cards ― will likely be promoted.The policy, aimed at easing the financial burden of debt-saddled low- and
More Koreans feel the pinch of rising commodity prices

Apr 4, 2011

Nine out of 10 Koreans think the prices of everyday necessities have risen compared to three months ago, a survey said. Nielsen Company Korea, a research firm, said the results came from its survey conducted between Feb. 25 and March 4 this year, targeting 1,000 Internet users in major cities including Seoul, Gwangju and Busan. Local consumers thought meat prices had risen the most, followed by ag
SK Engineering bags 140 bln won subway order from Singapore

IndustryApr 4, 2011

SK Engineering & Construction Co., a South Korean builder, said Monday that it has clinched a 140 billion won ($128.9 million) contract to build a subway section in downtown Singapore. Under the deal with Singapore's Land Transport Authority, SK Engineering will build a 1.1-kilometer section of the 21-kilometer subway system by late 2016, the company said. The builder said it will start w
S. Korea's rice wine output falls amid slowing demand

Apr 4, 2011

Models promote Makgeolli, Korean rice wine. (Yonhap News)South Korea's production of makgeolli rice wine fell for the first time in 32 months in February amid slowing demand from strong consumption over past few years, data showed Monday.Makgeolli production came to 24,395 kiloliters in February, down 6.8 percent from the same month a year earlier, according to the data provided by Statistics Kore
Taekwang fined for irregular support for affiliate

Apr 3, 2011

The Fair Trade Commission said Sunday it fined nine Taekwang Group companies 4.6 billion won ($4.23 million) for illegally supporting one of its affiliates. The watchdog referred three of them to the prosecution for investigation. It is the first punishment of conglomerates since the FTC pledged last week to toughen its crackdown on irregular inter-affiliate transactions which conglomerates have o
Korea Herald’s iPhone app opens a new chapter

TechnologyApr 3, 2011

(The Korea Herald launches its iPHone app)Korea’s leading English daily introduces its news app for the iPhone, which integrates English news and education. The news app, now available at Apple’s app store, is designed to differ from previously introduced news apps. With The Korea Herald’s 58-year track record in providing English news and English educational content, The Korea Herald news app for
Korea Herald debuts news app for iPhone

TechnologyApr 3, 2011

Korea’s leading English daily integrates English news and education for the first time in the nation with its news app for Apple’s iPhone users. The Korea Herald news app is the fastest way to get updated with real-time news and the smartest way to enhance one’s English level. It features useful, substantial English education contents in the e-study section. It provides short video lectures, audio
Herald Media a frontrunner in digital era

TechnologyApr 3, 2011

Herald Media strives to become the nation’s best and very first provider for a variety of mobile services, including news and lifestyle guides.The Korea Herald, which has the largest circulation in Korea among English language dailies, introduced the country’s first English mobile news alert service, “Herald Topic,” last September. The service sends three text messages a day in the form of an Engl
BOK challenges FSS over probe right

Apr 3, 2011

Dispute resurfaces over the central bank’s supervisory authority A fresh dispute is brewing over the mandate of financial supervision as the Bank of Korea is stepping up its demand for the right to inquire into financial institutions independently.The primary authority to investigate banks, securities, insurance and other financial companies currently belongs to the Financial Supervisory Service.
Glam Media launches...Korean service

IndustryApr 3, 2011

Global digital media firm Glam Media launched a website in Korean last week.As a network of sites targeting women, the website offers information ranging from beauty, fashion, style, celebrity and lifestyle, enabling its visitors to access a variety of information in a single visit.It also partnered with well-known global magazines such as Marie Claire and Luxury to provide content most frequently
KT expands ‘smart working’ environment

IndustryApr 3, 2011

KT Corp., the country’s biggest fixed-line service operator, said Sunday that 20,000 of its workforce will take part in the company’s “smart working” program starting this month.The company said it will encourage more people to participate in the flexible working system as it brought positive outcomes such as an increase in productivity in a group that has tested the system since last September.Ea
[Meet the CEO] Groupon feels way around Korean market

CompaniesApr 3, 2011

Groupon Korea, the new kid on the Korean social networking commerce scene, brushes off the worries and sniping about its somewhat subdued entry. “All of our options are open, and we want to try new things and experiment to get the gist of what works and what doesn’t,” said Hwang Hee-seung, Groupon’s chief executive told The Korea Herald in an interview.And the experiments will go on, said the 27-y
Debt woes weigh on Korean economy

Apr 3, 2011

Debts owed by the government, individuals and companies in Korea reached a record high last year, data showed on Sunday, raising concerns that the high level of debts could derail the economy off the recovery track.According to data compiled by the Bank of Korea, their interest-bearing debts reached 2,586 trillion won ($2.37 trillion) at the end of last year, up 7.4 percent from 2,408 trillion won
German university opens campus in Busan

Apr 3, 2011

The Friedrich Alexander University of Germany has launched its branch campus in Busan offering graduate programs in chemicals and biotechnology. The university, founded in 1743 and located in Erlangen and Nuremberg, Bavaria, is one of the world’s leading institutions for education and research of bio-chemical engineering. Its local campus is located at Busan Techno Park within Busan-Jinhae Free Ec