Government advised to nurture more than 100 biotechnology companies

  LIGHT AS PAPER -- LG Electronics’ YouTube video featuring a paper replica of the firm’s laptop Gram 15, a 15.6-inch (40-centimeter) laptop weighing just 980 grams, has crossed 3.5 million views. The paper art piece is made only of paper based on the actual design of the laptop. (LGE)

Apple Korea Inc., the local unit of the U.S. tech giant, has revised its unfair business agreement with local maintenance service firms for the first time in the world, the South Korean antitrust watchdog said Thursday.Apple has designated six local repair firms including Ubase Inc. and Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Service Corp. as its authorized repair service providers that can do business under the worldwide Apple Authorized Service Agreement.The previous agreement let the U.S. firm terminate co

LG Chem, South Korea’s leading chemical firm by sales, saw its net profit jump nearly 40 percent on-year in the first three months this year thanks to increased margins in petrochemical raw materials.The firm’s first quarter net profit stood at 338.1 billion won, up 37.3 percent from the same period last year, LG Chem said in its earnings report Thursday.  Park Jin-soo (center) and executives of LG Chem visit one of the firm’s factories in Korea. (Yonhap)Compared to the previous quarter, net pro

LG Hausys, a construction materials firm and affiliate of LG Group, said Wednesday it has completed the construction of a factory in the U.S. in Gordon County, Georgia. The factory will produce materials for car seats, door panels and dashboards, collectively often referred to as automotive skins.The opening ceremony for the factory, dubbed “Autoskin Plant,” took place in the U.S. town on Tuesday. LG Hausys president Oh Jang-soo (left) and local state representative John Meadows look at automoti

South Korea’s leading mobile game firm Netmarble Games launched “Stone Age,” a new mobile role-playing game, on Tuesday in Seoul.The newly released game features a fictitious, prehistoric world where people resist against industrial revolutions. It is based on a PC online game of the same title, released by Japanese game company Japan System Supply in 1999. Netmarable Games’ new mobile role-playing game “Stone Age.” (Netmarble)Players complete a series of quests, such as winning an one-on-one ba

Korean IPTV market competition sizzles

Top analyst sees less business synergy among Samsung companies, urging display-maker to seek new clients

South Korea’s leading chemical company LG Chem launched a fertilizer affiliate, FarmHannong, on Tuesday after completing months-long acquisition efforts.LG Chem chief executive Park Jin-soo will take helm of FarmHannong, formerly owned by Korean conglomerate Dongbu Group, and stabilize the firm’s businesses, including fertilizers and pesticides, according to the chemical firm.  The logo of fertilizer firm FarmHannong. (LG Chem)Founded in 1953, FarmHannong is a leader in the agricultural chemical

Samsung SDI, one of South Korea’s leading battery firms, said Tuesday that it has teamed up with Korea Electric Power Corp. to tap into the global energy storage system markets.The state-run utility firm signed a memorandum of understanding with the Samsung Group affiliate to lead a consortium bidding for global energy projects. As a part of the consortium, SDI will supply its ESS technology for future energy projects.  KEPCO chief executive Cho Hwan-eik (left) poses with Samsung SDI chief execu

ICT ministry criticized for attempting to make too much profit

HONG KONG -- Europe’s largest electronics trade show IFA is seeking to expand its presence in China, by launching a local edition -- CE China -- this week. IFA, which is held every September in Berlin, attracted almost 250,000 visitors last year for the weeklong event.  Christian Goke, CEO of Messe Berlin, speaks at IFA’s global press conference in Hong Kong on Monday. Lee Ji-yoon/The Korea HeraldWhile Korean and Japanese companies are still one of the biggest exhibitors, the presence of Chinese

SAMSUNG-U.N. PARTNERSHIP FOR CHARITY -- Kim Jung-hwan (left), manager of Samsung Electronics’ South America headquarters, poses with Amanda Mukwashi, U.N. volunteers’ knowledge and innovation team leader, after signing an agreement to run support programs together for the underprivileged in South America.　(Samsung Electronics)

LG UPLUS SUPPORTS DISABLED -- LG Uplus, Korea’s third-largest mobile carrier, said Monday it would provide its Home Internet of Things services for free to 3,000 households with physically challenged individuals. The services allow users to monitor and control home appliances through smartphones. (LG Uplus)

SAMSUNG AD RIDES POPULARITY – Samsung Electronics said Monday that its TV ad for air conditioner Q9500, featuring former figure skating champion Kim Yu-na, has hit 10 million views online in 19 days. (Samsung Electronics)