[THE INVESTOR] Electronic components firm Samsung Electro-Mechanics said on July 22 that it would invest 263.2 billion won (US$231.90 million) in beefing up its capability in chip packaging, an encapsulation process aimed at preventing erosion and damage.The investment amount accounts for 6.1 percent of the firm’s equity. Through the investment, Samsung Electro-Mechanics will develop the next-generation chip packaging facilities, which will be deployed at Samsung Display’s manufacturing complex

[THE INVESTOR] It seems unavoidable for Samsung Display, the display-making unit of Samsung Electronics, to further beef up production of its organic light-emitting diode panels on soaring demand from China’s smartphone manufacturers. UBI Research, a local market research firm specialized on OLED, predicted that the Chinese demand for mobile OLED could surge to some 200 million units next year. Samsung Galaxy S7 with OLED display. Apple iPhone’s planned adoption of OLED screen possibly from next

[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electronics has recently filed a suit against Huawei and its key retailer for patent infringements, escalating the legal battle between the two rival smartphone-makers. According to industry sources on July 22, the Korean tech giant sued Huawei for infringing its six patents, including those on mobile communication systems information control, and the retailer for selling the products. They involve Huawei’s key models such as Mate 8 and Honor series phones. Samsung asked e

[THE INVESTOR] China’s largest electric car maker BYD on July 21 announced that Shanghai Samsung Semiconductor, a unit of Samsung Electronics, has acquired its 52.3 million shares for 3 billion yuan (US$450 million). With the acquisition, Samsung has become BYD’s ninth-largest shareholder with a 1.92 percent stake. BYD, which started as a rechargeable battery maker, is currently the largest EV maker not just in China but also globally. BYD’s 2016 full-electric and hybrid vehicle lineup“The lates

[THE INVESTOR] LG Electronics will supply telematics systems that support wireless Internet in cars to Japan’s Toyota Motor, according to news reports on July 22. The company’s vehicle component business division has recently signed a deal with the Japanese auto giant to produce telematics systems to be equipped in Toyota vehicles sold in Japan and North America. LG ElectronicsLG is No. 1 player in the global telematics market with some 30 percent market share. The company will supply 11 key par

[THE INVESTOR] A consumer group claimed on July 21 that South Korea’s three largest mobile carriers --SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus -- have made excessive profits by overpricing USIM chips for smartphones.“Utilizing their monopolistic position in the mobile market, the three firms are alleged to have earned 117.3 billion won (US$103.20 million) of unjust profits over the past two years and three months,” said Green Consumer Network in Korea. The head office of SK Telecom in Seoul The figure is bas

[THE INVESTOR] The Fair Trade Commission, the nation’s antitrust regulator, raided Internet giant Google’s Korean head office in Gangnam on July 21 as part of its investigation into allegations that the global Internet giant twisted the arms of local smartphone-makers -- Samsung and LG -- to preinstall its apps on their handsets. Google is also accused of pressuring local mobile game developers to utilize AdMob, a game ad platform run by Google. The firm, whose Android operating system has an ov

[THE INVESTOR] The number of South Korean start-ups with annual revenue of 100 billion won (US$87.9 million) or more surpassed 470 last year, data showed on July 21. A total of 474 startups saw their annual revenues exceed 100 billion won last year, up 14 from the previous year, according to the data jointly released by the Small and Medium Business Administration and the Korea Venture Business Association.  Korea`s main financial district in Yeouido, Seoul (Korea Herald file photo)Whisky brand