Regulator under fire for not consulting industry playersThe government’s latest hints that it might try to offer text messaging for free were met with fierce protests from local telecom operators, according to industry watchers. KT Corp., SK Telecom and LG Uplus all appeared to be upset by recent remarks from Choi See-joong, chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, who told lawmakers Wedne

Korea’s SNS pioneer plans to regain lost glory with mobile apps, acornsCyworld, in many ways a Korean pioneer in social networking services, is back with a vengeance this year on the back of robust “acorn” sales and closer collaboration with up-and-coming technology. Acorn ― “dotori” in Korean ― is the unit of virtual money that Cyworld users spend on all sorts of items for decorating and personal

Government twists refiners’ arms but under fire for failing to share responsibilityThe heat is increasingly being turned on the government for failing to curb the soaring gas prices, especially as critics are pounding Seoul for failing to address a more direct cause of the price increase ― the high taxes slapped onto gas. Instead, the government has turned to twisting the arms of local refiners to

Rumors fly over Shinsegae heir marriage plansBy Kim Ji-hyunChung Yong-jin, 42, vice chairman of Shinsegae Group, may be ready to tie the knot -- again -- this time with flutist Han Ji-hee, according to inside sources.Sources said that Han, 30, and Chung are making preparations for a wedding ceremony next month. Chung’s fiancee teaches at Sungshin Women’s University and has studied in Austria, Fran

The first quarter operating profit of Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest maker of TVs and flat-screen monitors, stood at 2.9 trillion won ($2.66 billion) to mark its smallest quarterly revenue in seven quarters after falling 34 percent from a year earlier, the company said on Thursday.Sales were at 37 trillion won, up 6.8 percent year-on-year, according to Samsung during an earnings guidance

CEO says company will seek to supply electric-car batteries to Japanese firmsOCHANG, North Chungcheong Province ― LG Chem, the nation’s largest chemical company, sees South Korea having a global edge as a supplier of lithium batteries for electric vehicles, including in markets such as Japan. Renewing the firm’s pledge to join hands with international carmakers to lead the world’s battery industry

Ho-Am Foundation on Tuesday awarded the Ho-Am Prize to four individuals and one institution to recognize their contribution to improving human lives and promoting public welfare.This year’s prizes went to Professor Ha Taek-jip of the University of Illinois for science, Professor Thomas Lee of Standford University for engineering, Professor Augustine Choi of Harvard Medical School for medicine, vio

South Korea’s consumer prices rose by the fastest pace in 29 months, fanning the growing fears of an inflation rate that could put a damper on the nation’s economic growth. Statistics Korea said on Friday that the country’s consumer price index surged 4.7 percent last month from a year earlier, marking the fastest on-year increase since the 4.8 percent recorded in October 2008. From February, cons