[THE INVESTOR] The launch of Samsung Electronics’ new smartphone Galaxy Note 7 is being delayed in some markets due to short supply amid soaring preorders. The company announced that the new Note launch in the Netherlands is being delayed by a week from Sept. 2 to Sept. 9, citing soaring preorders in some markets, possibly the US and Korea. In South Korea alone, preorders exceeded 300,000 units since starting on Aug. 6, more than double those for the flagship Galaxy S7. The figure is the highest

[THE INVESTOR] Korea’s Fair Trade Commission is expected to clear Google of antitrust charges on its preinstalled apps on Android devices considering the US internet giant’s tiny market share here. The antitrust watchdog has recently completed a probe into whether Google has increased its market share through its preinstalled mapping and search apps. The European Union is also conducting investigations into similar charges. “Google has preinstalled its own apps on Android devices as it does in E

[THE INVESTOR]  The nation’s immensely popular mobile messenger KakaoTalk saw its user growth slow in the second quarter, the operator Kakao Corp. said on Aug. 11. Kakao said in a conference call that KakaoTalk’s monthly active users increased to 310,000 in the April-June period, the lowest growth since 2014.Considering the number soared more than 1.1 million in the first quarter, the growth rate fell by almost one-third in the second quarter. The entire user number at 41.5 million was still on

[THE INVESTOR] Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho’s two children – Cho Won-tae and Cho Hyun-ah -- may face criminal charges for earning profits from illegal inter-subsidiary transactions among Hanjin companies. The Fair Trade Commission, which has continued a probe into the allegations, will hold a council meeting in September to discuss filing complaints against them.  Cho Won-tae (left) and Cho Hyun-ahWon-tae, current vice president of Korean Air, and his elder sister Hyun-ah, former vice presi

[THE INVESTOR] Shinhan Card and Tongyang Asset Management have submitted bids to purchase the former head office building of Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance in central Seoul. The building was put up for sale after Samsung’s financial units moved their offices to Seocho-dong, southern Seoul. Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance’s office building in central SeoulAccording to news reports on Aug. 11, Shinhan Card has keen interest in buying the 21-story skyscraper, offering more than 400 billion won (US

[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electronics has acquired US home appliance maker Dacor in its recent upscale push to appeal to luxe customers especially in the soaring built-in market in North America. Even though the Korean tech giant didn’t reveal the deal size, industry sources estimate it to be worth about US$150 million. The company said Dacor will become a wholly owned unit of US subsidiary Samsung Electronics America, adding that there will be no changes to its branding, operations or manufacturin

[THE INVESTOR] LG CNS, the IT solutions unit of LG Group, is renewing its commitment to creating a smart firm complex in Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, amid fierce resistance from farmers in the adjoining areas. “It is true we are having problems in carrying out the project due to resistance from farmers’ group. But we have no plan to withdraw the project,” an LG CNS official was quoted as saying by a local news outlet on Aug. 10. The rendering image of LG CNS’ smart farm complex, called Sma

[THE INVESTOR] Nexon, South Korea's largest gaming company, posted a 42 percent plunge in its second-quarter net profit from a year ago largely due to the strong Japanese yen. Nexon Japan, which is listed on the Tokyo bourse, said net profit decreased to 7.56 billion yen (US$750,000) during the April-June period on year. The Japanese unit holds a 100 percent stake in Nexon Korea.Revenue was also down 11 percent to 38.12 billion yen. The company said without considering the unfavorable foreign ex

[THE INVESTOR] Jaguar Land Rover Korea, the Korean unit of the UK luxury carmaker, is considering legal action against Ticket Monster, a local daily-deal site that recently sold 20 Jaguar cars on its online website. “We are selling cars in Korea through nine official dealers only. We have never discussed selling cars through a social commerce site,” said an official of Jaguar Land Rover Korea. “We are considering legal action for damage to our brand value and image and consumer confusion.” Jagua

[THE INVESTOR] SK Group, the nation’s fourth-largest conglomerate, topped the list of 20 conglomerates in terms of trading volume among their affiliates, according to Chaebul.com, a conglomerate-tracking research firm, on Aug. 10. The combined internal trading among SK companies was 33.3 trillion won (US$30 billion) last year, with 24 affiliates earning more than half of their revenue from transactions with sister firms. SK Group headquarters in Seorin-dong, central SeoulOther chaebol groups wit

[THE INVESTOR] SK Group, the nation’s third-largest conglomerate, is considering selling off its money-losing solar power business that has been conducted by its semiconductor and display material unit SKC Solmics. SKC Solmics confirmed the sell-off plan in a regulatory filing on Aug. 9. SK Group headquartersIndustry watchers predict the company could sell the business to a third party or just withdraw from the market. SKC Solmics entered the solar power market in 2010, producing wafers for sola

[THE INVESTOR] Korean Internet giant Naver on Aug. 9 launched its new translation app Papago that offers services in four languages, including Korean, Japanese, Chinese and English. The app translates text, speech and images into the target language. Words with several meanings come with related images to prevent mistranslation. The app is currently available on the Android OS only and is scheduled to launch its Apple iOS version in September. “We will take on global rivals with our own artifici

[THE INVESTOR] Seoul Semiconductor, the nation’s leading light-emitting diode maker, is investing US$300 million in Vietnam to build a new LED and chip plant there. According to industry sources on Aug. 9, the company recently got approval from the regional government for the construction.The new plant will be located on a 75,000 square-meter site in the northern province of Ha Nam by 2019. About 3,000 people are expected to be hired.  Seoul Semiconductor headquarters.The company said it aims to