OLED monitor boom bolsters Samsung, LG despite China push

The global OLED monitor market is expected to surpass the $1 billion threshold for the first time this year, fueled by surging demand in gaming and premium content production segments, according to market tracker Omdia on Monday. While Korea’s top two display makers — Samsung Display and LG Display — remain dominant players, Chinese panel makers are ramping up production to carve out more outstanding shares in this fast-growing segment. The intensifying rivalry is prompting domestic manufacturer

April 14, 2025

FADU joins forces with Taiwan's ADATA in strategic SSD alliance

Korean fabless startup FADU has signed a memorandum of understanding with Adata, the world’s second-largest solid-state drive module provider, the company announced Monday. This marks the first major milestone in its new Flex SSD business model. The agreement was signed on April 2 at Adata’s headquarters in Taipei, Taiwan, with FADU's chief executive officer and chief technology officer Nam E-hyun and Adata Chair Simon Chen in attendance. FADU’s new business model enables customers to tailor SSD

April 14, 2025

Micron makes aggressive HBM push to challenge Samsung, SK

Micron Technology, long the third-largest player in the global memory chip market behind Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, is mobilizing its full organizational capabilities to challenge the two Korean chipmakers in the race for dominance in the high-bandwidth memory market. The US-based chipmaker has passed Nvidia’s quality verification process for its fifth-generation HBM3E products, according to industry sources on Sunday. Micron has reportedly commenced mass production of these chips for use

April 13, 2025

SK chief visits Taiwan to bolster ties with TSMC ahead of HBM4 launch

SK Group Chair Chey Tae-won visited Taiwan this week to strengthen partnerships with TSMC and other key players in the semiconductor and IT industries, accompanied by SK hynix CEO Kwak Noh-jung. According to industry sources on Friday, Chey departed for Taiwan on Wednesday and held a closed-door meeting with executives of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. His visit comes ahead of SK hynix’s planned mass production of its next-generation AI memory chip, HBM4, which incorporates TSMC’s base d

April 11, 2025

SK Group chairman meets with TSMC chief for talks on chip cooperation

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won has visited Taiwan, and met with the chief of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and officials from other semiconductor companies to discuss ways of strengthening cooperation in the semiconductor sector, sources said Thursday. During the meeting held earlier this week, Chey and TSMC CEO C.C. Wei agreed to work together to lay the foundation for an artificial intelligence (AI) era and to deepen cooperation on the high-bandwidth memory sector, among other areas,

April 10, 2025

Samsung AI robot Ballie to feature Google's Gemini

Samsung Electronics announced Thursday that its home AI companion robot Ballie will integrate Gemini, Google Cloud’s generative AI technology, to enable more natural and conversational interactions to work through everyday tasks effectively. Announcing the expanded partnership at this year's Google Cloud Next 2025, Samsung said it plans to launch Ballie this summer. The collaboration follows the successful integration of Gemini on Google Cloud into Samsung's Galaxy S24 smartphone series last yea

April 10, 2025

SK in talks to sell SK Siltron

SK Group is considering selling its controlling stake in SK Siltron, a semiconductor wafer producer, as part of restructuring efforts to secure liquidity, industry sources said Wednesday. If completed, the sale could generate trillions of won, with SK Siltron’s valuation estimated at around 5 trillion won ($3.4 billion). SK Inc., the group’s holding company, which oversees its subsidiaries, has reportedly expressed interest in selling its 70.6 percent stake in SK Siltron to private equity firms,

April 9, 2025

Samsung's Q1 profit beats estimates on Galaxy phones, memory demand

Analysts see steady earnings recovery ahead, but tariff, HBM headwinds remain Samsung Electronics on Tuesday said its earnings for the January–March period are expected to significantly exceed market expectations, driven by strong sales of its flagship artificial intelligence smartphones and better-than-anticipated demand for DRAM chips. In its earnings guidance for the first quarter, the Korean tech giant projected a consolidated operating profit of 6.6 trillion won ($4.48 billion), down 0.15 p

April 8, 2025

LG teams up with will.i.am for AI-enhanced speakers

LG Electronics has launched a new line of AI-integrated wireless speakers in partnership with Black Eyed Peas frontman and entrepreneur will.i.am, aiming to expand its global presence in the highly competitive audio market. At an event held in Seoul on Monday, the tech giant showcased its new lineup of wireless speakers under the revamped xboom brand, outlining a fresh strategic direction for its audio business. The company unveiled three new Bluetooth speakers with the "xboom by will.i.am" line

April 8, 2025

LG CNS to build AI platform for Mirae Asset Life in W130b deal

LG CNS announced Monday that it has signed a 130 billion won ($88.8 million) deal with Mirae Asset Life Insurance to support the insurer’s artificial intelligence transformation and the development of next-generation systems. Under the agreement, LG CNS will build a generative AI platform for Mirae Asset Life and implement a multi-hybrid cloud environment. The Korean IT services provider will also lead a full-scale overhaul and upgrade of Mirae Asset Life’s core systems, including insurance prod

April 7, 2025

Samsung doubles AI TV lineup, targets OLED leadership

TV chief downplays US tariff concerns, citing diversified manufacturing network Samsung Electronics announced Monday the launch of what it calls “true” artificial intelligence TVs, almost doubling its AI-powered lineup from 34 to 61 models this year. The company also vowed to outpace archrival LG Electronics in the premium organic light-emitting diode TV segment to become the No. 1 seller in the domestic market. “Samsung aims to make TVs as more than just a viewing device. With our Vision AI, Sa

April 7, 2025

Seoul to begin tariff talks with Washington Tuesday

Finance minister calls for supplementary budget to address tariff concerns, AI development South Korea’s top trade negotiator is set to begin talks with the US this week, as the Trump administration’s steep 25 percent tariff on imports from Korea is set to go into force on Wednesday. Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo will visit Washington, DC on Tuesday for a two-day trip to meet with key Trump administration officials, including US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, according to the Ministry of In

April 7, 2025

LG Electronics expects best-ever Q1 revenue on B2B, subscription growth

LG Electronics said Monday it expects to post record-high first-quarter revenue, topping 22 trillion won for the first time, driven by growth in business-to-business operations and home appliance subscription services. The South Korean tech giant estimated that its revenue for the January-March period increased 7.8 percent on-year to 22.74 trillion won ($15.5 billion), according to its earnings guidance, breaking 22 trillion won for the first time in any first quarter. Despite its record revenue

April 7, 2025

Trump’s tariffs shake up smartphone supply chains

While Samsung may benefit from diversified manufacturing, Apple’s potential tariff exemption could shift the balance, experts say As global smartphone giants Samsung Electronics and Apple face sweeping tariffs of 40-50 percent under US President Donald Trump's "reciprocal" tariffs — impacting all countries involved in the two companies' supply chains — attention is turning to whether Samsung could gain a comparative advantage over its American archrival. With Samsung manufacturing in Vietnam and

April 6, 2025

[Photo News] LG lights up Fenway

LG Electronics’ new LED display solutions debuted during the Boston Red Sox’s home opener Friday at Fenway Park. The Korean tech giant installed 11 digital displays, including a main scoreboard measuring 30.5 by 11.5 meters, bringing the total display area to over 840 square meters. The high-definition displays are equipped with HDR or High Dynamic Range technology, delivering vivid contrast and lifelike visuals even in bright outdoor conditions. (LG Electronics)

April 6, 2025