Most Popular
-
1
Marine Corps commander summoned by CIO for questioning on alleged influence-peddling case
-
2
Debate rages over ‘overly fatty’ samgyeopsal
-
3
40 flights canceled on Jeju Island due to bad weather
-
4
[Weekender] Korean psyche untangled: Musok
-
5
N. Korea slams US, other countries for seeking alternative to UN sanctions monitoring panel
-
6
Pandemic left Korea more depressed than before: report
-
7
Gov't appears to shelve punitive measures against mass walkout by doctors
-
8
[Eye Interview] 'If you live to 100, you might as well be happy,' says 88-year-old bestselling essayist
-
9
From fake prostitution ring to nonexistent robber, prank calls hamper police
-
10
Missing S. Korean traveler in Paris found safe after 2 weeks
-
Is Facebook worth the bet? Doubts amid the frenzy
WASHINGTON (AFP) ― Everyone knows it is a giant of the Internet that will make money for a long while. But is Facebook worth investing in at its elevated initial public offering price? Analysts have some doubts: the company has huge value, and could be very worthwhile over the long term. But there might be cheaper opportunities elsewhere on the market.On the other hand, demand for Facebook shares is so strong that, fundamental valuations aside, an investor might score big in any case.For one, th
TechnologyMay 16, 2012
-
Samsung keeps top spot in TV market
Samsung Electronics Co., the world’s largest maker of TVs, maintained its dominant global market position in the first quarter of this year, international market researchers said Wednesday.According to the Germany-based GfK Group and NPD Group, a U.S. market researcher, Samsung products accounted for 30.2 percent of all flat-panel TVs sold throughout the world in the January-March period.Flat-panel TVs cover liquid crystal display, plasma display panel , and three-dimensional units, as well as s
TechnologyMay 16, 2012
-
KT unveils content, solutions at IT fair
Firm determined to become global media content provider, eying live video streaming, cloud computingKT is showcasing the firm’s next generation media content and IT solutions at the COEX Convention Center as it is prepping to go beyond its role as one of the country’s three telecoms. The country’s biggest fixed-line service operator showed its commitment to futuristic media content at the four-day World IT Show with an array of services such as video content service Ustream and the paperless wo
IndustryMay 16, 2012
-
Facebook faces challenges ahead of IPO
Facebook, the world’s biggest social networking company, faces a bewildering challenge as it prepares for its initial public offering slated for Friday. The much-anticipated IPO is estimated to reach a record $100 billion. Facebook has shown rapid growth over a short period of time, posting $3.7 billion in revenue last year. It has become an integral part of daily life for adults around the world, with the growing use of smartphones, tablets and notebook computers.More than 40 percent of America
TechnologyMay 16, 2012
-
S.Korea's jobless rate falls to 3.5% in April
South Korea's jobless rate decelerated in April thanks mainly to more positions created in the service sector, a government report showed Wednesday. The jobless rate stood at 3.5 percent last month, down from 3.7 percent a year earlier, according to the report by Statistics Korea. Last month's tally also represents a drop from a jobless rate of 3.7 percent reached in March. A total of 455,000
May 16, 2012
-
Viruses can be tapped for electric power
U.S. researchers say electricity generated by viruses could bring devices that generate power from everyday human activities like walking.A paper-thin "viral" generator embedded in the sole of a shoe could charge a person's phone as they walk, scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory said.The power would be generated by harmless viruses that convert mechanical energy into electricit
TechnologyMay 16, 2012
-
"Casablanca" turns 70 with free show on Facebook
The stars of much-loved classic film "Casablanca" may always have Paris, but on Wednesday they will have Facebook.The legendary black-and-white film starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Berman will be streamed free at Facebook in the United States to celebrate the release of a 70th anniversary edition by Warner Home Video."Movie fans across the United States are invited to microwave some popcorn an
TechnologyMay 16, 2012
-
Beijing more strategic in approach than Seoul
China is much more “strategic” than Korea in free trade agreement negotiations, so Seoul should make extra efforts to translate the strategic significance Beijing places on the FTA into economic profit, according to one trade expert. It is difficult to find a shared trait in the countries that have concluded an FTA with China, Jee Man-soo, head of China team at the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy said in a report titled “Korea-China FTA: Strategies and Benefits.” China places g
May 15, 2012
-
Winners, losers of FTA with China
Agriculture, fisheries in for heavy damage; petrochemicals, autos expect benefitsKorea has taken the first step toward a free trade agreement with China, its largest trading partner and the world’s second biggest economy. Seoul and Beijing held the initial round of negotiations on Monday. Trade experts said the beginning of negotiations on the bilateral pact was itself significant. A free trade agreement with China would be more significant for the South Korean economy than other similar deals.
May 15, 2012
-
COEX mall to undergo two-year renovation
The Korea International Trade Association said Tuesday that the COEX mall would undergo a large-scale renovation by November 2014, the first since it was established in 2000. Under the new plan, the largest underground shopping mall in Asia is expected to be expanded by 10 percent and have more environmentally friendly, energy-efficient features to reduce energy consumption by 25 percent.Adding to the current 182,675-square-meter mall, the KITA plans to develop a 6,600-square-meter underground a
IndustryMay 15, 2012
-
SK, Danish company in partnership for environment-friendly energy
SK Group announced on Tuesday that it signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday with Topsoe Fuel Cell, a Danish fuel cell company, to develop and commercialize solid oxide fuel cells as a future energy source. Higher in efficiency than previous types of generators, the SOFCs are the rising energy source for future generations, SK Group said. A SOFC generates electricity through the electrochemical reaction of liquefied natural gas, diesel and biogas. The energy conglomerate said that the SO
IndustryMay 15, 2012
-
Court lets Apple pursue U.S. ban on Galaxy Tab
Apple Inc., maker of the iPhone and iPad, can pursue efforts to halt sales of Samsung Electronics Co.’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet computer in the U.S. while a patent-infringement case is pending, a U.S. appeals court ruled. Apple’s patent on a design of the tablet is likely to withstand validity challenges, so the trial judge should consider if it’s in the public interest to block sales until a trial can be held, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled today. The court upheld the tr
TechnologyMay 15, 2012
-
Korea-Danish green growth pact to become legally binding treaty
Korea and Denmark have agreed to make the green growth alliance between the two counties a legally binding treaty as part of efforts to strengthen their partnership in the field, officials said Tuesday. Korea’s Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik and Danish Crown Prince Frederik held the second meeting of the Korea-Danish Green Growth Alliance at a Seoul hotel on the day. The green growth alliance, launched when President Lee Myung-bak visited Denmark last May, is the first of its kind between two coun
May 15, 2012
-
LG’s new quad-core smartphone to debut in Europe next month
LG Electronics announced Tuesday it will roll out its new quad-core smartphone named Optimus 4X HD in Europe next month to compete with its rival Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy S3.Beginning its launch in Germany in June, the firm said it will release the 4.7-inch display smartphone in other European nations such as Sweden, the U.K., Italy and Poland.It will then expand to other regions including Asia, the Commonwealth of Independent States and Latin America, said LG officials. Running on Google’s l
IndustryMay 15, 2012
-
LSIS aims to expand presence in global green car market
LS Industrial Systems Co. celebrated the completion of the nation’s first production line dedicated to manufacturing EV Relay, a key component of eco-friendly cars, on Tuesday in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. While three companies ― LSIS, Tyco of the U.S. and Panasonic of Japan ― are dominating the global EV Relay market, the Korean firm is aiming to become the top player with the new facility, officials said. EV Relay supplies or cuts battery power to electric cars. Amid a promising out
IndustryMay 15, 2012
-
Hyundai expands tie-ups with Nordic countries
Starting Norwegian firm, automaker to sign MOUs on green carsHyundai Motor is expanding its business collaboration with Scandinavian countries to boost the carmaker’s supply of environmentally friendly vehicles.Following a pact between Hyundai and the governments of the four countries ― Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland ― in January 2011, the automaker signed a memorandum of understanding with a Norwegian firm on green car supply in Seoul on Tuesday.Under the MOU, Hyundai and Norway-based larg
MobilityMay 15, 2012
-
Shares drop 0.77 percent on mounting eurozone woes
South Korean stocks sank 0.77 percent on Tuesday due to mounting European fiscal uncertainties that can destabilize the global economy, analysts said. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark KOSPI gave up 14.77 points to 1,898.96, extending its losing streak to five sessions. Trading volume was moderate at 510 million shares worth 5.10 trillion won ($4.41 billion), with losers clearly outpacing gainers 616 to 225.“The drop in the bourse is directly linked to growing concern
May 15, 2012
-
Import price gains hit two-year low in April
South Korea’s import prices rose at their slowest clip in more than two years in April mainly due to a drop in the cost of refined petroleum and nonferrous metal products, the central bank said Tuesday.In local currency terms, import prices gained just 1.7 percent on-year in April, slowing from a 3.5 percent on-year gain in March, according to the Bank of Korea.Last month’s figure marks the lowest on-year gain since March 2010, when import prices contracted 4.3 percent from a year earlier, the c
May 15, 2012
-
KDB urges parliament to approve state guarantee of its debts
The National Assembly should approve the state guarantee of the Korea Development Bank’s debts in June for the bank’s initial public offering, said Chu Woo-sik, senior deputy president of KDB Financial Group.“If the IPO is not done, the government’s overseas strategies may encounter problems and prices of government bonds or the national credibility could be negatively influenced,” said Chu on Tuesday at a press conference in central Seoul. “As the local law for the privatization of KDB was crea
May 15, 2012
-
Korea posts trade surplus of $2.12 billion in April
South Korea’s trade balance remained in the black for the third straight month in April despite minus growth in both exports and imports, a customs office report showed Tuesday.According to the report by the Korea Customs Service, South Korea’s trade surplus amounted to $2.12 billion last month, down from a favorable balance of $2.37 billion tallied in March.The monthly figure was slightly smaller than the surplus of $2.15 billion projected by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy for April earlier
May 15, 2012