Samsung Electronics records semiconductor revenue of $39.9 bln in 2023, down 37.5% percent year-on-year: market data

SEOUL -- Due to the sluggish global semiconductor market, Samsung Electronics faced a significant revenue decline in 2023. Data released by market research firm Gartner showed that the technology giant's global semiconductor revenue was $39.9 billion in 2023, down 37.5 percent from a year ago. The global market research firm reported on January 16 that worldwide semiconductor revenue dropped 11.1 percent year-on-year to $533 billion last year. Samsung secured the second posit

January 17, 2024

Girl band Le Sserafim to perform at US music festival Coachella

SEOUL -- Le Sserafim, a girl band formed by BTS agency Hybe's music label Source Music, will interact with global fans at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, a popular music event held in California. The annual event is known for showcasing popular artists in indie rock, hip-hop, and electronic dance music. Coachella is one of the largest music festivals in North America that attracted more than 200,000 fans every year. Along with K-pop girl band BLACKPINK, Puerto Ri

January 17, 2024

[OPINION] Taiwan reconfirms equality as well as democracy

KENOSHA -- Over the weekend, Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai, was elected President of Taiwan. He succeeds President Tsai Ing-wen, who served two terms and is the firs

January 17, 2024

SK Group units partner with US clean energy company for ESS projects

SEOUL -- SK gas, a natural gas provider affiliated with South Korea's SK Group, will work with Apex Clean Energy, a Virginia-based renewable energy company, to establish energy storage systems infrastructure in the United States. Through a joint venture, the South Korean company will build energy storage facilities in Texas with a capacity of 200 megawatts. The amount of generated electricity is enough to provide power to about 330,000 households annually. An energy storage sy

January 17, 2024

Young S. Koreans join rural exodus to Seoul seeking higher salaries and better living environment

SEOUL -- Many young South Korean university graduates are leaving their hometowns in rural provinces to migrate to Seoul in search of higher salaries and a better living environment. The rural exodus of young people is accelerating depopulation and the aging phenomenon in cities and provincial areas outside Seoul and its suburbs. A famous centuries-old Korean saying goes, "When a child is born, send the baby to Seoul. If a horse is born, send it to Jeju." This saying con

January 17, 2024

S. Korean socks brand Banana Sisters opens first store in Philippines

SEOUL -- South Korea's socks brand Banana Sisters has opened its first store in the Philippines. The store located in Manila provides more than 300 types of socks including premium fashion socks, sports socks, and products designed for adults and children. According to data released by global market research firm Statista, the socks market in the Philippines which stood at $39.8 million in 2024 is projected to reach $44.5 million in 2027. Banana Sisters CEO Jung Yong-ju said he

January 16, 2024

BTS' leader RM completes basic training at army boot camp as elite soldier

SEOUL -- BTS' leader RM has completed five weeks of basic training at South Korea's largest army boot camp. The 29-year-old started his mandatory military service with V, a 28-year-old member of the seven-member band on December 11, 2023. In South Korea, males aged 18 and above are obligated to fulfill their military service unless exempted for valid reasons. Those enlisted in the army serve for about 18 months. RM and V joined the boot camp in Nonsan some 154 kilometers (

January 16, 2024

S. Korean ecommerce operators join cutthroat race to check Chinese giant Alibaba and Pinduoduo

SEOUL -- South Korean ecommerce operators including Tmon and Wemakeprice have joined a dangerous cutthroat race to check against Chinese online shopping giants Aliexpress, the business-to-customer wing of Alibaba Group, and Temu, the counterpart of Chinese online retail giant Pinduoduo. Aliexpress became the ecommerce app that gained the largest number of new users in South Korea in 2023, according to data released by Wiseapp, a smartphone app market research firm. Aliexpress garn

January 16, 2024

[INTERVIEW] S. Korean atomic force microscope developer hopes for ecosystem for novel technologies

SEOUL -- Ultra-precision microscope developer Park Systems hopes for South Korea to create an infrastructure where talented scientists can receive support for creating novel technologies. The company, specializing in devices capable of measuring and detecting in nanometer levels, has secured the top position in the global market for atomic force microscopy, overtaking competitors like United States-based Bruker and Oxford Instruments based in Britain. The atomic force microscope (

January 16, 2024

S. Korea sets record with 30,586 tons of whisky imports in 2023

SEOUL -- Customs data reveals that South Korea has set a new record for whisky imports in 2023, thanks to a growing number of foreign liquor enthusiasts. A total of 30,586 tons of whisky were imported, marking a significant 13.1 percent increase compared to the previous year. This record-breaking change in consumption trend comes in a country where traditional spirits such as "Soju" and beer have long been the preferred choices among drinkers. According to Eatup Trend, a

January 16, 2024