Samsung tightens its belt amid crisis winds

Samsung Electronics, a leading tech giant in smartphones and semiconductors, is seen implementing austerity measures, reducing headcounts and downsizing celebratory events as it falls behind global peers in its core product markets. On Wednesday, Bloomberg reported Samsung Electronics is expected to lay off about 10 percent of its total overseas staff of 147,000, with the latest headcount cut being carried out in its headquarters in Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The company already

Oct. 2, 2024

KT chief vows to secure AI leadership

Telecom carriers can further expand their roles in the era of artificial intelligence as they hold the lead in offering diverse services, KT CEO Kim Young-shub said at a mobile conference in Seoul on Tuesday, saying collaboration with tech rivals is crucial to boost service quality. "AI-based services have already been realized across all areas, including telecommunications, health care, public transportation, manufacturing and logistics," Kim said in his keynote speech at this year�

Oct. 1, 2024

Naver to cancel W400b of treasury shares to prop up value

South Korean portal giant Naver announced Monday it will buy back and cancel shares worth 400 billion won ($306 million) by the end of the year to boost its declining stock value. The latest measure will be separate from the ongoing shareholder return policy the company introduced in 2023, spanning three years. “From Oct. 2 to Dec. 28, we will repurchase about 2,347,500 shares which accounts for 1.5 percent of the total issued shares, and cancel them by Dec. 31," Naver said. "Giv

Sept. 30, 2024

Kakao to unveil Nvidia partnership at conference next month

South Korean IT giant Kakao will unveil its new artificial intelligence service Kanana at the upcoming developers conference next month, the company said Monday. Holding the annual event dubbed "if kakaoAI 2024" from Oct. 22-24, the company will also announce its AI partnership with Nvidia, the leading graphic processor unit maker, Kakao said. On the first day of the event, Kakao CEO Chung Shin-a will deliver a keynote speech on Kakao's AI road map and Chief AI Officer Lee Sang-ho

Sept. 30, 2024

KT and Microsoft to develop AI models for Korea

South Korean mobile carrier KT has forged a five-year, multibillion-dollar partnership with Microsoft to develop customized artificial intelligence solutions for Korea and to build a tech innovation center, the company said Sunday. Signing the agreement at the Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Washington, Friday, the two sides agreed to collaborate in the areas of AI, cloud technologies and information technology, and for Microsoft to commit its resources in the areas of infrastructure and peop

Sept. 29, 2024

[Exclusive] Texas development exec shuts down layoff rumors at Samsung chip plant

Amid growing uncertainties about the timely operation of Samsung Electronics' $40 billion semiconductor fabrication plant in Taylor, Texas, regional economic development chiefs in the state dismissed downsizing rumors, saying construction would be completed by mid-2025. “There was a recent story that workers left, but Samsung every two years recycles in other employees. So the employees there came back to Korea, and they have a new group of employees or construction workers on site,

Sept. 25, 2024

[Exclusive] Texas development exec shuts down layoff rumors at Samsung chip plant

Amid growing uncertainties about the timely operation of Samsung Electronics' $40 billion semiconductor fabrication plant in Taylor, Texas, regional economic development chiefs in the state dismissed downsizing rumors, saying construction would be completed by mid-2025. “There was a recent story that workers left, but Samsung every two years recycles in other employees. So the employees there came back to Korea, and they have a new group of employees or construction workers on site,&r

Sept. 25, 2024