Journalist
Candice Kim, Lim Jaeho
candicekim1121@ajupress.com, ajupresswogh@ajupress.com
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Subscriber exodus accelerates at SK Telecom following security breach SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - South Korea’s largest mobile carrier, SK Telecom, has raised device subsidies and sales incentives in an urgent attempt to stem a wave of customer defections triggered by a widespread security breach and logistical failures earlier this month. The telecom provider reportedly increased its official subsidies for Samsung’s Galaxy S25 smartphones to 680,000 won (about $510) and for Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models to 650,000 won. With an additional 15 percent in optional support, total discounts rise to 782,000 won and 747,500 won, respectively. The company also significantly boosted dealer incentives for number portability — sales involving customers switching from rival carriers — raising payouts by more than 300,000 won for premium plans at selected retail outlets. Industry sources described the move as the first such adjustment since SK Telecom halted new customer sign-ups earlier this month. The changes follow a steep decline in SK Telecom’s subscriber base, with the company losing nearly 352,000 customers on a net basis over the past month. Typically, net daily customer losses hover around 100, making the recent exodus equivalent to nearly 10 years’ worth of normal churn, by some estimates. The subscriber losses began after SK Telecom suspended new registrations and number transfers at more than 2,600 T World franchise stores nationwide on May 5, citing a shortage of SIM cards required for onboarding new users. While device upgrades continued at other retail locations, the company has struggled to maintain standard promotional activities amid the ongoing supply chain issue. In a statement, a company spokesperson confirmed the changes, describing them as “minimal measures to respond to other mobile carriers’ subsidy increases and sales incentive policies.” The statement referenced competitor KT’s recent move to raise subsidies for the Galaxy S25 to 700,000 won just one day prior to SK Telecom’s decision. SK Telecom said it has so far completed SIM card replacements for approximately 4.17 million customers, while 4.82 million are still awaiting service — numbers that underscore the scope of the operational crisis. The rare disruption has put pressure on South Korea’s highly competitive telecommunications industry, where customer loyalty is often driven by aggressive promotional offers and seamless service. 2025-05-26 11:20:51 -
Conservative candidate Kim Moon-soo to meet former President Park Geun-hye SEOUL, May 24 (AJP) - People Power Party presidential nominee Kim Moon-soo will meet with former President Park Geun-hye at her Daegu residence on Saturday, party officials announced. The meeting occurs ten days before the June 3 presidential election to select a successor to impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. Kim will be accompanied by Representative Yun Jae-ok, the campaign's chief manager, and party spokesperson Shin Dong-wook. This marks their first encounter since Kim won the party nomination earlier this month. The candidate also plans to visit Gumi, the birthplace of former President Park Chung-hee, Park Geun-hye's father. The election follows the Constitutional Court's April 4 ruling upholding Yoon's impeachment over his December martial law declaration. Kim secured the party nomination on May 3 with 56.5 percent of primary votes. 2025-05-24 17:30:15 -
KATSEYE's 'Gnarly' charts for third week on UK Official Singles chart SEOUL, May 24 (AJP) - Global girl group KATSEYE's track "Gnarly" has maintained its position on the UK Official Singles Top 100 chart for a third consecutive week, landing at number 90 for the week of May 23 to 29, according to chart data released Friday. The song first entered the UK chart at number 52 for the week of May 9 to 15 before securing its current three-week run. KATSEYE is a collaboration between South Korean entertainment company HYBE and American label Geffen Records. On Spotify, "Gnarly" reached number 42 on the Daily Top Songs Global chart as of May 22, up three positions from the previous day. The track held steady at number 46 on the Weekly Top Songs Global chart for May 16 to 22, accumulating 14.29 million streams during the week-long period. The song has also appeared on several Billboard charts, debuting at number 92 on the Hot 100 chart dated May 17. It subsequently ranked at number 46 on the Global 200 chart and number 31 on the Global Excluding US chart for the week dated May 24. KATSEYE is scheduled to release their second EP titled "BEAUTIFUL CHAOS" on June 27, 2025. The group's "Gnarly" incorporates hyperpop elements combined with dance and funk influences, and was included in Spotify's "Songs of Summer 2025" predictions list. 2025-05-24 14:42:20 -
Trump threatens 25 percent smartphone tariffs, 50 percent EU duties SEOUL, May 24 (AJP) - President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened to impose a 25 percent tariff on all smartphones manufactured overseas, including Apple iPhones and Samsung devices, while also warning the European Union of a 50 percent tariff on goods starting June 1. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump expanded his initial threat against Apple to include all smartphone manufacturers selling devices in the United States that are not produced domestically. "It would be more. It would also be Samsung and anybody that makes that product, otherwise it wouldn't be fair," Trump said. He indicated the smartphone tariffs would begin "at the end of June." The president emphasized that companies could avoid tariffs by manufacturing in the United States. "When they build their plant here, there's no tariff," Trump told reporters. He claimed to have reached an understanding with Apple CEO Tim Cook that the company would not continue iPhone production overseas, though Apple declined to comment. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the administration views overseas production, particularly in semiconductors, as a national security vulnerability. "I think that one of our greatest vulnerabilities is this external production, especially in semiconductors," Bessent told Fox News. "And a large part of Apple's components are in semiconductors. So we would like to have Apple help us make the semiconductor supply chain more secure." Trump also announced via Truth Social his intention to impose a 50 percent tariff on European Union goods, citing stalled trade negotiations. "Our discussions with them are going nowhere! Therefore, I am recommending a straight 50 percent Tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025," Trump wrote. When asked by reporters if he was seeking negotiations with the EU, Trump replied: "I'm not looking for a deal. We've set the deal – it's at 50 percent." 2025-05-24 11:04:36 -
With creator power, Leferi opens flagship K-beauty pop-up store SEOUL, May 23 (AJP) - Leferi, a global beauty retail company known for its management of online beauty creators, inaugurated its largest retail space to date on Thursday with the opening of “Select Store – THE BEAUTY UNIVERSE” in Seongsu-dong, Seoul. The store, spanning 300 square meters within the XYZ Seoul complex, marks a strategic expansion for the company. For the first time, Leferi is featuring a trio of top-tier beauty influencers — LeoJ (1.41 million subscribers), Soyoon (753,000), and Arang (483,000) — as co-curators. Described by the company as its most ambitious retail endeavor, the pop-up store will run through June 1. It draws on the popularity of past creator-led pop-ups, including installations with LeoJ in Seongsu and Minsco at The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido. But this latest effort takes a more collective approach, branding the trio as a “Beauty Avengers” team. The space showcases 63 products from 29 beauty labels across skincare, makeup, hair care, and wellness. Items are grouped under three thematic categories: “Legacy” (established favorites), “Newness” (recent launches), and “Rediscovery” (revived selections). Featured brands include household names such as Laneige, AHC, Dewytree, and Goodal, as well as emerging players like Narca and Notts. Beyond retail, the initiative incorporates a series of interactive experiences, including meet-and-greets with creators and guided tours designed to enhance brand storytelling. The event has drawn a mix of industry professionals, including domestic and international distributors, investors, and global buyers, underscoring its broader commercial ambition. Founded in 2013, Leferi oversees a network of roughly 800 creators and has trained or produced more than 1,500 to date. As part of its international expansion, the company plans to open a 500-square-meter store in Tokyo’s Omotesando district this October, directly across from the influential Japanese beauty retailer @cosme Tokyo. The new location is expected to serve as a launchpad for Korean beauty brands entering the Japanese market. 2025-05-23 15:59:35 -
Samsung launches sale of Galaxy S25 Edge in South Korea SEOUL, May 23 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics on Friday launched sale of the Galaxy S25 Edge, the latest addition to its flagship smartphone line and the slimmest Galaxy S series device to date. Measuring just 5.8 millimeters thick and weighing 163 grams, the new model is the culmination of Samsung’s effort to marry minimalist design with robust engineering. It features a high-strength titanium frame and an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. The launch rounds out the Galaxy S25 lineup and follows a weeklong pre-order period from May 14 to 20 that, according to Samsung, drew strong interest from consumers in their teens and 30s. Buyers in those age groups accounted for more than half of pre-orders placed through the company’s official website. Available in Titanium Silver, Jet Black, and Ice Blue, the Galaxy S25 Edge is priced at 1.5 million won (approximately $1,100) for the 256GB model and 1.639 million won for the 512GB version. Titanium Silver proved to be the most popular choice among early adopters. Under the hood, the device is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset — shared across the S25 series — and features an upgraded vapor chamber cooling system for improved thermal performance over its predecessor, the Galaxy S24. The S25 Edge also boasts a 200-megapixel wide-angle main camera and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera with macro functionality and auto-focus. For the first time in the series, the front-facing camera supports log video recording, a feature aimed at content creators. Samsung’s new ProVisual Engine, designed to enhance image clarity and render skin tones more naturally, is built into the device. A suite of AI-powered editing tools — including AI Eraser, Audio Eraser, Generative Edit, and Sketch to Image — comes standard, alongside live AI features such as Now Brief for personalized updates and Now Bar, a real-time activity display on the lock screen. Both are compatible with third-party applications. “The Galaxy S25 Edge is the result of condensing our most advanced technologies into a streamlined form without compromising performance or design,” said Roh Tae-moon, acting head of Samsung’s Device eXperience division. To sweeten the launch, Samsung is offering a series of promotional perks, including six months of Google One AI Premium, three months of Willa audiobook access, and digital magazine subscriptions. 2025-05-23 15:01:54 -
Naver chairman meets Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang for AI partnership talks SEOUL, May 23 (AJP) - Lee Hae-jin, the founder and chairman of Naver, visited Taiwan to meet with Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang, marking Lee’s first public trip abroad since he returned to management in March. Lee was joined by Naver Chief Executive Choi Soo-yeon and other top executives during their visit to Computex 2025, Asia’s largest information technology exhibition. The meeting took place on the sidelines of Nvidia’s cloud partner gathering, the NPC Summit, where the two companies discussed expanding their collaboration on artificial intelligence. The discussions centered on sovereign AI — nationalized, self-reliant artificial intelligence systems — with an emphasis on developing foundational technologies and scaling them across global markets. Kim Yu-won, chief executive of Naver Cloud, also participated in the talks. This meeting builds on a similar dialogue held last June, when Lee, then serving as Naver’s Global Investment Officer, visited Nvidia’s Silicon Valley headquarters with the same executive cohort. Nvidia, the world’s leading producer of AI semiconductors, brings cutting-edge hardware and computing power to the table, while Naver contributes its capabilities in AI model architecture and development. The companies are expected to jointly explore projects across Southeast Asia and the Middle East — regions where governments are increasingly seeking to build independent AI infrastructure. While in Taiwan, the Naver delegation also plans to meet with a range of local companies, including Foxconn, the electronics manufacturer best known for assembling Apple’s iPhone, and e-commerce platform Momo. The talks aim to identify potential AI partnerships and reinforce Naver’s ambitions to expand its footprint beyond South Korea and Japan into emerging Asian markets. Looking ahead, Lee is scheduled to travel to Silicon Valley next month, where he will meet with engineers, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists. His itinerary includes discussions on the formation of “Naver Ventures,” a proposed investment arm that would back AI startups globally. The initiative is seen as part of Naver’s broader strategy to sharpen its competitive edge in the rapidly evolving AI industry. 2025-05-23 11:23:04 -
Korean Air, Asiana join hands for forestation project in Mongolia SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - Korean Air said Thursday it has launched its annual reforestation project in Mongolia, joined for the first time by employees from Asiana Airlines. Roughly 260 new and supervisory employees from both airlines traveled to the “Korean Air Forest” in Baganuur District, on the outskirts of the city to participate in two weeks of tree-planting and forest maintenance. In a show of partnership, Korean Air employees flew on Asiana-operated flights and vice versa. The joint initiative began with the ceremonial planting of two pine trees to signify the growth and unity of the merging companies. Participants then engaged in planting and upkeep activities, including pruning to promote healthy tree development. Korean Air has maintained the Baganuur site since 2004 as part of a broader corporate social responsibility program aimed at combating desertification in Mongolia — a country heavily impacted by climate change and land degradation. Over the past 21 years, the Korean Air Forest has expanded to 44 hectares, roughly twice the size of Seoul’s Yeouido Park, and now includes more than 125,000 trees across 12 species, including poplars and sea buckthorns — species resilient to Mongolia’s arid climate. This year’s efforts extended beyond ecological restoration. In honor of Mongolia’s upcoming Children’s Day on June 1, Korean Air installed a new playground in the forest. Employees also visited nearby schools to offer lessons in Korean and English, as well as basic aviation engineering. The forest not only contributes to regional reforestation efforts but also serves a practical purpose, acting as a windbreak that shields nearby communities from airborne dust and pollutants generated by nearby coal mining operations. 2025-05-22 16:17:52 -
LG Electronics solidifies lead in premium TV market in Europe SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - LG Electronics has surpassed 10 million OLED television sales in Europe, a milestone that underscores the South Korean tech giant’s continued dominance in the region’s premium TV segment. The achievement, reached in April 2025, comes 12 years after LG first brought OLED (organic light-emitting diode) technology to market in 2013. While it took eight years to reach the first 5 million units sold, the company doubled that number in just four years. According to data from the market research firm Omdia, LG shipped approximately 391,100 OLED TVs in Europe during the first quarter of 2025 alone, commanding a 56.4 percent share of the regional OLED market. Europe accounted for more than half of LG’s global OLED shipments for the quarter, with nearly one in two buyers on the continent choosing an LG-branded device. The company attributes its success to a mix of technological innovation and cultural alignment. OLED displays, known for their deep blacks, infinite contrast ratio and vibrant color reproduction, have found a receptive audience in Europe, where appreciation for high-quality content and refined interior design run deep, company officials said. “European consumers value picture quality and aesthetics in equal measure,” the company said in a statement. “Our OLED technology delivers both.” OLED's slim, backlight-free design has also proven popular in Europe’s living room-centric lifestyle, where televisions often serve as both entertainment centerpieces and design elements. LG’s smart TV platform, webOS, has played a key role in reinforcing the brand’s presence through its localized content offerings. The company’s FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) service, LG Channels, now offers more than 1,700 channels across 16 European countries. LG has also expanded its own programming, including the recently launched LG 1 channel, developed in partnership with major content providers such as NBC Universal, FilmRise, and Lionsgate. 2025-05-22 16:04:39 -
SK hynix develops new mobile storage solution aimed at powering on-device AI SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - SK hynix has developed a new mobile storage solution based on its latest NAND flash technology, positioning the product as a key component for next-generation smartphones powered by artificial intelligence, the firm said Thursday. The company’s latest offering is a Universal Flash Storage (UFS) 4.1 solution built using its 321-layer 1-terabit Triple Level Cell (TLC) 4D NAND flash — the tallest NAND stack produced to date, according to SK hynix. The new chip, the company said, is designed to meet the growing demand for fast and energy-efficient storage solutions capable of supporting stable on-device AI applications. Compared with the previous generation built on 238-layer NAND, the new solution improves power efficiency by 7 percent and reduces thickness from 1 millimeter to 0.85 millimeters, enabling integration into increasingly thinner mobile devices. These enhancements are seen as crucial as manufacturers seek to balance the performance demands of AI workloads with battery life constraints in mobile form factors. The UFS 4.1 solution delivers sequential read speeds of up to 4,300 megabytes per second — the maximum supported under current UFS 4.1 specifications — and boasts improvements in random read and write speeds of 15 percent and 40 percent, respectively. SK hynix said this marks the highest performance among UFS 4.1 products currently available. The company plans to offer the new storage chip in 512-gigabyte and 1-terabyte capacities for customer validation later this year, with mass production slated to begin in the first quarter of 2026. The product is aimed at enhancing app responsiveness and reducing latency in data delivery — key requirements for AI-driven mobile user experiences. “Following this product launch, we plan to complete development of consumer and data center SSDs based on the same 321-layer 4D NAND technology within the year,” said Ahn Hyun, Chief Development Officer at SK hynix. “Through this, we will build a product portfolio that enhances our competitiveness in AI-enabled NAND solutions and establish ourselves as a full-stack AI memory provider.” 2025-05-22 14:06:17