AI to become staple in Korean homes, KES 2025 suggests with latest innovations SEOUL, October 23 (AJP) - Artificial intelligence is fast becoming a fixture in Korean households — helping the elderly and pets at home alone, while taking charge of chores from washing clothes to preparing meals — according to the latest innovations unveiled at this year’s Korea Electronics Show (KES 2025). From refrigerators and TVs to air conditioners and cleaning robots, Korea's household appliance brands Samsung and LG Electronics demonstrated that AI has become the foundation of product design rather than an optional feature. The shift signals how Korean manufacturers are positioning themselves ahead of CES 2025 — not through radical new hardware, but through everyday devices that can sense, decide, and respond autonomously. Samsung focused on what it called “family and pet care AI.” A company official said the next wave of consumer electronics is designed to support aging households and enable remote caregiving. Once granted access, smartphones and home appliances can be linked to monitor elderly parents living alone. If no activity is detected for a prolonged period, the AI system automatically sends alerts to designated caregivers and enables remote status checks. For pet owners, Samsung showcased a robot vacuum with a built-in camera that allows users to monitor their pets in real time. Integrated into the SmartThings platform, the device can even play sounds or music that a pet prefers. “The goal is not simply cleaning automation,” the official said, “but providing emotional reassurance and daily care through AI and sensors when owners are away from home.” LG Electronics took a similar approach with its line of “proactive AI appliances.” These include washing machines that learn usage patterns, refrigerators that recommend restocking, and an AI home robot capable of mapping interior spaces and recognizing tone of voice. Both companies stressed that AI functions will soon be shared across smartphones, home appliances, and other devices under a unified ecosystem. With more than 550 companies and 1,300 booths, KES 2025 served less as a stage for experimental prototypes and more as a preview of how Korea intends to compete in the AI hardware era. While U.S. and Chinese tech giants race to develop foundation models and software ecosystems, Korean firms are betting the real contest will unfold in chips, sensors, and consumer devices — the everyday touchpoints where AI is actually used. Overseas visitors said the event offered a direct glimpse into the future of home AI. “I came from California to see where Korean home appliances and lifestyle trends are heading, and it was worth it — you can understand the direction of the industry in one place,” said Karen Smith, 35. 2025-10-23 18:13:56

LocknLock concludes global conference in Bangkok SEOUL, October 22 (AJP) - South Korean household goods company LocknLock held its annual global conference in Bangkok from Oct. 19 to 21, bringing together business partners from 24 countries. The conference at the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit Hotel featured presentations on the company's 2026 vision and product plans, LocknLock said in a statement. Partners from Thailand's CP Group, Taiwan's C&J Forest, and Middle Eastern distributor Misbah presented sales and marketing strategies. Chief Executive Young-Sang Yi outlined the company's global expansion strategy during the event. Participants also visited a newly opened LocknLock store at Makro, a retail chain operated by CP Group. LocknLock has been hosting the conference since 2010 in various countries including Germany, Vietnam and China. The company manufactures food storage containers, beverageware, cookware and small appliances. The company signed a memorandum of understanding with CP Axtra, Thailand's largest retail group, in 2025 and partnered with Malaysian multi-level marketing company COSWAY. It also established a branch in India this year. LocknLock plans to expand into Latin America and the Commonwealth of Independent States region in 2026 while strengthening online sales channels in the United States, the company said. 2025-10-22 15:53:35

Next round in Samsung vs. Apple: Galaxy XR joins mixed-reality race SEOUL, October 22 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics unveiled its first mixed-reality headset, the Galaxy XR, on Wednesday in South Korea and the United States, entering the spatial computing race as a more affordable alternative to Apple’s Vision Pro and a sleeker model than Meta’s Quest. Powered by Qualcomm chipset and Google’s Android XR platform as well as Gemini AI assistant, the Galaxy XR is priced at 2.69 million won ($1,800), about half the cost of the Apple Vision Pro launched earlier this year at $3,499, and roughly four times the price of Meta’s Quest 3 at $499. Samsung aims to position the device as an accessible yet high-spec option built on its strengths in chip, display, and ecosystem integration. The headset features dual 4K-level screens, eye- and hand-tracking sensors, and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 processor. It supports multimodal AI input through voice, gaze, and gestures, powered by Google’s Gemini AI embedded into the device. Weighing 545 grams, it is slightly lighter than Apple’s Vision Pro at around 600 grams but heavier than Meta’s Quest 3. Samsung said it worked with Google to ensure native support for YouTube XR, Google Maps, Photos, and Play Store apps adapted for spatial use, and plans to release developer kits by the end of the year. Unlike Apple, which relies on its own silicon and software stack, Samsung partnered with Google and Qualcomm to build the Galaxy XR. Industry analysts say this approach could help speed up app availability but may limit Samsung’s control over the user experience and long-term software updates. “We have been working together at every layer—hardware, software, and how the product comes to market—as one team building a new platform and a new product,” said Juston Payne, director of XR management at Google. Apple’s Vision Pro uses dual 4K micro-OLED displays and its in-house M2 and R1 chips to process spatial video, hand tracking, and eye input, and supports more than 2,000 optimized apps as of September 2025. Meta’s Quest 3, while less powerful, leads global shipments with more than 20 million cumulative unit sales, thanks to its large gaming ecosystem and lower price point. According to industry tracker IDC, about 12 million headsets are expected to ship worldwide in 2025, with Meta holding over 50 percent of the market, followed by Apple at around 15 percent. Samsung has not disclosed shipment targets for the Galaxy XR. Analysts say the key test for Samsung will be whether it can extend XR applications beyond gaming and entertainment. The company has signed an agreement with Samsung Heavy Industries to use XR for shipbuilding and engineering training and has conducted pilot programs in medical education. Demand for Apple’s Vision Pro remains largely confined to the United States and China, while Meta dominates the mass market but earns little profit from hardware sales. Samsung, by contrast, is targeting professional training, design collaboration, and industrial simulation as potential growth areas. The Galaxy XR will begin shipping in early 2026. Whether Samsung can challenge Apple’s dominance at the high end and build a profitable XR ecosystem will depend on app availability, battery performance, and whether consumers see headsets as daily-use devices rather than novelties. The initial response is lukewarm. “People already own phones, tablets, and laptops. I’m not sure it’s worth spending that much money on another device just yet,” said Kim Yeon-ji, 34. Another prospective buyer, Lee Jong-min, 35, said, “I’ve always wanted to try XR, and I’m curious about it. I plan to try it as soon as it becomes available.” 2025-10-22 15:44:37

Samsung fields stronger in-house chip-powered Galaxy to counter AI iPhone hype SEOUL, October 21 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics is equipping half of its upcoming Galaxy S26 lineup with its upgraded in-house processor, the Exynos 2600, to counter rising expectations for Apple’s AI-powered iPhone 17 series and to showcase renewed confidence in its AI chipset design and manufacturing capabilities. The tech giant said the new Exynos delivers more than six times the neural processing power of Apple’s latest A-series chip. The move marks the first time in four years that Samsung is mounting its own application processor on its flagship Galaxy S series, a sign of confidence in both hardware design and software integration. The decision comes as Apple’s tight hardware-software ecosystem and expanding AI investments have lifted its shares to record highs this year. Samsung has long split its premium phones between its Exynos and Qualcomm Snapdragon processors by region. However, earlier overheating and performance issues led the company to exclude Exynos from its Ultra models after 2021. Under the new strategy, Galaxy S26 units sold in Korea and Europe will use the latest Exynos chip, while models shipped to the United States, Japan, and other markets will continue to rely on Snapdragon. The reinstatement reflects Samsung’s confidence in resolving the long-standing issues surrounding its application processor — the “brain” of a smartphone — while also improving profitability. The company spent nearly 10 billion dollars on external AP purchases last year, and analysts note that bringing production back in-house could strengthen margins and ecosystem control. Daishin Securities analyst Ryu Hyung-geun said the Exynos 2600, designed for the Galaxy S26, is Samsung’s first 2-nanometer mobile processor and has shown stronger early-stage performance than its 3-nanometer predecessor. “If the performance was really a problem, Samsung would have no reason to choose it,” countered Kim Yongdae, professor of electrical engineering at KAIST. Samsung’s mobile division, known as MX, reported revenue of 29.2 trillion won and operating profit of 3.1 trillion won in the second quarter of 2025, down from 36 trillion won and 4.1 trillion won in the previous quarter, which had been boosted by Galaxy S25 sales. Third-quarter revenue is projected at around 33 to 34 trillion won, with profit near 3 trillion won, supported by solid demand for the Galaxy Z Fold7, Z Flip7, and higher-end AI-enabled smartphones. Samsung commanded about 19.7 percent of the global top-tier smartphone market in the second quarter, shipping 58 million units — up 7.9 percent from a year earlier — while Apple accounted for roughly 15.7 percent with 46.4 million iPhones, a 1.5 percent increase. In the third quarter, Samsung retained a narrow lead with a 19 percent market share versus Apple’s 18 percent. Sales of Samsung’s flagship devices also improved. The Galaxy S25 series sold about 22.7 million units in the first six months after launch, up 12 percent from 20.8 million for the Galaxy S24 during the same period a year earlier. Domestic sales in Korea surpassed 3 million units, two months faster than the S24. Consumers largely await in suspicion. “The Exynos has always been seen as weaker than Snapdragon, and now they’re putting it even in the Ultra model — that makes no sense,” said Kevin Park, a 33-year-old Galaxy user in Seoul. Built with Samsung’s latest nanometer process, the Exynos 2600 integrates a next-generation neural processing unit for running language models, live translation, and image generation directly on-device without a network connection. Apple is expected to introduce similar AI capabilities through its A18 chip in the iPhone 17 lineup next year. Analysts say on-device AI has become a key differentiator in the smartphone industry, as privacy concerns and cloud costs drive companies to process more data locally. Still, they caution that Samsung must prove its ability to manage heat, battery efficiency, and performance parity with Snapdragon-based models to avoid a repeat of past criticism in Europe and Asia. Globally, tech companies are pursuing chip sovereignty to guard against supply disruptions. Apple designs its A- and M-series chips, Google uses its Tensor processors, and Huawei has revived its Kirin lineup despite U.S. sanctions. Governments in South Korea, China, and the United States are all promoting semiconductor self-reliance, reinforcing the trend. Samsung has yet to disclose shipment targets for Exynos-powered Galaxy S26 devices. Suppliers say production will begin in November, with an official launch expected in early 2025. Whether the shift boosts profitability or revives old controversies will depend on how consumers judge its AI capabilities against Apple’s next-generation iPhones. 2025-10-21 17:54:47

Korea's winter street snacks evolve from local comforts to global favorites SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - Korean street food gyeran-ppang — literally “egg bread” — has joined the ranks of the French baguette and Montreal bagel on CNN’s list of “50 of the World’s Best Breads,” underscoring how globalized and inventive Korean street food has become. “There’s buried treasure within every loaf of gyeran-ppang,” CNN wrote. “Individually sized wheat breads with a whole egg baked inside are among Seoul’s favorite choices for a hot breakfast or a belly-warming snack on a cold winter day.” The network quoted bread historian William Rubel, who noted that bread is “basically what your culture says it is.” Eggs are a relative newcomer among Korea’s long-cherished “buried treasures” in flour-based winter snacks. The fish-shaped bungeo-ppang, traditionally filled with red bean paste, has expanded far beyond food carts to convenience-store shelves, now offered with custard or cream fillings and earning global fame through social media. At Seoul’s Gwangjang and Namdaemun markets, vendors still pour batter into iron molds and hand over steaming cakes wrapped in thin paper. Yet the menus continue to evolve — now featuring truffle gyeran-ppang, mozzarella-filled hotteok, and matcha-cream kkwabaegi (twisted doughnuts). “Kkwabaegi is fantastic — it’s like a Korean churro mixed with a bit of funnel cake,” said Alec Miller, 25, from Detroit, while savoring the treat after waiting in line. Hotteok, literally sell like “hot cakes” to tourists exploring Korea’s winter streets. The evolution of Korean street snacks goes beyond ingredients. Major convenience-store chains like CU and GS25 now sell boxed bungeo-ppang, microwaveable mini hotteok, and piping-hot hoppang (steamed buns) at checkout counters each winter. These buns — stuffed with red bean, pizza, kimchi, or vegetable fillings — have become a beloved seasonal indulgence. “When the weather gets cold, my friends and I head straight to convenience stores for winter treats, especially steamed buns,” said Seoul resident Hyezi Lee, 30. “The red bean ones are the classic, but these days, the pizza flavor is another favorite.” Some nostalgic treats, however, are harder to find. Ppeongtwigi, a puffed rice snack once announced by its signature “ppeong!” explosion in traditional markets, now lives on mainly through retro-themed cafés and television dramas. “We have a saying in Korea — it’s inhuman to ignore the smell of Delimajoo, a custard-filled, corn-shaped dessert,” said Lee Ji-hyun, 32. “I can never pass it by when I smell it in the subway.” “Before coming to Korea, foreigners often check a ‘list of things to do,’ and most of it involves eating,” said Pharaba Hacker from Los Angeles. “From savory dishes to desserts, everything is mind-blowing — Korea’s food culture is so unique and full of surprises.” 2025-10-20 17:05:39

Chipotle lands, In-N-Out pops up — Korea rises as test kitchen for Western tastes SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - South Korea is fast becoming the test kitchen for Western food giants eyeing Asia. Chipotle, one of America’s leading fast-casual chains, has chosen Seoul to gauge Asian palates for its Mexican flavors, while California-based In-N-Out Burger has returned with a second pop-up event — underscoring how Western brands increasingly view Korean “Zenners” as the first benchmark to crack the regional market. Chipotle last month partnered with Korea’s SPC Group to open its first restaurants in South Korea and Singapore in 2026, marking its first Asian venture in a decade. The U.S. burrito chain, which operates more than 3,800 locations worldwide, posted $3.06 billion in second-quarter 2025 revenue, up 3 percent on year, following double-digit growth through 2024. “I’ve been waiting 13 years for Chipotle to come to Korea. Now I can finally taste the same burrito bowls I had in the U.S.,” said Jennifer, a 30-year-old Seoul resident who frequented the chain while living in California. Whether the enthusiasm can last is another question. Korean consumers are notoriously demanding and adventurous, often flying overseas purely for new dining experiences. Five Guys debuted in Seoul’s Garosu-gil in June 2023 with much fanfare, selling 30,000 burgers in its first week, but its importer Hanwha Galleria is now reportedly reviewing its partnership amid slowing sales. Shake Shack Korea, which topped global sales in 2017 after its Gangnam launch a year earlier, has also lost luster as boutique local burger brands won over customers with greater customization and freshness. That demanding market has long fascinated In-N-Out, whose pop-ups spark feverish anticipation. Its latest event on Wednesday in Seoul’s Cheongdam district — the second after 2019 — drew hours-long lines. “I tried to get an Animal-Style burger at the 2019 pop-up but couldn’t — it sold out after I waited two hours. This time I came three hours early,” said James Kim, 32. Still, both the chain and its local partners remain cautious about sustaining that buzz. Timing, experts say, is crucial. “When Taco Bell entered Korea in 2010 and 2014, the timing wasn’t right — Korean consumers had little exposure to Mexican food. But now their tastes have broadened, so Chipotle might fare differently,” said You Hyun Alex Suh of the Consumer Trend Analysis Center. Success will hinge on how fast newcomers adapt to local preferences — sometimes at the cost of brand identity. A Cinnabon Korea spokesperson said the chain drastically reduced sugar content to suit local tastes. “We had to tone down the sweetness significantly because most Koreans don’t like overly sweet desserts,” the spokesperson said. The shifting landscape mirrors a wider change across Asia’s food scene, where Korean consumers are seen as early adopters setting trends for neighboring markets while insisting on customization, quality, and health consciousness. “How well Chipotle manages to balance authenticity with adaptation will determine whether it thrives here — or ends up like others who couldn’t,” said Suh. 2025-10-17 16:30:23

Chinese shoppers turn increasingly budget in Korea, duty-free shops shift strategy SEOUL, October 16 (AJP) - Chinese tourists are returning to South Korea in full force under the one-year visa waiver for group travelers, but their spending behavior has changed dramatically. Rather than binge shopping at duty-free stores, visitors are now showing a preference for budget-friendly and value-driven purchases. The post-pandemic shift reflects growing familiarity among Chinese consumers with Korean brands and retail platforms. Instead of traditional package-tour splurges, travelers are opting for self-directed shopping experiences centered on price and authenticity. Curated local franchises such as Olive Young, Daiso, and Musinsa — collectively dubbed “Ol-Da-Mu” — have become must-visit stops for young Chinese tourists seeking Korean beauty, fashion, and household goods. “Since COVID, travel patterns from China have changed drastically,” said a Seoul-based travel analyst. “Before, group tourists consumed heavily in duty-free and luxury. Now, they travel more flexibly, plan their own itineraries, and buy mid-priced or unique brands they’ve seen on social media. Ol-Da-Mu is popular among Chinese influencers, so many visitors decide in advance what to buy and hunt for those items locally.” Duty-free retailers, once reliant on high-volume Chinese spending, are now adapting quickly. Shinsegae Duty Free has expanded its premium beauty-device lineup at its Myeong-dong flagship store, launching a pop-up for MediCube’s Age-R Booster Pro — currently the best-selling beauty gadget among departing travelers. “Tourists from China, the U.S., Vietnam and other countries visit our booth,” a Shinsegae official said. “As interest in beauty devices grows globally, visitors in Myeong-dong are showing strong curiosity.” Foreign sales at Shinsegae’s Myeong-dong store rose about 25 percent during the Chuseok holiday period (Oct. 1–8), with younger Chinese travelers driving much of the growth. The company plans to expand premium device offerings to capture this evolving demand. Nationwide, the beauty-device segment is booming. MediCube’s sales jumped 102 percent between the second half of 2024 and the first half of 2025, according to Shinsegae. “Nowadays, the devices are so good that I’ve stopped going to dermatology clinics altogether,” said 32-year-old Seoul resident Yea-ji Park. “The high-frequency treatments I used to get can now be done freely at home.” “Korean beauty brands have built strong trust,” added Lee Ye-eun, a beauty show host. “While many devices are expensive, users see them as cost-effective compared with clinical treatments. People don’t spend on unknown brands — only trusted names with proven results.” According to the Korea Tourism Organization, about 2.52 million Chinese tourists visited Korea in the first half of 2025, up 13.8 percent from a year earlier. The reinstatement of China’s visa-free entry program on September 26 is expected to further accelerate arrivals in the coming months. 2025-10-16 17:11:40

AI boom gushes down to midstream, buoying Asian fab operators SEOUL, October 15 (AJP) - Investors are closely watching third-quarter earnings from Taiwan’s foundry leader TSMC and South Korea’s AI memory powerhouse SK hynix to gauge the depth of surging demand for artificial intelligence chips—especially after stronger-than-expected results from Samsung Electronics. Samsung Electronics on Tuesday reported record quarterly revenue of 86 trillion won (approximately $62.4 billion) and an operating profit of 12.1 trillion won (approximately $8.78 billion), its highest in three years and double the previous quarter, buoyed by the rebound in memory prices and AI-related demand, even as the memory giant trails behind in high-bandwidth memory (HBM) production, a key component powering AI servers. TSMC, which commands about 60 percent of the global foundry market and nearly 90 percent of advanced node chip production—covering most of Nvidia’s supply—sits at the center of the AI-driven datacenter expansion. “TSMC’s third-quarter guidance suggests revenue of $32.4 billion and an operating profit margin of 46.5 percent,” said Lee Seung-woo of Eugene Investment & Securities. “Actual growth could exceed forecasts, potentially reaching the mid-30 percent range.” SK hynix, which has overtaken Samsung in the HBM market, shares the glory of the AI upcycle. “SK hynix’s third-quarter operating profit is estimated at 11.6 trillion won, supported by strong DRAM and NAND shipments amid sustained demand for HBM and DDR5,” said Son In-jun, analyst at Heungkuk Securities. The unrelenting appetite for AI chips is pushing up prices across the memory spectrum. According to market tracker ICsmart, Micron has raised DDR4 and DDR5 prices by 20–30 percent, while Samsung increased contract prices for high-capacity DRAMs such as LPDDR4X and LPDDR5/5X by 15–30 percent as AI workloads shift from training to inference and edge devices tighten supply. The AI boom is now spilling over to mid- and downstream chipmakers, who stand to gain from narrowing gaps between contract and spot prices as AI adoption spreads beyond hyperscale data centers. Kim Dong-won, an analyst at KB Securities, projected that Samsung Electronics could post its highest operating profit in eight years next year on improved foundry utilization and stronger profitability in memory operations. Shares of major Asian chipmakers extended gains on Wednesday, buoyed by strong earnings momentum and AI demand. TSMC rose NT$1,400 (about $43) in Taipei, while Samsung Electronics closed at 95,000 won ($69) and SK hynix ended at 422,500 won ($308). 2025-10-15 16:56:26

Samsung Electronics to gift stock-tied compensation for employees SEOUL, October 14 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics will grant company shares to employees tied to its stock performance over the next three years, the Korean tech giant announced Tuesday in an internal notice following record quarterly sales in the third quarter. The program, called Performance Stock Units (PSU), is designed to motivate employees by linking long-term compensation to the company’s future performance and share price growth. Unlike the company’s existing annual bonus system based on short-term results, the new scheme rewards employees with stock whose final value depends on multi-year outcomes. Under the plan, Samsung will grant 200 shares to Career Level 1–2 employees and 300 shares to Career Level 3–4 employees this month. The final number of shares to be distributed will be determined after three years based on the degree of stock price appreciation, with payments made in three equal installments starting in 2028. The higher the stock price rise over the three-year period, the greater the compensation employees will receive. The announcement follows Samsung’s best-ever quarterly sales and three-year high operating profit for the July–September period, with shares nearing the symbolic 100,000 won threshold. Shares closed 1.8 percent lower at 91,600 won on Tuesday on profit-taking. 2025-10-14 15:56:01

Samsung Elec's record-setting Q3 results signal strongest-yet chip boom SEOUL, October 14 (AJP) - Despite lingering doubts over the durability and scope of the so-called AI-fueled chip supercycle, Samsung Electronics’ record-setting earnings guidance for the third quarter has set a new benchmark for the ongoing semiconductor boom. The South Korean tech giant on Tuesday projected an operating profit of 12.1 trillion won ($9.1 billion) for the July–September period, more than doubling from the previous quarter and marking the strongest quarterly performance since the second quarter of 2022. Revenue also hit a new quarterly high of 86 trillion won, up 15.3 percent on quarter and 8.7 percent on year. The stellar rebound comes after Samsung, for the first time in memory chip history, temporarily ceded its No. 1 position to local rival SK hynix earlier this year amid delays in its transition to high-bandwidth memory (HBM), critical to powering AI chips. Although the company’s contract with AI leader Nvidia has stalled, Samsung has secured new orders from Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Tesla, signaling progress in its next-generation AI chip portfolio. While the firm does not release divisional breakdowns in preliminary guidance, industry watchers estimate that the Device Solutions (DS) division — responsible for semiconductors — earned between 5 trillion and 6 trillion won, up sharply from 400 billion won in the second quarter. Investor sentiment remains upbeat that the strong run will extend well into next year. Kim Dong-won, analyst at KB Securities, forecast Samsung’s 2025 operating profit at 53.5 trillion won, the highest since 2018, driven by rising DRAM profitability and higher foundry utilization rates. The optimism is underpinned by firming memory prices. According to DRAMeXchange, the average fixed transaction price for PC DRAM (DDR4 8Gb 1Gx8) in September was $6.30, up 10.5 percent from August and surpassing the $6 mark for the first time since January 2019. The rebound reflects supply cuts in generic DRAM as chipmakers focus on high-performance server memory. The strength extends across the industry. Micron Technology, the U.S.-based DRAM producer, posted an operating profit of $2.2 billion on $9.3 billion in revenue for its latest fiscal quarter. Analysts say memory makers such as Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron are next in line to benefit from the AI-driven surge that has already lifted TSMC and Nvidia. SK hynix, a frontrunner in HBM and AI memory, is expected to post a record 11.6 trillion won in third-quarter operating profit, according to Son In-jun of Heungkuk Securities, citing sustained DRAM and NAND shipments. TrendForce and other research firms forecast that average DRAM contract prices will continue to strengthen into the fourth quarter and next year, supported by resilient AI server demand and tight supply conditions. Samsung shares closed 1.8 percent lower at 91,600 won on Tuesday after hitting an intraday high of 96,000 won, as investors took profits following the earnings announcement. 2025-10-14 15:55:40