Samsung's tri-fold phone sells out again despite hefty price tag SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics’ ultra-premium Galaxy Z Tri-Fold smartphone has sold out again within minutes, reflecting strong demand for the company’s latest foldable innovation despite its price exceeding 3.59 million won ($2,450). Samsung said a second batch of the Galaxy Z Tri-Fold sold out in about two minutes after going on sale at 10 a.m. on its official website and at major retail outlets nationwide. The first batch, released on Dec. 12, sold out in roughly five minutes. The second sale allowed online orders with in-store pickup or home delivery within two to three days. Samsung has not disclosed official sales volumes. However, industry sources said supply could rise to between 2,500 and 5,000 units by early next year, potentially expanding to around 10,000 units over the longer term. The Galaxy Z Tri-Fold ranks among the most expensive smartphones currently on the market. Limited availability has pushed resale prices sharply higher on online platforms, with listings ranging from about 4 million to 5.5 million won, and some asking prices reaching as high as 10 million won. The Galaxy Z Tri-Fold is Samsung’s first tri-foldable smartphone, featuring a display that folds twice. When fully unfolded, it offers a screen measuring about 253 millimeters, or roughly 10 inches, while folding down to a bar-type smartphone with a 164.8-millimeter display. 2025-12-17 15:35:50

PHOTOS: Incheon's Inspire entertainment resort filled with Christmas SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - Stepping into the rotunda, the view inside the resort’s grand circular hall drew an instinctive pause. The space, transformed into a “Winter Storybook Gift Factory,” felt like a page lifted from a Christmas tale — as if one had wandered into Santa’s workshop itself. Animatronic bears, brought to life through advanced technology, busied themselves with making and wrapping gifts, their small movements both charming and oddly lifelike. Visitors moved through six themed zones — a gift registration desk, baking station, toy workshop, wrapping area and more — watching brightly colored boxes glide along conveyor belts. Children and adults alike raised their phones, eager to capture the scene unfolding before them.​​​​​​​ Photo zones placed throughout the hall offered another simple pleasure. In front of oversized gift boxes or beside glittering Christmas trees, visitors stopped to frame their own holiday moments. Families were especially prominent, and the sound of children’s laughter echoed across the open space of the resort.​​​​​​​ From there, the walk continued to “Aurora,” a 150-meter digital entertainment street. The scale was immediately striking. Massive LED screens stretched across ceilings and walls, filling the corridor with a continuous panorama of snow-covered winter villages. Santa’s village and aurora-themed visuals played in rotation, and at the top of every hour, a special two- to three-minute sequence began.​​​​​​​ In those moments, Santa appeared gliding across the sky in a sleigh pulled by Rudolph, tracing golden arcs through the air. The scene unfolded with a dreamlike quality, closer to cinema than decoration. According to resort officials, additional events are planned from December 20 to 25. A Nutcracker parade will take place at 5:30 p.m. and again at 8 p.m., along with opportunities for visitors to take photos with Santa. Mini carol concerts and other interactive programs are also scheduled, offering more reasons to return as Christmas draws near.​​​​​​​ 2025-12-17 15:32:44

Samsung seen emerging winner in premium smartphones as memory costs surge SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - Soaring memory prices — spilling over from DRAM into NAND flash that powers smartphones — are forcing device makers to respond with specification downgrades or price hikes. Samsung Electronics, however, with its full-cycle smartphone capabilities spanning memory, application processors, displays and handsets, may hold the strongest edge, particularly in the premium segment. Memory prices are projected to climb sharply again in the first quarter of 2026, pressuring smartphone and notebook brands to either raise prices or cut specifications, according to market tracker TrendForce. As memory accounts for a growing share of device bills of materials, the upcycle is already translating into concrete changes in pricing strategies and product configurations across the industry. What was once a theoretical cost risk is becoming a market reality. Manufacturers are adjusting launch prices, trimming memory options or shortening product lifecycles to cope with rising component costs. The question is whether any player can respond differently — and whether Samsung’s in-house NAND supply gives it that flexibility. TrendForce estimates that memory components, including DRAM and NAND flash, will take up a significantly larger share of smartphone BOM costs in early 2026 as prices remain elevated. Even Apple, known for its pricing power, is expected to reassess pricing strategies for new models and scale back discounts on older ones as memory costs rise, the firm said. Memory is among the most cost-sensitive components in a flagship smartphone. Teardown analyses by Counterpoint Research and TechInsights show that DRAM and NAND together account for roughly 18 to 23 percent of a premium device’s BOM, placing memory alongside application processors and displays as one of the largest cost categories. Within that slice, NAND plays an outsized role. Storage typically represents more than half of total memory costs, and its impact escalates rapidly as manufacturers push higher-capacity models. Moving from 128GB to 512GB can multiply NAND costs three- to four-fold, making storage configuration a critical lever for margins and pricing. This is where Samsung’s structure stands apart. Unlike most smartphone makers, Samsung sources the majority of its NAND internally, with its semiconductor-focused Device Solutions division supplying advanced UFS storage directly to its Mobile eXperience business. That vertical integration allows Samsung to adjust internal transfer pricing, potentially cushioning its smartphone unit from the full force of market-level NAND price increases. “The advantage lies primarily in supply stability,” said Yangpaeng Kim, a researcher at the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade. “Because Samsung produces its own NAND, it can stabilize its supply chain through internal transactions,” Kim said. “Even at the same price level, securing components internally provides a meaningful advantage. Supply stability alone can be a significant edge.” Apple, by contrast, relies entirely on external suppliers for NAND, including Samsung Electronics, Kioxia and SK hynix. While long-term contracts and large-scale procurement help smooth volatility, Apple remains directly exposed to higher contract prices when NAND costs rise, analysts say. This has reinforced Apple’s reliance on storage tiering — keeping base models at lower capacities while charging steep premiums for upgrades. TrendForce noted that cutting specifications or delaying upgrades has become an essential cost-control tool for device makers. Among Android brands targeting the mid- to low-end segments, where memory capacity is a key selling point, rising costs are already prompting price increases and revisions to existing product lineups. The broader cost environment is adding to the strain. A weak won is pushing up the price of imported components, while costs for high-end application processors and advanced OLED displays continue to rise. Industry sources say the pace of cost inflation is too rapid for device makers to absorb indefinitely. Whether Samsung’s structural advantage translates into sustained pricing power remains an open question. Internal sourcing can soften the initial shock, but it does not eliminate cost pressure — it redistributes it within the group. The coming pricing cycle will test whether Samsung can preserve storage specifications or price points longer than rivals, or whether it, too, will be forced into the same trade-offs now spreading across the industry. Some in the industry speculate that Samsung is carefully controlling the rollout of the world’s first trifold smartphones following initial bookings in December, reflecting the high production costs involved. 2025-12-17 15:28:07

South Korea to end free disposable plastic cups under new anti-plastic plan SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - South Korea plans to end the free distribution of disposable plastic cups at cafes and other food outlets, requiring consumers to pay a fee as part of a broader push to curb plastic waste, the government said on Wednesday. The Ministry of Environment said the measure would be included in a comprehensive anti-plastic strategy to be released next week. The policy will replace the existing disposable cup deposit system. Under the new plan, individual businesses will be allowed to set their own prices for disposable cups, but the government will establish a minimum fee reflecting production costs. The ministry said the price is expected to range between 100 and 200 won per cup. South Korea previously introduced a deposit system that refunded money to consumers who returned used cups, but the scheme was suspended after small business owners raised concerns over administrative burdens. The system was implemented only in limited areas, including Sejong and Jeju Island, drawing criticism over its effectiveness. Plastic straws will continue to be provided free of charge upon request, the ministry said, despite an existing ban on their use in stores. Enforcement of the ban has been postponed indefinitely under a grace period. A draft of the anti-plastic strategy is set to be released early next week, followed by a public hearing to gather feedback, the ministry said. 2025-12-17 15:27:27

Ex-golfer Pak Se-ri's father gets suspended sentence for fraud SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - South Korean golf pioneer Pak Se-ri's father received a suspended sentence for document forgery and fraud on Wednesday. The Daejeon District Court in central South Korea sentenced him to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years on several charges. He was convicted of falsely claiming to be the head of his daughter's namesake foundation from June 2021 to July 2023, and allegedly forging the foundation's seal and other documents in an attempt to establish an international golf academy. After becoming aware of this, the foundation filed a complaint against him in September 2023, although he claimed that he had acted on behalf of his daughter with tacit approval from the foundation. But the court said, "There is no evidence of delegated authority from the foundation to him." 2025-12-17 15:08:59

USD-KRW tests 1,480 on capital outflows amid Japan rate-hike fears SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - The South Korean won fell past the 1,480 mark against the U.S. dollar on Wednesday, defying a broadly weaker greenback as fears of capital outflows resurfaced on expectations of a rate hike by the Bank of Japan. The dollar index slipped 0.16 points to 97.79 following higher-than-expected U.S. jobless data. Yet the won weakened sharply, underscoring its vulnerability to shifts in global capital flows rather than dollar strength alone. Institutions came to rescue the Korean markets, buying 335.3 billion won in KOSPI alone versus heavy foreign selling, a move widely seen as led by the National Pension Service (NPS) under government guidance to shore up the currency through foreign-exchange hedging. Earlier this week, South Korea’s foreign-exchange authorities extended a $65 billion currency-swap arrangement with the NPS through the end of 2026, signaling official resolve to stabilize the won amid rising external risks. The defense, however, appeared insufficient against growing volatility in global markets. The dollar slipped back to 1,479.90 won, still up 5.40 won from previous close, as of 5:00 p.m. Foreigners also dumped 223 billion won worth of KOSDAQ shares, pointing to a broader pullback reminiscent of the “yen shock” seen in August, as investors brace for a second rate hike by the BOJ this year. The Japanese central bank is widely expected to raise its policy rate by 25 basis points to 0.75 percent at Friday’s meeting, up from 0.50 percent, which would place borrowing costs at their highest level in roughly three decades. A BOJ tightening is feared to unwind the yen carry trade — a strategy that borrows in ultra-low-yielding yen to invest in higher-return assets abroad — a key source of funding for emerging markets including South Korea. Morgan Stanley estimates that about $500 billion in yen-funded carry positions remain outstanding globally. 2025-12-17 14:37:53

Samsung Electronics maps 2026 strategy with focus on AI, China ties, foldables SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics is setting its business strategy for 2026 amid prolonged global economic uncertainty, with artificial intelligence, cooperation with Chinese partners and leadership in foldable smartphones emerging as key priorities. The company said on Wednesday it is holding global strategy meetings from Dec. 16 to 18. The Device eXperience (DX) division, which oversees smartphones, TVs and home appliances, is scheduled to meet on Dec. 16–17, followed by the Device Solutions (DS) division, which covers semiconductors, on Dec. 18. The meetings are led by Roh Tae-moon, head of the DX division, and Jeon Young-hyun, vice chairman and head of the DS division, with more than 300 executives taking part. Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong is expected to receive a briefing on the discussions. Lee recently met Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk and Advanced Micro Devices CEO Lisa Su in the United States as part of efforts to strengthen partnerships with major global technology companies. In semiconductors, Samsung is seeking to regain momentum in AI-related chips by upgrading technology and boosting production capacity. The company is competing with domestic rival SK hynix in the supply of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) used in Nvidia’s AI processors, while also exploring the possibility of manufacturing AMD’s next-generation central processing units using its 2-nanometer process. Samsung is also pushing to expand AI-driven manufacturing at its semiconductor plants, including through its newly established Digital Twin Center, which is designed to improve efficiency by simulating production processes. Industry watchers said a recent U.S. decision to allow exports of Nvidia’s H200 AI chips to China could support Samsung’s AI memory sales in the Chinese market. In its display and components businesses, Samsung is looking to deepen cooperation with Chinese partners. Yong Seok-woo, president and head of Samsung’s Visual Display Business, recently met Chen Yanshun, chairman of Chinese display maker BOE Technology Group, to discuss expanding supplies of liquid crystal display (LCD) panels, according to industry sources. In smartphones, Samsung is facing intensifying competition in the foldable segment from Chinese rival Huawei and from Apple, which is widely expected to enter the foldable market in the coming years. Samsung aims to lift sales of its next-generation Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip models by around 10 percent from their predecessors, the sources said. The company is also working to maintain its technological edge in foldables by refining form factors and reducing device thickness and weight, as competition accelerates across the premium smartphone market. 2025-12-17 14:37:17

Kosdaq-heading chip design house SemiFive prices IPO at top of range SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - South Korean chip designer SemiFive said on Wednesday it has set its initial public offering price at 24,000 won per share, the top of its indicative range, after its book-building drew 2,159 institutional investors with a subscription rate of 436.9 to 1. The IPO will raise about 129.6 billion won ($87 million) and value the company at about 809 billion won when it lists on the KOSDAQ market on Dec. 29. The book-building ran from Dec. 10 to 16. SemiFive, founded in 2019, designs application-specific integrated circuits for AI applications and provides end-to-end services from chip design to mass production. Its clients include AI chip developers FuriosaAI and Rebellions, as well as Hanwha Vision. New orders rose from 5.7 billion won in 2020 to 125.7 billion won in the first nine months of 2025, surpassing the 123.9 billion won booked in all of 2024. Overseas revenue jumped to 55 billion won in the January-September period from 4.5 billion won a year earlier. The company is the first Samsung Foundry design partner to undertake a turnkey project on Samsung's second-generation 2-nanometer gate-all-around process. Revenue from 2nm to 4nm processes rose to 41.4 percent of sales in the first three quarters from 5 percent in 2022. "We have Big Tech-ready development experience, proprietary chip design platform technology, and end-to-end solution capabilities," CEO Brandon Cho said. "We expect to turn profitable next year." 2025-12-17 14:29:14

Korea's industry minister pledges to cut 'fake work,' boost efficiency SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - South Korea’s Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan said on Wednesday he aims to cut so-called “fake work” by 30 percent as part of broader efforts to strengthen organizational efficiency and innovation across government. Speaking at a government briefing in the administrative city of Sejong, Kim said reducing superficial or low-value tasks was essential to improving institutional capacity and productivity. President Lee Jae Myung voiced support for the initiative, saying that efforts to eliminate “fake work” were important for improving public-sector performance. Kim cited his experience in the private sector, including at Doosan Enerbility, where management sought to eliminate tasks that did not add customer value, such as unnecessary overtime, excessive reporting and redundant procedures. As part of the initiative, Kim said the ministry would gather ideas through town hall meetings and establish a task force to compile a list of non-essential activities by the first quarter of next year. The goal is to free up time and resources for more substantive work, he said. President Lee suggested that other ministries consider adopting similar approaches, noting that lessons from the private sector could help improve government efficiency. 2025-12-17 14:01:16

Shinsegae chair's Hannam-dong home remains South Korea's most expensive for 11th year SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - Lee Myung-hee, chairwoman of South Korea’s Shinsegae Group, owns the country’s most expensive home for the 11th consecutive year, according to government property data released on Wednesday. Lee’s residence in Hannam-dong, central Seoul, was valued at 31.35 billion won ($21 million), up 5.48 percent from a year earlier, data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport showed. The valuation rose by 1.63 billion won from last year’s 29.72 billion won, marking the first time in four years that the property’s assessed value has exceeded 30 billion won. The 2,862-square-meter home has held the top position since 2016. The second most expensive residence is owned by Lee Hae-wook, chairman of construction and energy conglomerate DL Group. His home in Samsung-dong, Seoul’s Gangnam district, was valued at 20.3 billion won, up 5.67 percent from last year. The rankings of the top 10 most expensive homes were unchanged from last year. Seven are located in Yongsan-gu, two in Gangnam-gu’s Samsung-dong and one in Seocho-gu’s Bangbae-dong. In land valuations, the site occupied by cosmetics retailer Nature Republic in Myeong-dong, Jung-gu, retained its position as South Korea’s most expensive plot for the 23rd consecutive year. It was valued at 18.84 million won per square meter, up 4.38 percent. The second most expensive site was the Woori Bank property in Myeong-dong, valued at 18.76 million won per square meter, a 4.58 percent increase. 2025-12-17 13:48:58