SEOUL, Apr. 15 (Korea Bizwire) — Major smartphone manufacturers are taking steps to grant consumers greater “right to repair” their devices amidst growing demands. On April 11, Apple announced that certain iPhone models can now be repaired using recycled components. Previously, iPhone users had to undergo “part pairing” when self-repairing their devices, only allowing parts that [...]
SEOUL, Apr. 12 (Korea Bizwire) — Samsung Electronics’ innovative all-in-one washer-dryer, introduced in South Korea in February, has achieved a successful market entry, defying expectations that the novel form factor might face an uphill battle for consumer adoption. The “Bespoke AI Combo,” which combines washing and drying functions into a single appliance, immediately captured consumer interest [...]
SEOUL, Apr. 12 (Korea Bizwire) — BYD, China’s leading electric vehicle manufacturer, is grappling with dismal sales of its T4K electric truck, launched in South Korea last year. As electric vehicle subsidies were significantly reduced this year, GS Global, the official importer and distributor of the T4K, has resorted to offering discounts of around 10 million [...]
SEOUL, Apr. 12 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea and the United States have launched a bilateral working group on artificial intelligence (AI) focused on boosting tech cooperation and advancing joint research, the foreign ministry said Friday. The launch of the working group was approved last December at the inaugural South Korea-U.S. Next Generation Critical and [...]
SEOUL, Apr. 12 (Korea Bizwire) —South Korean e-commerce giant Coupang Inc. said Friday it will raise its monthly membership fee for paid users by 58 percent, in an apparent move to secure further capital amid growing challenges from Chinese rivals. Coupang plans to charge its paid WOW membership users 7,890 won (US$5.7) starting Saturday, [...]
SEOUL, Apr. 12 (Korea Bizwire) — The Seoul city government decided Friday to allow an outdoor reading event to be held at Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall on May 31, effectively rejecting the request of an annual LGBTQ festival there. The LGBTQ festival was one of three events that sought to use the [...]
SEOUL, Apr. 12 (Korea Bizwire) – Fueled by an enduring passion for camping, the number of campgrounds across South Korea surpassed 3,700 last year, setting a new all-time high as the outdoor pursuit maintains its popularity. According to data from the Korea Association of Tourism Organizations released on April 11, the nationwide tally of campgrounds stood [...]
SEOUL, Apr. 12 (Korea Bizwire) – The district of Jung-gu in Incheon has launched a mobile application aimed at preventing isolated deaths among its growing population of single-person households, officials announced on Tuesday. The “Safe eJung-gu” app is designed to automatically send emergency text message alerts to pre-registered guardians if the user, deemed at high risk [...]
SEOUL, Apr. 11 (Korea Bizwire) – Korean customers who have been indulging in the thrill of bargain hunting on Chinese e-commerce platforms like AliExpress and Temu are now reacting with shock and concern following reports of carcinogenic substances detected in products purchased from these sites. On April 10, the retail industry sources reported a surge in [...]
SEOUL, Apr. 11 (Korea Bizwire) – Chinese online shopping platforms, such as AliExpress and Temu, have experienced a remarkable surge in sales, with an increase of over 130% in just six months since their entry into the South Korean market. The data reveals that transactions under 30,000 won accounted for the majority of sales, at 78% [...]