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Citrus Farmers Embrace Phone-Based Smart Irrigation Systems

Citrus Farmers Embrace Phone-Based Smart Irrigation Systems

JEJU, Feb. 18 (Korea Bizwire) — Tangerine greenhouse farmers on South Korea’s Jeju Island are increasingly turning to smartphone-controlled irrigation systems, marking a significant shift toward smart farming in the country’s prominent citrus-growing region.  A consortium including the Namwon Agricultural Cooperative in Jeju, the Jeju ICT Cooperative, and smart farm developer Mamkkot Garden has been selected [...]

iPhone Subsidies Hit Record High as Samsung Galaxy 25 Launch Looms

iPhone Subsidies Hit Record High as Samsung Galaxy 25 Launch Looms

SEOUL, Jan. 14 (Korea Bizwire) — A notable shift in South Korea’s mobile phone market has seen carriers KT and LG Uplus significantly increase subsidies for the iPhone 16 series, influenced by the upcoming release of Samsung’s Galaxy S25 and the abolition of the Mobile Device Distribution Act. Some premium plan subscribers can now obtain even [...]

Samsung Launches New Trade-in Program for Used Galaxy Smartphones

Samsung Launches New Trade-in Program for Used Galaxy Smartphones

SEOUL, Jan. 14 (Korea Bizwire) — Samsung Electronics is set to launch “Galaxy Easy Trade-in” (unofficial translation), a new buyback program for used smartphones, on its Samsung.com platform starting January 14.  According to Samsung, customers looking to sell their used Galaxy smartphones can visit the Galaxy Easy Trade-in page on Samsung.com beginning January 14 to receive [...]

Samsung to Hold Unpack Event for New Galaxy Smartphone in U.S. This Month

Samsung to Hold Unpack Event for New Galaxy Smartphone in U.S. This Month

SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Korea Bizwire) — Samsung Electronics Co. will hold this year’s Galaxy Unpacked event in the United States this month, company officials said Tuesday, where the company is expected to unveil its new Galaxy S series smartphones with advanced artificial intelligence (AI) features. The upcoming event will be held in San Jose, California, [...]

Survey Shows Short-form Video Dominates Smartphone Viewing in South Korea

Survey Shows Short-form Video Dominates Smartphone Viewing in South Korea

SEOUL, Dec. 31 (Korea Bizwire) — A new government survey has revealed that short-form content has emerged as the most popular type of mobile viewing among South Korean consumers, as smartphone usage continues to rise while traditional TV viewing declines.  The Korea Communications Commission and the Korea Association for ICT Promotion released their “2024 Broadcasting Media [...]

Protests in South Korea Highlight Revival of Older Smartphones with DMB Functionality

Protests in South Korea Highlight Revival of Older Smartphones with DMB Functionality

SEOUL, Dec. 13 (Korea Bizwire) – Amid disruptions to mobile networks during large-scale protests calling for the impeachment of the president, older smartphones equipped with terrestrial DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) technology have become unexpectedly essential. The technology, which allows users to watch live broadcasts without relying on mobile networks, is gaining renewed attention for its [...]

South Korean Government Backs Bill to Ban Smartphone Use in Schools

South Korean Government Backs Bill to Ban Smartphone Use in Schools

SEOUL, Nov. 4 (Korea Bizwire) – In a significant move to address digital addiction concerns among youth, South Korea’s ruling party has proposed legislation to restrict smartphone use in schools, garnering support from the government and education officials.  The initiative gained momentum after the National Human Rights Commission of Korea recently ruled that the collective confiscation [...]

North Korea’s Smartphone Boom: Millions Embrace Technology Despite Restrictions

North Korea’s Smartphone Boom: Millions Embrace Technology Despite Restrictions

SEOUL, Sept. 26 (Korea Bizwire) – North Korea has experienced a rapid surge in smartphone adoption since easing pandemic-related lockdowns two years ago, with a recent analysis suggesting that the number of smartphone users in the country may have reached up to 7 million. Martin Williams, a researcher at the U.S. think tank Crimson Center, published [...]

North Korean Olympic Athletes Receiving Samsung Smartphones Could Violate U.N. Sanctions: Seoul

North Korean Olympic Athletes Receiving Samsung Smartphones Could Violate U.N. Sanctions: Seoul

SEOUL, Aug. 8 (Korea Bizwire) — The unification ministry said Thursday North Korean Olympic athletes receiving Samsung Electronics Co.’s smartphones could be in violation of U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions against Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs. Samsung Electronics, an Olympic partner, has distributed the Olympic edition of its latest Galaxy Z Flip 6 smartphones to [...]

Study Finds Smartphone Addiction Passes from Parents to Children

Study Finds Smartphone Addiction Passes from Parents to Children

SEOUL, Jul. 29 (Korea Bizwire) – A recent study has confirmed that smartphone addiction can be transmitted from parents to their children. The research revealed that when parents exhibit high smartphone dependence, nearly 80% of their children also show signs of excessive smartphone use, leading to disruptions in daily life or anxiety when separated from their [...]