There is a lot of talk about the crash of the Korean economy and the economic disaster that the whole world is facing. However, there are many signs that things are not as bad as they could be, which can give us hope for the future. Most major companies, including Samsung and LG, Korea's two mainstays of the IT industry, are posting losses for the last quarter of 2008. However, Hyundai/Kia poste

This magazine is unique in Korea for several reasons. Beyond the obvious - the fact that it is the only technology title available in English in this country - there is a more surprising reason. Need another clue? Check out our website. Yes, on the website, if you have not already visited, you can download our free podcast. If you are a Korean reading this, you might well be asking, "What is a pod

Korea is not what it once was, that much is obvious to anyone who hasn't been living under a rock for the past 50 years. The country has climbed the ranks of many different lists, and by the judgments of any number of international organizations its standing is rather impressive.However there are some aspects of the culture that do not reflect its international standing, and one of them is commu

The field of robotics is one that is still shrouded in myth and fantasy, a science fiction writer's paradise of infinite possibility. This is both a blessing and a curse: a blessing, because the future of robotics is wide open to possible interpretation and the interpretations are truly endless; a curse, because the expectations of potential robotics customers are placed firmly within the clouds o

The entire world is changing in the information technology age. With these changes bring new fears, of the future, of technology, and of what may happen when there are new ways of doing things. After all, robots and intelligent houses are always scary in popular entertainment media.Some people may not appreciate just exactly how much the globe is changing, so here is one small factoid to put thi

In any industry, the difference between second best and market leader is fundamentally different. The second best companies in any industry often make a business of imitating other companies' ideas. The IT industry is no exception. Korean government and industry leaders are looking for what can make the Korean technological economy flourish, but it seems to be lacking one fundamental component to

Growing a small business in any country can be a difficult project. Growing a small business in Korea is even more difficult. And while many policymakers discuss the possible reasons, nobody wants to say why. Officials speak about new growth engines, increasing foreign investment, or developing new technologies. But no one wants to speak about the elephant in the living room, that is to say the tr

As advances in robotics technology increase, robots are designed that look more and more like people. Robotics engineers often aim for a fully humanoid-looking robot that can mimic people in every way. However, that may not always be a good thing, due to the Uncanny Valley.The Uncanny Valley is a concept that was introduced by Japanese roboticist Masahiro Mori in 1970. The idea is that humans re

There are elements of the Korean government that have considered passing laws, or creating regulations, or doing something to control user-created content accessible on the Internet. This is done for the seemingly altruistic reasons of protecting the country's children from undesirable influences. However, there is one inescapable fact about the Internet that is difficult for many people to compre

Korean companies are in danger of developing a poor reputation in the global marketplace. Many international businessmen are reportedly puzzled and confused by some Korean companies' strange behavior.A stoic, proud demeanor, a hesitancy to speak English, and a pathological distrust of outsiders can be seen in some Korean companies' actions when dealing with others on the international stage.

EditorialAccording to the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Korea only attracted 0.8% of the total amount of foreign direct investment (FDI) worldwide in 2006. In contrast, Hong Kong, a place with only a tenth of the population of Korea, attracted 3.9% of the total world FDI. However, this is not due to lack of trying. The Korean government actively seeks to attract foreign investm

Three problems with nationalistic marketingRecently the Korean government in the body of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy (MOCIE) has been promoting a Korean Premium brand of products at various conferences and exhibitions around the world. They have also been using traditional mass media advertisements such as television commercials and newspaper advertisements to promote these pro

On October 9, 2006, North Korea successfully conducted an underground nuclear test. News agencies all over the world scrambled to confirm this historic and chilling event. Governments of the world unanimously condemned the action. Analysts everywhere began to offer their opinions on the ramifications of the explosion, especially regarding North Korea's closest neighbor on the peninsula, South Kore

Imagine a card, a thick fat card covered in logos and symbols. This card has your name and photo on it, naturally, because its yours.It might be similar to cards you have now in your wallet, except this card doesn't go in your wallet. It is your wallet. It's your checking account too. It allows you to ride the subway or take a taxi at your convenience. If you choose, it can be a credit card. It

With the looming approach of the 2008 Beijing Olympics just two years away, one of the challenges faced by Korea, particularly in the information communication technology and electronics industries, is the branding threat posed by China. Chinese companies such as China Mobile and Lenovo are targeting global recognition in a big way.Shelly Lazarus, CEO of global advertising firm Ogilvie and Mathe

Korea's biggest social networking Web site, Cyworld, recently took the industry by surprise by announcing its decision to launch its service in the U.S. market, starting with a public beta version, after some major U.S.-specific customization. It plans to go into head-to-head competition with a similar American version, called MySpace The service, owned by SK Telecom, Korea's biggest telecom firm,

As KT and SK Telecom launched the domestic commercial service of the portable Internet WiBro on June 30 for the first time in the world, Korea has unfurled the flag of the commercialization of WiBro.However despite the impact of WiBro's commercialization in Korea for the first time globally, it is revealing its limitations in several respects, such as terminal prices turning out to be more expen

Right now in Korea, the buzzword in the telecoms industry and among hi-tech savvy young consumers is "WiBro" - the country's homegrown portable Internet service, which was officially launched last month for the first time in the world. KT and SK Telecom, Korea's two main fixed-line and wireless operators. started signing up WiBro subscribers on June 30 in designated areas of Seoul and the surround

When a leading global IT market research firm raises the yellow flag on Korea's IT industry losing its competitive edge in the information and telecommunications industry, both the private sector and relevant government bodies need to sit up and take note. A careful assessment is needed of the seriousness of the problem and appropriate countermeasures must be implemented without delay.Although K

EditorialIt is interesting to note that according to the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), while Korea's technological competitiveness ranks second in the world, it is only 15th ranked in science competitiveness and in terms of overall national competitiveness, it was only in 29th place in 2005. We are encouraged by the announcement by Kim woo-sik, the Deputy Prime Mini