SemiVoice

August 26

• Samsung Electronics to Integrate One UI into AI Home Appliances... Building an Integrated Software Ecosystem

  ➀ Samsung announced a One UI software update for AI home appliances (launched since 2023) starting next month, unifying interfaces across mobile, TV, and appliance platforms;

  ➁ New features include Now Brief (2026 launch) for personalized recommendations, Bixby invocation via screen-tapping, Voice ID for user recognition, and AI Vision Inside 2.0 recognizing 37 fresh food types;

  ➂ Knox security solution expands to appliances with WiFi capabilities (2024 models), offering threat detection through blockchain-based Knox Matrix and Knox Dashboard for security monitoring across connected devices.

• Cheonan City Corporation Becomes First Local Public Enterprise in Chungcheong Region to Obtain 'Low-Carbon Excellence' Certification

  ➀ Cheonan City Corporation secured the 'Low-Carbon Excellence' certification, a first among local public enterprises in the Chungcheong region, recognized for its greenhouse gas reduction efforts and ESG achievements.

  ➁ The corporation implemented initiatives like water recycling facilities, solar power efficiency improvements, hydrogen fuel cell installations, and waste lighting recycling to drive sustainable practices.

  ➂ It also established an ESG governance council with six municipal entities, promoted citizen-led environmental campaigns, and pledged to advance carbon neutrality goals.

• Samsung Electronics to Showcase 'Hyper-Personalized AI Home' at IFA 2025

  ➀ Samsung will participate in IFA 2025 under the theme 'AI Home - Future Living, Now,' highlighting AI-powered innovations such as the Micro RGB TV, BESPOKE AI appliances, and the Galaxy AI ecosystem.

  ➁ These products integrate with SmartThings to create a seamless, personalized smart home experience, aiming to enhance daily life through efficiency, health, and safety.

  ➂ At the pre-show press conference, Samsung emphasized its vision of Ambient AI, which leverages multi-modal data analysis to proactively meet user needs, marking IFA 2025 as the launchpad for this transformative approach.

August 25

• Portable Smart Monitor Offers Diverse Content

  ➀ Portable smart monitors are gaining popularity for their mobility and versatile content accessibility indoors;

  ➁ Products such as LG's StandByMe Go, StandByMe 2, and Samsung's M7 with a mobile stand were showcased at Lotte Hi-Mart in Seoul;

  ➂ Customers explored these devices, highlighting their flexibility for home entertainment and productivity.

• [Photo] Portable Smart Monitors for Both Home and Office Use

  ➀ Portable smart monitors enabling flexible indoor movement and multimedia consumption are gaining popularity;

  ➁ Customers at Seoul's Lotte Hi-Mart examined products like LG StandbyMi, LG StandbyMi2, and Samsung M7 with mobile stands;

  ➂ The trend reflects growing demand for versatile display solutions in hybrid home/office environments.

• [Photo] Portable Smart Monitors Released in Various Forms

  ➀ Portable smart monitors are gaining popularity for indoor use due to their mobility and support for diverse content;

  ➁ Featured products include LG’s StandbyMi, StandbyMi2, and Samsung’s M7 model with mobile stands;

  ➂ Customers are exploring these devices at stores like Lotte Hi-Mart in Seoul’s Songpa district.

• [Photo] Convenient Mobile Smart Monitors Gain Popularity

  ➀ Movable smart monitors, which allow easy indoor mobility and access to diverse content, are growing in popularity;

  ➁ LG's StanbyMe Go, StanbyMe 2, and Samsung's M7 with movable stands were highlighted at Lotte Hi-Mart in Seoul;

  ➂ These products emphasize portability and versatility, targeting consumers seeking flexible home entertainment and workspace solutions.

• Heavy Industry and Petrochemical Sector Prepare for Business Restructuring TF Launch… Full-Scale Discussions on Refinery-NCC Integration

  ➀ South Korea's petrochemical industry is preparing to launch a task force (TF) to discuss restructuring plans, including reducing 3.7 million tons of naphtha cracking center (NCC) capacity and integrating refineries' NCC facilities to improve efficiency;

  ➁ Key scenarios under review include merging NCC operations between petrochemical and refining companies (e.g., HD Hyundai Chemical, Lotte Chemical, and GS Caltex) and adopting crude oil-to-chemicals (COTC) technology to streamline production systems;

  ➂ Challenges include operational conflicts, achieving reduction targets, and requesting government support for vertical integration and plant consolidation across major industrial complexes in Yeosu, Daesan, and Ulsan.

• LG OLED TV to Showcase Works of Late Artist Park Seo-bo at Frieze Seoul 2025

  ➀ LG Electronics will display the works of late Korean monochrome painting master Park Seo-bo, including his iconic Ecriture series, through OLED TVs at Frieze Seoul 2025;

  ➁ Promotional media art clips, transforming Park's persimmon-colored artworks into digital displays via OLED technology, will be broadcast globally on landmarks like NYC's Times Square and London's Piccadilly Circus;

  ➂ LG continues its LG OLED ART project, positioning OLED TVs as digital canvases to bridge art and technology, with ongoing collaborations since 2021.

• LG AI Graduate School, Korea's First Corporate Graduate School, Opens in September

  ➀ LG AI Graduate School becomes Korea's first corporate graduate school approved by the Ministry of Education, granting official degrees equivalent to traditional universities;

  ➁ It aims to foster practical AI talent through industry-academia collaboration, offering a curriculum blending theoretical training with real-world problem-solving using LG's industrial data;

  ➂ The program includes AI ethics education and accelerated master's (3 semesters) and doctoral (2 years) courses, focusing on addressing LG's internal challenges and national AI projects to enhance Korea's AI competitiveness.

• SK On and EcoPro Establish Battery Recycling Ecosystem... Collaborate on Black Powder Supply

  ➀ SK On and EcoPro signed a 5-year agreement (2024–2029) to supply black powder—a battery scrap-derived material containing lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese—at a rate of 200 tons per month from SK Battery America's facility;

  ➁ EcoPro will process the black powder into cathode materials for reuse in batteries, establishing a 'production-recycling-remanufacturing' circular ecosystem;

  ➂ The collaboration aims to expand global battery recycling value chains and enhance supply chain resilience amid market fluctuations.

• LG Electronics Participates in US Clean Show to Accelerate Commercial Laundry Market Expansion

  ➀ LG Electronics showcased AI-powered commercial laundry solutions, including the LG Professional line with optimized cycles and energy-efficient heat pump dryers, at Clean Show 2025 in the US;

  ➁ Launched the LaundryCrew app for remote management and API integration, targeting North America and Europe;

  ➂ Global commercial laundry market is projected to reach $10.8 billion (≈15 trillion KRW) by 2032, driven by demand in the US and Europe.

• Intel's 'Management Crisis and Government Control'... U.S. Expands Market Intervention

  ➀ The U.S. government acquired a 10% stake in Intel, injecting $8.9 billion (≈12.32 trillion KRW) in subsidies to stabilize its finances and resume delayed projects like advanced foundry plants.

  ➁ The move aims to strengthen domestic semiconductor supply chains by leveraging Intel's exclusive sub-3nm process development in the U.S., reducing reliance on foreign foundries like Samsung and TSMC.

  ➂ The intervention raises concerns for foreign firms: Samsung ($4.745B) and SK Hynix ($458M) face potential pressure as the U.S. may demand concessions tied to subsidies.

August 24

• Samsung and Johns Hopkins University Win 'R&D 100 Award' with Next-Generation Peltier Technology

  ➀ Samsung Electronics and Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Lab won the 2025 R&D 100 Award for their nano-film Peltier cooling device and high-efficiency Peltier refrigerator, recognized as one of the year's top 100 innovations;

  ➁ The breakthrough involved a novel semiconductor thin-film deposition process, achieving 75% higher cooling efficiency than traditional refrigerant-based systems while enabling miniaturization and lightweight design;

  ➂ This eco-friendly technology, capable of rapid precision temperature control, holds broad application potential across appliances, semiconductors, medical devices, and data centers, with research findings published in Nature Communications.

• S-Oil Holds August Cultural Arts Sharing Performance 'Youth Mode ON!'

  ➀ S-Oil will host a free cultural arts performance titled 'Youth Mode ON!' at its Seoul headquarters on August 27, featuring indie bands '406호 프로젝트' and '글루';

  ➁ The bands will perform original songs reflecting themes of youth and passion, with '406호 프로젝트' celebrating their 11th anniversary;

  ➂ This event is part of S-Oil’s ongoing monthly 'Culture Day' initiative to engage with the local community through artistic exchanges.

• 6 Economic Organizations Express Regret Over Passage of Yellow Envelope Law, Call for Supplementary Legislation

  ➀ South Korea's National Assembly passed the revised Labor Union Act (Yellow Envelope Law) on August 24, prompting criticism from six major economic organizations;

  ➁ The organizations argue that expanding the scope of employers and labor disputes under the law could lead to legal conflicts due to ambiguous definitions, urging supplementary legislation for clarification;

  ➂ They further demanded the government implement measures aligned with global standards, including allowing substitute labor, to maintain balanced labor-management relations during the grace period.

• [Photo] Chairman Lee Jae-yong Meets with Bill Gates, Chairman of the Gates Foundation

  ➀ Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong met with Bill Gates, Chairman of the Gates Foundation, at Samsung's Seocho office on August 22;

  ➁ The two leaders shared a luncheon and discussed collaboration, though specific details of the meeting were not disclosed;

  ➂ The interaction highlights potential ties between Samsung's technological initiatives and the Gates Foundation's global philanthropic efforts.

• [Photo] Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong Meets with Bill Gates, Chairman of the Gates Foundation

  ➀ Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong hosted a meeting and luncheon with Bill Gates, Chairman of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, at the Samsung Seocho headquarters on August 22;

  ➁ The meeting emphasized discussions on potential collaboration areas between Samsung and the Gates Foundation;

  ➂ The event was documented by journalist Kim Min-soo, highlighting the leaders' engagement.

• U.S. Government Becomes Intel's Largest Shareholder with 12.3 Trillion Won Stake Acquisition

  ➀ The U.S. government secured a 12.3 trillion KRW ($9.5 billion) stake in Intel through semiconductor subsidies, becoming its largest shareholder;

  ➁ The Trump administration negotiated the acquisition of 433.3 million shares at $20.47 per share without direct payment, bolstering U.S. control over advanced chip manufacturing;

  ➂ Intel, which reported an $18.8 billion net loss in 2024, aims to recover financially with this investment, while facing potential government pressures to expand domestic chip procurement.

August 23

• HD Hyundai Senior Vice Chairman Chung Ki-sun Reunites with Bill Gates After 5 Months to Discuss SMR Cooperation

  ➀ HD Hyundai Group Senior Vice Chairman Chung Ki-sun met with Bill Gates and TerraPower executives to review progress on expanding the supply chain and commercialization of sodium-cooled fast reactors (SMRs), building on a March 2025 strategic agreement;

  ➁ TerraPower's sodium reactor, a 4th-generation SMR, is praised for high thermal efficiency, safety, and 40% less nuclear waste than traditional reactors, with HD Hyundai set to supply key reactor components;

  ➂ The partners aim to accelerate SMR commercialization and explore molten salt reactor applications for ships, positioning SMRs as a core solution for sustainable energy transitions.

• SK Gas and POSCO Holdings Co-Host Turquoise Hydrogen Forum to Explore Practical Alternatives for Hydrogen Economy

  ➀ SK Gas and POSCO Holdings co-hosted a forum titled 'Building a Sustainable and Economical Domestic Ecosystem for Turquoise Hydrogen', involving industry and academic institutions to discuss practical solutions for expanding the hydrogen economy.

  ➁ Turquoise hydrogen, produced through methane pyrolysis without CO₂ emissions, was highlighted as a cost-effective and scalable alternative to green/blue hydrogen, addressing regional limitations in South Korea’s hydrogen production.

  ➂ Participants emphasized the need for government-private collaboration, policy adjustments to prioritize turquoise hydrogen, and joint R&D projects to accelerate commercialization and establish a hydrogen ecosystem.

• Advantech Launches Compact AI Inference System 'AIR-020R' Sequentially

  ➀ Advantech introduces the palm-sized edge AI inference system AIR-020R, powered by NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano, delivering up to 67 TOPS for applications like traffic monitoring, autonomous robots, and medical imaging analysis;

  ➁ The system features pre-installed Ubuntu 22.04 and NVIDIA JetPack 6.2 SDK, with a 128GB SSD for immediate deployment, alongside compatibility with Advantech’s Edge AI SDK to streamline PoC and pilot phases;

  ➂ Optimized for industrial use with IP40 rating and fanless cooling, it supports multi-camera inputs and real-time inference, accelerating AI adoption in smart manufacturing, AMRs, and smart city projects.

• SK's Choi Tae-won and Bill Gates Strengthen Cooperation for Korean SMR Ecosystem

  ➀ SK Chairman Choi Tae-won and Bill Gates discussed deepening collaboration on TerraPower's small modular reactor (SMR) technology and expanding vaccine partnerships during meetings in Seoul, emphasizing SK's role in commercializing SMRs;

  ➁ Both sides highlighted the need for South Korea’s government to establish regulatory frameworks and supply chains to accelerate SMR adoption, with SK proposing incentives and global partnerships to capture the projected multi-trillion won (hundreds of billions USD) global SMR market by 2040;

  ➂ SK has invested $250 million in TerraPower (2022) and partnered with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power for next-gen SMR development, while TerraPower’s U.S.-based sodium-cooled SMR project aims for completion by 2030 with strong federal support.

• WSJ: 'U.S. Won’t Demand Equity Stake from Semiconductor Firms Expanding Investments'

  ➀ The Trump administration stated it will not demand equity stakes from semiconductor companies like TSMC and Micron that expand U.S. investments but may impose such requirements on firms that do not increase investments;

  ➀ TSMC and Micron announced additional investments post-Trump’s inauguration ($165 billion and $200 billion, respectively), while Samsung reduced its U.S. investment from $44 billion to $37 billion due to weak orders;

  ➂ U.S. Commerce Secretary emphasized that CHIPS Act funds are taxpayer money, requiring “equivalent returns,” with Samsung expected to announce new investment plans during the upcoming U.S.-Korea summit.

• Integris Invests Additional $700 Million in U.S. Semiconductor R&D

  ➀ Integris announced plans to invest $700 million (approximately 980 billion KRW) in establishing a new U.S. Technology Center in Aurora, Illinois, focusing on semiconductor R&D and advanced material solutions;

  ➁ The center aims to optimize products like deposition materials, slurries, and CMP pads to accelerate market deployment, responding to expansions by clients such as TSMC and Samsung Electronics;

  ➂ This follows a previous $700 million investment in a Colorado Springs production hub, aligning with increased U.S. semiconductor manufacturing investments.

• TOM Selects Actress Yoo In-na as Model for Beauty Device 'The Glow'

  ➀ TOM (At Home) has chosen actress Yoo In-na as the model for their ultrasonic beauty device "The Glow";

  ➁ Yoo In-na's beauty philosophy aligns with TOM's "Private Aesthetic" brand values;

  ➂ The device utilizes 3MHz/10MHz ultrasonic frequencies to enhance skin radiance, hydration, and elasticity, with campaign visuals to be released via SNS channels.

• Enchem Supplies 5,000 Tons of Electrolyte to China's Zhongchixineng

  ➀ Enchem signed a contract to supply 5,000 tons of electrolyte to Chinese battery manufacturer Zhongchixineng, with deliveries starting at the Zhejiang plant and expanding to Qingdao later this month;

  ➁ Electrolyte, a critical material enabling lithium-ion movement in batteries, strengthens Enchem’s foothold in China, which accounts for 90% of global electrolyte usage;

  ➂ Zhongchixineng ranks among China’s top 20 battery producers, marking Enchem’s sixth major Chinese client in the sector.

• DL Chemical Holds 'AI Safety Management Contest'

  ➀ DL Chemical announced the 'AI Safety Management Contest' to utilize generative AI for identifying and eliminating workplace safety risks at its Yeosu plant and research institute;

  ➁ Teams will submit reports detailing AI prompts, feedback, and outcomes, with awards for top performers, including Best, Excellent, and Encouragement prizes;

  ➂ The initiative aims to foster safety awareness and integrate AI technology into risk prevention protocols.

August 22

• OCI Launches Company-Wide Energy Saving Campaign to Commemorate 'Energy Day'

  ➀ OCI initiates a week-long employee energy conservation campaign (Aug 21-27) coinciding with Energy Day, promoting climate crisis response and carbon reduction;

  ➁ Encourages practical actions including raising AC temperatures (26-28°C), using public transit, unplugging electronics, and reducing lighting;

  ➂ Implements certification rewards through internal platforms to boost participation, while reinforcing ESG commitments for carbon neutrality.

• Samsung Display Collaborates with SEGA on QD-OLED Marketing at 'Gamescom 2025'

  ➀ Samsung Display partnered with SEGA to showcase QD-OLED technology at Gamescom 2025 in Cologne, Germany, offering previews of the upcoming game 'Sonic Racing Crossworld' using 32-inch 4K QD-OLED monitors;

  ➁ The displays, certified with VESA True Black, emphasize superior black levels, contrast, and color accuracy enabled by quantum dot features;

  ➂ Large-format QD-OLED TVs (65-inch and 77-inch) were also installed at SEGA's booth to highlight immersive gaming experiences.