AMCHAM Korea

[News Article] Google Cloud focuses on Korea's enterprise generative AI market

Google Cloud focuses on Korea's enterprise generative AI market By Baek Byung-yeul, The Korea Times - Google Cloud is strengthening the enterprise generative AI market in Korea with its enterprise AI platform Vertex AI at a time when many enterprise customers are considering adapting the emerging technology to improve productivity and create new business models, according to the head of the U.S. tech giant’s Korean unit, Tuesday. Google Cloud’s Vertex AI is designed to enable Korean businesses to use generative AI services independently, while storing customer data in Korean territory instead of overseas. This allows customers to use the service without worrying about data leakage and to comply with regulations more easily, according to Kang Hyoung-jun, managing director at Google Cloud Korea. "Through Vertex AI, customers can start their data residency in Korea. Customers can control generative AI support for Vertex AI data stored in Korea,” Kang told reporters during a press conference held on the sidelines of the Google Cloud Summit Seoul 2023 event. "Customers often ask us if we are taking their data and using it for our own business. To address these concerns, Google Cloud is the first global cloud operator to open a residency in Korea.” During the summit, Google Cloud announced that it will support customers using the generative AI features in Vertex AI to store their data in 10 global regions, including Seoul. As demand for enterprise generative AI services increases worldwide, corporate demand for control over data storage location is also increasing, the company said. Especially as data sovereignty and regulatory requirements are strengthened, demand is expanding to ensure data residency so as to protect their own data and comply with regulations in each country. The managing director said that Google Cloud's mission is to be a partner in the process of strengthening the capabilities of all businesses and achieving innovation in their businesses through digital transformation. "This year, generative AI seems to have completely decorated the IT industry. Many IT companies say that it is difficult to have a business budget excluding generative AI, and they are actually devoted to this sector," he said. At the summit, Google Cloud executives, as well as domestic partners and customer companies, shared how they are shortening the time to realize business value through generative AI. Google Cloud also introduced how its platform supports companies in content creation, information organization and integration, process automation and customer experience building. NCSOFT, one of the partner companies, revealed that it developed its large language model (LLM) VARCO based on Google Cloud's data analytics and deep learning hardware Tensor Processing Unit (TPU). "We launched our own LLM VARCO in August of this year, and VARCO helps to improve productivity in all areas. We collaborated with Google Cloud to launch it, and it was designed to work without errors when updating games regularly," said Lee Yeon-soo, head of game company NCSOFT's language AI lab NLP Center, adding that the language model was able to achieve faster learning speeds and improved economic efficiency through Google Cloud's TPU. Source: https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/tech/2023/11/129_363178.html

2023.11.15

[News Article] Hyundai stands as No. 2 EV player in US market despite IRA

Hyundai stands as No. 2 EV player in US market despite IRA The Korea Times - Korea's Hyundai Motor Group stands as the second-largest player in the U.S. market for electric vehicles (EVs) despite concerns surrounding Washington's protectionism policy, data showed Sunday. Hyundai Motor Co. took up 4.8 percent of the U.S. EV market in the January-September period, with its smaller co-affiliate Kia accounting for 2.7 percent, according to U.S. magazine Automotive News. Their combined market share came to 7.5 percent, or 64,000 vehicles, taking up the second-largest slice of the U.S. EV market following Tesla, which posted a 57.4 percent share, or 489,000 vehicles. General Motors' Chevrolet brand accounted for 5.9 percent, followed by Ford Motor with 5.5 percent. In the first nine months, overall EV registrations in the U.S. jumped 61 percent year-on-year to 852,904, the data said. Automotive News expected EV registrations in the world's most important car market will exceed 1 million for the first time this year if EV sales continue to rise despite the slowing pace of growth. Hyundai's latest performance came amid the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which provides tax credits of up to $7,500 to purchasers of electric vehicles that are assembled in North America. Currently, all Hyundai and Kia EVs sold in the North American market are manufactured in South Korea, making them ineligible to receive the credits. Nevertheless, their products can qualify for the support when used for commercial purposes, such as leasing. (Yonhap) Source: https://koreatimes.co.kr/www/tech/2023/11/419_363054.html

2023.11.13

[News Article] Renault Korea to produce Polestar's EVs in 2025

Renault Korea to produce Polestar's EVs in 2025 By Baek Byung-yeul, The Korea Times - Renault Korea will produce Swedish electric vehicle maker Polestar’s upcoming EV Polestar 4 at its plant in Busan starting in 2025, as the collaboration between their parent companies – Renault Group and China’s Geely Group – has expanded from joint vehicle development to production, according to the Korean unit of the French automaker, Friday. Renault Korea said it will beging producing the pure electric SUV by the second half of 2025 as an agreement has been reached between Polestar, Geely Holding and Renault Korea. Polestar is a joint venture between Geely and Volvo Cars specializing in EVs. Under the agreement, the Polestar 4, which made its debut at the Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition last April, will be produced in China for the Chinese market and vehicles produced in Busan will be sold in the Korean and North American markets. Renault Korea’s Busan plant employs around 2,000 employees and is located close to a port, making it easy to export the EVs. It is also one of Renault’s best-performing factories all over the world in terms of quality, Renault Korea said. Since Geely acquired a 34.02 percent stake in Renault Korea last year, the two have been expanding their cooperation. In addition to producing the Polestar 4, Renault Korea is scheduled to produce its hybrid electric SUV next year, which is based on a platform developed by Volvo and Geely. “Polestar 4 will be the first full Electric Vehicle SUV produced in the Busan plant, symbolizing Renault Korea Motors renewal and our ambitious vision for the future. We are very proud of this new partnership and grateful to the Polestar brand for their trust,” Stephane Deblaise, CEO of Renault Korea, said. “From a wider perspective, we see further opportunities for Renault Korea Motors in the near future, thanks to our strong shareholders, Renault Group and Geely Group.” Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath also said: “We’re very happy to take the next step in diversifying our manufacturing footprint together with Geely Holding and Renault Korea Motors, a company that shares our focus on both quality and sustainability.” Renault Korea’s Busan plant has a maximum annual production capacity of 300,000 but has not exceeded 200,000 units in the past three years. The number of capacity only increased last year when it started producing the hybrid XM3. The specific production scale of the Polestar’s EV to be produced from 2025 has not been released yet. Source: https://koreatimes.co.kr/www/tech/2023/11/419_362958.html

2023.11.13

[News Article] CJ Logistics aims to operate global hub for cross-border e-commerce

CJ Logistics aims to operate global hub for cross-border e-commerceLee Yoon-seo, The Korea Herald - At CJ Logistics' Global Distribution Center, a total of 140 red, box-shaped robots with four wheels zoom across rows of stacked-up bins. The robot then drops down wires and hoists up a bin filled with goods. Carrying the bin, the robot scurries along the metal railings, transporting the bin to the packaging station, where an employee selects a set number of items from the bin to pack into a box for delivery. The robot then bustles back again and heads for another bin, repeating the procedure. The process is a part of the logistics firm’s automated logistics system, dubbed “Auto-Store,” which aims to maximize efficiency by having the machines bring the goods to the employees, instead of having human workers search for the items themselves. "Traditionally, distribution centers stored items on fixed steel shelves. However, by piling the bins of items on top of each other, we learned we could increase storage efficiency by four times," said Lee Kyung-jin, CJ Logistics’ head of cross-border e-commerce business, during a media tour held at the distribution center Thursday. "Auto-Store is currently responsible for transporting some 10,000 boxes daily, and is in its final testing phase. We estimate that the system will be launched for full operation in December and that it will largely buoy our productivity," he said. In a separate part of the facility, boxes marked with barcodes are constantly being scanned as they are transported on conveyor belts. Based on data stored in the barcodes, the boxes are automatically moved across the black belts until they come to a stop in front of an employee, who fills the boxes up with goods. The process is a part of another one of CJ Logistics' automated logistics system, named the “Quick Picking System.” "Instead of the person-to-goods method, which obligates workers to find the goods, we are implementing a method which allows items to find the workers on their own," said Lee. "Such a system is maximizing productivity and work convenience. By simultaneously operating the QPS and Auto-Store, we expect to improve the overall operational efficiency by 1.5 times," he said. CJ Logistics' invention of the automated logistics processes came as the firm aimed to ramp up its capabilities for making cross-border deliveries, the firm said. "CJ Logistics designated its new future core growth engine as the cross border e-commerce business. The CBE business is growing at a fast rate globally, especially in the Asian region," said Min Kwang-sung, the company’s head of CBE business development. According to England-based logistics market research firm Transport Intelligence, the global CBE logistics market is estimated to reach $134 billion by 2026, recording an 83.5 percent increase from the market value logged in 2021. "As the market for cross-border logistics is expected to increase, the competition is fierce to establish GDCs -- which function as a hub for international deliveries," Min said. Currently, CJ Logistics' GDC in Incheon operates as a hub that stores and ships products from a US-based health products shopping mall, iHerb, to neighboring markets, including Japan, Singapore, Australia and Kazakhstan. "In the past, global e-commerce companies made large-scale investments and directly (delivered goods) to overseas markets. However, they now prefer to operate efficient GDCs in countries that have the potential to serve as transportation hubs," said Min. "Based on CJ Logistics' overwhelming GDC operation capabilities, the firm will further strengthen its trans-border courier service that overcomes temporal and spatial constraints," Lee said. Source: https://news.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20231112000114

2023.11.13

[News Article] 인스파이어, 연말 앞두고 다양한 나눔 활동 나서

인스파이어, 연말 앞두고 다양한 나눔 활동 나서 디지털조선일보 서미영 기자 - 모히건 인스파이어 엔터테인먼트 리조트(이하 ‘인스파이어’)가 연말을 맞아 리조트 인근의 인천 지역사회를 위한 다양한 활동에 나선다. 인스파이어는 지역사회 내 저소득·소외계층을 대상으로 지속적인 장학금 후원 활동을 계획하고 있으며, 그 일환으로 이번에 인천광역시 중구 용유동 지역의 저소득가정 청소년들의 안정적인 학업 지원을 위해 인천사회복지공동모금회(이하 ‘인천공동모금회’)를 통해 용유동 행정복지센터에 일금 2천만 원의 장학금을 기탁하기로 했다. 또한, 크리스마스 시즌에 맞추어 지역사회와 함께 따뜻한 연말나기를 위한 다양한 나눔·기부 활동도 진행할 예정이다. 일례로, 지난 해 관계를 맺은 인천 유일의 일시보호시설인 인천보라매아동센터 센터 아동들의 생활환경 개선을 지원하기 위한 후원금 (일금 1천만 원) 약정 및 크리스마스 파티 행사를 기획하고 있다. 이에 더해, 리조트 주변 지역 주민들을 위한 행사 후원 등 지역단체와 협의하여 필요한 곳에 추가적인 기부를 진행할 계획이다. 한편, 지난 9월 인천 지역 저소득 소외계층의 결식 해소를 돕고자 1년간 총 1억 원의 지정기탁을 약정한 바 있는 인천 푸드뱅크·푸드마켓에 대한 2차 후원금(일금 2천만 원) 전달도 진행된다. 인스파이어의 첸 시 사장은 “인스파이어는 개장 전부터 인천 지역의 여러 기관 및 단체들과 협력하며 지역사회에 초점을 맞춘 사회공헌활동을 해오고 있다”며 “환대, 협력, 존중, 관계구축을 중시하는 모히건의 ‘아퀘이 정신’에 따라 앞으로도 지역공동체의 일원으로서 지속적인 ESG 경영을 통해 지역사회와 함께 성장하는 기업이 되도록 노력하겠다”고 말했다. 출처: https://digitalchosun.dizzo.com/site/data/html_dir/2023/11/12/2023111280057.html

2023.11.13

[News Article] 페덱스, 올해 전세계 경제 “800억 달러” 기여

페덱스, 올해 전세계 경제 “800억 달러” 기여 카고뉴스 엄주현 기자 – 올해 페덱스가 전세계 경제에 직접적으로 기여한 규모가 800억 달러에 달한다고 자사의 보고서를 통해 밝혔다. 최근 이 회사가 발표한 2023년 경제 영향 보고서를 통해 아시아 태평양, 중동 및 아프리카 (AMEA) 지역에 미친 영향은 27억 달러에 달한다고 밝혔다. 보고서에 따르면 올해 해당 지역에 운송, 보관 및 통신 부문에서 순 경제 생산량의 0.3%를 기여한 것으로 나타났다. 한편 이 회사는 올해 한국 지사에 대규모 투자를 단행하며, AMEA 지역과의 연결성을 강화했다고 밝혔다. 지난해 11월 녹색건축인증제도 ‘G-SEED (Green Standard for Energy and Environmental Desian)’ 인증을 획득한 인천국제공항에 신규 물류센터를 오픈했다. 2만 3,395 m² 규모의 신규 물류센터에서는 기존 분류 처리량의 2배인 시간당 1만 2,000개의 패키지를 분류할 수 있는 시설이다. 박원빈 페덱스 익스프레스 코리아 지사장은 “페덱스는 30년 이상 한국 내 물리적 네트워크를 지속적으로 강화해왔으며 데이터를 활용해 물류 인텔리전스를 확보하는 방식을 혁신하여 고객의 글로벌 비즈니스 성장을 지원해왔다.”며, 우리의 목표는 한국 기업을 위한 운송 및 디지털 솔루션을 제공하고 모든 사람을 위해 공급망을 더욱 스마트하게 만드는 동시에 국가 경제 성장에 기여하는 것.” 이라고 밝혔다. 출처: https://www.cargonews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=53437

2023.11.13

[News Article] 한채양 이마트 대표 “본업 경쟁력 강화…신규 출점 재개”

한채양 이마트 대표 “본업 경쟁력 강화…신규 출점 재개” 중앙일보 최선을 기자 - 국내 대형마트 1위 이마트가 신규 출점을 재개하겠다고 밝혔다. 이커머스 성장으로 오프라인 유통가가 고전하고 있는 가운데 외형을 성장시키는 동시에 경영 효율성을 키우겠다는 전략을 내놓은 것이다. 이마트와 이마트24, 이마트에브리데이를 이끄는 한채양 대표는 9일 서울 장충동 ‘신세계 남산’에서 열린 이마트 창립 30주년 기념식에서 “대한민국 유통업을 혁신해온 이마트의 일등 정신과 자부심을 되살리자”며 이같이 밝혔다. 한 대표는 “최근 몇 년간 유통 환경은 급변했는데 이마트가 효과적으로 대응하지 못한 부분도 있다”며 “과거 30년의 영광을 뒤로하고 새로운 30년을 준비해야 한다”고 강조했다. 그러면서 핵심 비전으로 ‘본업 경쟁력 강화’를 제시했다. 그는 “회사의 모든 물적·인적 자원을 이마트 본업 경쟁력을 키우는 데 쓸 것”이라고 다짐했다. 한 대표는 이마트의 영업 기반이자 주요 성장동력인 점포의 외형 성장 계획을 밝히며 “한동안 중단했던 신규 출점을 재개하겠다”고 말했다. 또 기존 점포를 개편 작업도 적극적으로 확대해 나가겠다고 덧붙였다. 올해 선보인 더타운몰 연수점·킨텍스점처럼 고객의 라이프 스타일에 맞춰 이마트를 고객들이 더 많은 시간을 보낼 수 있는 공간으로 바꾸겠다는 것이다. 한 대표는 지난 9월 신세계그룹 정기 인사를 통해 조선호텔앤리조트 대표에서 이마트 대표로 자리를 옮겼다. 이마트24, 이마트에브리데이 대표도 겸직해 오프라인 유통 3사의 시너지를 극대화해야 하는 숙제를 안고 있다. 한 대표는 “3사의 시너지를 다각도로 창출함과 동시에 SSG닷컴·G마켓 등 온라인 자회사와 협업을 적극적으로 실천하겠다”고 말했다. 출처: https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/25206093#home

2023.11.10

[News Article] 한국씨티은행, 기업·시민사회 동반성장 위해 'NGO 인턴십 프로그램' 후원

한국씨티은행, 기업·시민사회 동반성장 위해 'NGO 인턴십 프로그램' 후원 그린포스트코리아 홍광표 기자 - 한국씨티은행은 경희대학교와 8일 오후 서울 종로구 새문안로 소재 한국씨티은행 본점에서 '제18기 씨티-경희대학교 NGO인턴십 프로그램' 후원 협약식을 갖고 2억원의 후원금을 전달했다고 9일 밝혔다. '씨티-경희대학교 NGO 인턴십 프로그램'은 대학(원)생 인턴 참가자들이 겨울방학 동안 전국 비정구기구(NGO)단체에서 시민단체활동을 이해하고 경험할 수 있도록 지원하는 프로그램으로, 지난 2006년부터 한국씨티은행이 후원하고 경희대학교 공공대학원이 주관하여 운영하고 있다. 본 프로그램은 차세대 시민사회 리더를 양성해내는 것을 목적으로 참여 학생들에게 NGO단체의 업무 경험과 활발한 사회참여활동 등 시민의식과 공공성을 함양할 기회를 제공한다. 또 참여 NGO단체는 우수한 인력을 활용한 효율적인 사업 수행은 물론 향후 전문인력 확보에 많은 도움이 되고 있다 올해는 65명의 대학(원)생들이 인턴으로 선발되어, 전국에 위치한 40여 개 NGO에서 상근 인턴으로 활동할 예정이다. 인턴 참가자들은 '시민사회에서 NGO의 역할 및 기능' 등 사전 오리엔테이션을 받은 후, 내달 26일부터 내년 2월 16일까지 8주간 '나눔의 날' 자원봉사활동과 '문화의 날' 네트워킹 등 다양한 활동을 하게 된다. 모든 과정을 성실하게 이행하는 인턴에게는 활동비와 수료증이 주어지며 우수한 조별 활동을 수행한 참가자들에게는 상금과 상장이 수여된다. 참가자격은 신청 시점 기준 국내외 대학에 재학 및 휴학 중인 학생으로 NGO 활동에 관심과 참여 의지가 있는 자이며, 오는 12일까지 NGO인턴십사무국 이메일로 참가 신청을 받고 있다. 유명순 한국씨티은행장은 "오랜 기간 이어온 ‘씨티-경희대학교 NGO 인턴십 프로그램’이 차세대 사회적 리더를 양성하는 모범적인 프로그램으로 자리잡게 되어 기쁘게 생각한다. 본 프로그램을 통해 청년들이 NGO에 대해 긍정적으로 인식하고 지속적으로 참여하여 시민사회의 기반을 다지는 데 기여할 수 있기를 바란다"고 밝혔다. 출처: https://www.greenpostkorea.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=212425

2023.11.10

[News Article] Hyundai Motor Group to Build Flying Electric Taxi Plant in the U.S.

Hyundai Motor Group to Build Flying Electric Taxi Plant in the U.S. EconoTimes - Hyundai Motor Group has announced plans to construct a flying electric taxi plant in the United States. It is determined to revolutionize urban mobility with its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The South Korean automotive group is aiming to bring flying cars to the market by 2028, according to KED Global. Unveiling the Facility Construction PlanReuters noted that this marks the first time the carmaker has revealed a facility construction plan for its eVTOL aircraft. Although specific details about the location and investment size were not provided, Hyundai Motor Group is making significant strides toward turning its ambitious vision into a reality. Last month, Hyundai Motor Group, including Kia Corp., showcased the concept model of their eVTOL craft at Seoul ADEX 2023. The aircraft, currently under development by their urban air mobility (UAM) unit Supernal LLC, promises to reshape the future of transportation. In January next year, Supernal will unveil its prototype at CES 2024 in Las Vegas. Shin Jai-won, president of Hyundai Motor Group and chief executive of Supernal, shared during an interview with Bloomberg that this milestone event will demonstrate their commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation. Impressive Speed and Passenger CapacitySupernal's eVTOL taxi is designed to fly at a maximum speed of 190 kilometers per hour. With the capacity to accommodate one pilot and four passengers, this aerial mobility solution offers both speed and convenience for urban travel. Hyundai Motor Group aims to test-fly the eVTOL taxi in December 2024. Following the successful test flight, the commercial launch is expected to take approximately four years. The timeline accounts for advancements in battery technology development, infrastructure integration, and the need for appropriate regulations to govern the operation of flying cars. The secret to the eVTOL aircraft's commercialization lies in developing lightweight batteries capable of supporting stable flight for extended durations. The battery, which accounts for up to 40% of the aircraft's weight when flying at an altitude of 500 meters or below, presents a significant engineering challenge for the Supernal team. Navigating Certification and RegulationAccording to reports, Supernal plans to submit an application to the US Federal Aviation Administration in the coming months to obtain eVTOL certification. Overcoming regulatory hurdles and ensuring compliance with safety standards will be crucial as Hyundai Motor Group paves the way for a new era of personal aviation. With Hyundai's factory in Alabama and Kia's plant in Georgia, the South Korean automotive group is strategically positioned to capitalize on its existing manufacturing capabilities. Leveraging their production facilities will aid in expediting the development and deployment of eVTOL aircraft in the US market. Source: https://www.econotimes.com/Hyundai-Motor-Group-to-Build-Flying-Electric-Taxi-Plant-in-the-US-1665779

2023.11.10

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[News Article] 한국씨티은행, 기업·시민사회 동반성장 위해 'NGO 인턴십 프로그램' 후원

[News Article] Hyundai Motor Group to Build Flying Electric Taxi Plant in the U.S.