SK Telecom (Korea’s largest telecommunications company), which marks the first anniversary of its launch, is planning to enter the global market within this year by installing new technologies such as sponsorship functions.
SK Telecom announced on the 13th that it has completed development of English version of Efriend. Based on this, SK Telecom is planning to release E-Land sequentially from the second half of this year in partnership with major global telecommunication companies such as Asia, Europe, North America, and the Middle East.SK Telecom has already had a huge number of subscribers through its platforms (Cyworld), which has gained sensational popularity in Korea and was introduced before YouTube and Instagram, which are now in the spotlight for communication and photo-video. However, it was active only in Korea, and has a weak history of global promotion.SK Telecom is currently discussing ways to discover metaverse contents and conduct joint marketing with representative telecommunication companies in each region.

Efriend, which was released on July 14 last year, recorded a cumulative download of about 2.9 million in December, six months later. In June of this year, it surpassed 8.7 million downloads. Based on the strength of the live video relay function and support for simultaneous access of up to 131 people in Korea, more than 2,000 partner love calls were received from various companies and organizations.
Even after the lifting of the distance, the average monthly stay in the land for efriend users increased by about 10% from 55 minutes as of March to 61 minutes as of last month after social distancing was lifted.SK Telecom cited partnership with original content and external sources as major growth factors for Efland. According to SK Telecom, the volume metric concert “Metabus Music Festival,” which was introduced by Efriend last month, attracted more than 20,000 visitors during the event.SK Telecom is expanding its partnership with the outside world by hosting the metaverse audition “Tintin Audition” in cooperation with Dong-A University of Broadcasting and Arts this month.New functions such as point payment and sponsorship will be added during the third quarter of this year. If users participate in continuous activities such as attendance and mission performance, points that can be used like cash will be paid in the future.
It plans to introduce internal economic systems sequentially, such as adding a function to send sponsorships to hosts hosting metaverse meetings. It will also introduce an open 3D content platform that can make profits by selling costumes and items designed and produced by users themselves.
Through this, when the participation compensation system in the metaverse is activated, various economic activities in the metaverse are expected to open in earnest.

In addition, SK Telecom’s phone platform “T Phone” has changed its service name and function significantly to target the global market starting with North America in the first half of this year.

According to industries on the 10th, it is confirmed that SK Telecom plans to make a new name for T-phone’s global brand and enter global markets such as North American markets in the first half of this year.As of January, T Phone, which has 11 million subscribers in Korea, was launched in February 2014 as an app-type phone call platform that informs smartphone users of risk numbers such as spam and smishing and provides various functions such as group calls.SK Telecom has set a basic policy to independently expand T-phone into North America and Southeast Asia, and is working on establishing databases (DBs) for each country. It plans to establish an “open ecosystem” that can be connected to any domestic and foreign businesses, even if it proceeds independently to enter the market itself.It also plans to increase the possibility of success by adding new functions that accommodate global needs (demand) rather than simply expanding the number of users through local marketing.In particular, SK Telecom is considering changing the service name of T-phone in order to successfully enter the global market. An official from SK Telecom explained, “We are considering the name of a new service and are aiming for a global integrated brand,” adding, “We are also considering applying a separate brand in certain countries considering that it may not be able to consider the situation of each country.”

In fact, SK Telecom has started developing T-phone’s global brand with external companies since December last year, according to a business watch report. It is a task to newly configure service logos and app designs suitable for global brands.

SK Telecom expects that if the T-phone platform succeeds in entering the global market this year, it can be used as a bridgehead for various global services in the future. It is judged that the profit model can also be built in various ways according to the local situation.

SK Telecom’s new president Chung Ho-bak also stressed in his New Year’s address this year, “Let’s become Korea’s leading ICT company and create a global top-class platform through cooperation and investment with various operators,” raising the possibility of a stronger drive than ever.

However, competition with global market operators as well as providing services suitable for foreign users’ smartphone usage environments is expected to be the key to success.

An official from the company said, “There are competitive services of T-phone, such as phone apps installed in smartphones and services for various phone-related functions, but platforms that provide integrated services like T-phone are not identified.”

In addition, it is said that SK Telecom’s biggest concern is to create services suitable for the communication environment and customer needs of foreign markets such as North America. An official from SK Telecom said, “The plan may change depending on the DB construction work for each region, but we plan to advance in the order of North America and Southeast Asia,” adding, “We plan to develop the platform while testing existing and new functions.”

SOPHIA KIM

ASIA JOURNAL

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (hereinafter referred to as MSS)(Minister KWON Chil-seung) announced that it had designated 200 promising small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that will lead the global market as “global small but strong companies” in 2022.

“Global small but strong companies” is a system that designates export SMEs, which is promoted by the MSS in cooperation with local governments and regional related organisations to nurture export SMEs with innovativeness and growth potential.

Promising export companies with strong performance in terms of sales and exports despite COVID-19 applied for “Global small but strong companies” for this year, and the final 200 companies were selected through local sites and presentation evaluations.

The list consists of companies with high global growth potential. The average sales of newly designated global small but strong companies are worth 23.5 billion won, and the average exports are worth 10.63 million dollars, which shows that exports account for more than 50% of sales.

In addition, 55% (110) of the newly designated companies are located in non-metropolitan regions, which means that a large number of companies that are selected have high potential to grow into excellent companies driving the local economy.

200 companies that are newly designated as global small but strong companies this year will be able to receive customised support packages provided by the MSS, local governments, and private financial institutions for the next four years.

As for the details of the support, the MSS will provide preferential support including granting additional points when applying for overseas marketing support projects such as export vouchers and R&D projects until 2025.

In addition, the designated companies can receive support for prototype production, education and consulting, production process and quality improvement operated by 17 local governments, and financial support such as expansion of policy funding limits and preferential interest rates from private financial institutions.

Director General for Global Growth Policy Kang Ki-sung said, “We will provide full support to the newly designated companies so that they can leap forward as global enterprises .”

For more information about the global small but strong companies project, visit the website of the Small and Medium Enterprise Export Support Center (www.exportcenter.go.kr) or the website of the Enterprise Madang (www.bizinfo.go.kr).

safety accidents because electricity is essential for every house and every building. Without a fundamental mechanism to solve the constant flow of leaks, accidents will continue to happen, and if someone doesn’t change, they will continue to live in a dangerous life without additional safety measures for electricity.

There is still a lack of awareness that we should prevent accidents before they happen because everyone knows safety is the most important thing. In other words, the reality is that it is not easy to make people aware of the risk of electric leakage due to safety insensitivity. It should be used in places where electricity is frequently dropped, where electricity needs to be saved, in old buildings, or in places where aging electricity or water is used, especially if it is humid, it is necessary to apply the circuit breaker. Carelessness or device aging can cause electric shock and fire accidents, so you must find products that can prevent the cause, familiarize yourself with how to use them, and use them safely to prevent accidents.

According to the industry, Korea challenges $10 billion in exports. This is the world’s fifth-largest. If this becomes a reality, Korea will be shoulder to shoulder with advanced defense countries such as Germany, the United States, Russia, and France.

The performance of the Korean defense industry over the past two years has surpassed $7 billion last year, starting with $3 billion in 2020. This year, big contracts have been signed one after another since the beginning of the year, already surpassing $5.1 billion. – UAE Heavenly Palace 2, Egypt.

The Heavenly Palace II consists of a cold launch system and a missile, multifunctional radar, and engagement control system. It is characterized by the application of all the latest guided weapon core technologies. After firing a missile vertically, it can engage enemies in all 360 degrees by adopting a method of changing the flight direction using a lateral force nozzle.

The price per shot reaches 1.5 billion won, and the maximum range is 40 kilometers, and it is mobilized for enemy aircraft and missile interceptions approaching an altitude of less than 40 kilometers. Up to eight guided bombs can be fired continuously from one launch pad.

In addition, the Cheongung-based Japanese missile has a target-oriented warhead that explodes in the direction of the right time, so it can completely hit enemy fighters with a relatively small warhead. It has improved its performance so that it can directly hit and shoot down aircraft as well as enemy ballistic missiles.

This year’s most anticipated defense exports have reached the final competition through Australia’s Land 400 Redback, which Hanhoe Defense is in charge of, and the results are expected to come out in the first half of this year. If this is won, a total of $9 billion in contracts, including the subsequent county governor, will be signed. Hanwha Defense won about 1 trillion won in orders with Australia in December and is also preparing for local production of Land 400. – Twice the UAE contract.

In the case of KAI, it is actively marketing FA50 light attack aircraft centered on the Latin American market. About $3 billion. Hyundai Rotem makes all-out efforts to win the Norwegian next-generation tram business through K2 tram. The reason why Korean defense companies steal the limelight is its high-quality. Even if they have excellent cost-effectiveness and after-sales services, they cannot be used if they do not meet the national budget range, and even if they are inexpensive, they cannot be used if the quality is below.

This export confirmation is of great significance in that it has been recognized in the global market for its “K-Bangsan” technology. In addition, it not only serves as a facilitator for the export of domestic weapons systems, but also raises expectations for improved K-Bangsan export performance this year.

Sam Kim

Asia Journal

Hyolyn has become the first K-pop singer to sign with the company, the agency said in a statement.

“Her collaboration with Justin Oh will be released globally in March,” Starship Entertainment said. Oh is a Korean DJ and producer who has garnered international fame and is also signed to Spinnin’ Records.

Hyolyn will be featured in Oh’s debut single “Jekyll & Hyde,” set for release on March 10.

Hyolyn (Starship Entertainment)

The singer previously announced she will be participating in the music festival South by Southwest in Texas, US this March, and also tour clubs in the LA and New York areas.

The singer has been participating in various high-profile international collaborations, working with hiphop team Far East Movement and Italian DJ Giorgio Moroder.