Tag: #korean

  • Vampires, office romance: K-dramas we’re looking forward to watch

    Vampires, office romance: K-dramas we’re looking forward to watch

    Was it a charming male lead Choi Chi Yeol (played by Jung Kyung-ho) who falls for a single mom, that drove people to watch ‘Crash Course in Romance’? Or the fact that a show went into minute details about the pressures of high school, the cut-throat competition surrounding college applications and how it damages the mental health of students? Whatever it was, the Korean rom-com ‘Crash Course In Romance’ had aired only two episodes when it lead the polls in the list of dramas that are generating the most buzz.

    Aside from this show, and the critically acclaimed thriller ‘The Glory’ that was among the top ten most watched dramas around the world, this is the perfect time to get into Korean dramas, especially if you’re from Pakistan and dying to watch something other than a toxic romance going round and round like a jalebi. From the list of K-dramas set to arrive on Netflix, the shows range from a wholesome office romances to an unlikely encounter between a vampire and a human and a bored housewife taking charge of her fate and deciding to become a doctor.

    2023 has only reached its middle and this lineup of dramas has us excited. Check out some amazing options.

    1 See you in my 19th life

    Time travelling lovers who recognise each other in their next lives? Sign us up immediately. Ban Ji Eum has an extraordinary trait: she can remember everything from her 18 past lives. But when her life is cut short tragically and Ji Eum is reborn in her 19th life, she is determined to reconnect with all the people she lost, and in the process she comes across Mono Seo Ha, a man whom she met in her previous life.

    2 My Heart Is Beating

    Missing your Vampire Diaries, Twilight era? K-dramas have got you covered. Remember the heartthrob villain Jang Jun-Woo from Vincenzo? The actor who played him, Ok Taec-Yeon, is now the lead in this drama, as a vampire who desperately wants to become a human being, but he misses his chance because of one day out of a 100 years. He starts living in a guest house run by Joo In-Hae (Won Ji-An), a cold-hearted nurse who does several jobs. As the two get closer, both start getting feelings for each other.

    3 King The Land

    If you missed witty office romances like Ankahi, or quite recently ‘Fairytale’ and need something to fill the hole in your heart left by Farjaad as you wait for Season 2, check out this one. Gu Won is the son of a chaebol family, who is caught in an inheritance war with the rest of his siblings over the control of his company. Although he is successful in his business, his work-a-holic attitude makes him bad at dating, until he meets Cheong Sa-Ra, an employee at his hotel, and immediately falls for her.

    4 Doctor Cha

    Cha Jeung-Suk graduated medical school with aspirations to become a doctor, but resigns to becoming a housewife to the Chief Surgeon at a university hospital. Twenty years later, Jeong-Suk decides to start her medical career despite resistance from her husband.

  • Korean actor Song Joon-Ki is married and expecting a baby

    Korean actor Song Joon-Ki is married and expecting a baby

    Korean actor Song Joon-Ki has announced his marriage and wife’s pregnancy to his fans on social media, as reported by Korean entertainment page Soompi.
    In a letter uploaded on his fan club, the ‘Vincenzo’ actor revealed that he had married his longtime British girlfriend, Katy Louise Saunders.
    “Hello. This is Joong Ki.
    Today, I am greeting you because I want to share a promise that is more happy and valuable to me than anything.
    I have promised to continue life together with Katy Louise Saunders, who has been by my side supporting me and who I have spent valuable time with while cherishing each other.
    She has a kind heart, and she has lived her life passionately. She is a sensible and amazing person to the point that I revere her.
    Thanks to her, I am becoming a better person.

    “We naturally dreamed of creating a happy family together. We have put in much effort to keep each other’s promises, and we are sincerely thankful as a new life has come to us.
    And today, based on our deep trust and love for each other, we are on our way back from registering our marriage to begin life as a married couple.
    As we are now, the two of us will walk our days ahead beautifully while facing the same direction.
    I sincerely thank all the fans who always cherish me no matter what.
    Especially following the wishes and support of Ki Aile (Song Joong Ki’s fan club) who provide the greatest strength to me throughout my acting career, I will work to fly higher as an actor and individual with the wings of greater responsibility and passion.
    I hope everyone will be happy and healthy until the day I can greet you in person.”
    The “Reborn Rich’ actor confirmed in December that he was in a relationship with Saunders.
    Song was previously married to Song Hye-Ko in 2017, and parted ways two years later due to what their agency said was ‘differences of personality’.

  • Samsung Galaxy S23 series to launch with 256 GB minimum storage option

    Samsung Galaxy S23 series to launch with 256 GB minimum storage option

    The tipster Ahmed Qwaider says that Samsung has listened to its customers and is bringing a significant upgrade. The 128GB base storage for the Galaxy S23 series may no longer be offered by the South Korean company.

    The Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+, and Galaxy S23 Ultra base models all seem to include 256GB of internal storage. There will also be 512GB and 1TB storage options for the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

    The South Korean tech giant used to give free upgrades to 256GB models of its phones to anyone who pre-ordered or purchased them during a sale, but these deals were only available in the US and a very small number of other countries. Therefore, this year will be happier for everyone in the world. The Galaxy S23 Ultra will have 12GB RAM, whereas the Galaxy S23 and S23+ appear to have 8GB RAM.

    The tipster further believes that the Galaxy S23 Ultra will have a display that is significantly flatter than that of its predecessor. This modification ought to enhance the S Pen’s ability to write and draw on the screen. One UI 5.1, which is based on Android 13, will come preinstalled on all Galaxy S23 units.

    There may be more choices for customising the lock screen with this more recent software version.

  • Hyundai sedan prices raised up to Rs830,010 amid rupee devaluation

    Hyundai sedan prices raised up to Rs830,010 amid rupee devaluation

    Hyundai Nishat, like other automakers, has announced a major hike in costs for the Elantra and Sonata variants as a result of the unstable local currency and increased tax rates.

    The updated price for the Hyundai Elantra 2.0 is Rs5,499,000 (including CVT) compared to the old rate of Rs4,998,490 after an increase of Rs500,510. The new price for the Hyundai Elantra 1.6 in Pakistan is Rs5,099,000 (including CVT) compared to the old rate of Rs4,341,9900 after an increase of Rs757,010.

    The revised price of the Hyundai Sonata 2.0 is Rs7,899,000 (with CVT) in Pakistan, up Rs830,010 from the previous rate of Rs7,068,990, while the updated price of the Hyundai Sonata 2.5 is Rs5,499,000 (including CVT), down Rs571,510 from the previous rate of Rs7,927,490.

    Due to local currency devaluation, logistical expenses, tax rate increases, and overall economic uncertainty in the nation, Pakistan’s auto sector is struggling.

    During intraday trade today, the Pakistani Rupee (PKR) lost value against the US Dollar (USD) and fell below the Rs238 mark. The local currency was trading at Rs238.50 in the open market at noon after losing more than Rs5.57 in relation to the dollar.

    Major automakers have been compelled by these problems to lower their production goals in Pakistan. While Honda Atlas Cars Limited (HACL) and Kia Lucky Motor Corporation Limited (KLMCL) are switching to single-shift manufacturing schedules, Toyota Indus Motor Company (IMC) has ceased production for an unknown length of time.

  • LG Electronics is stepping into EV charging business

    LG Electronics is stepping into EV charging business

    As the worldwide competition to produce everything linked to EVs intensifies, LG Electronics has acquired AppleMango, a South Korean developer of electric car battery chargers.

    The acquisition, which was done in partnership with GS Energy, a producer of EV charging stations, and GS Neotek, a provider of IT services, will enable LG to take advantage of upcoming commercial prospects.

    According to Paik Ki-mun, senior vice president of LG Electronics, “the EV charging market is likely to increase significantly due to the surging demand for more environmentally friendly automobiles.”

    “We will provide specialised, integrated vehicle charging solutions for a variety of customers, boosting the competitiveness of our existing and assuring our preparation for future prospects,” the statement reads.

    In AppleMango, which will now be a subsidiary of LG Electronics, LG Electronics purchased a 60 per cent share, while GS Energy and GS Neotek acquired 34 and 6 per cent, respectively.

    The deal’s financial details were kept between the firms. The projected cost of the transaction is $7.8 million, according to rumours.

    In order to concentrate on its growing markets, such as electric cars, the internet of things (IoT), and B2B solutions, LG Electronics shut down its loss-making mobile business about a year ago.

    To make EV charging in South Korea a pleasant and simple experience for drivers, LG Electronics is prepared to take advantage of its experience in developing user-friendly interfaces.

    The company added that by entering the EV charging market, LG can increase the synergy between its work on EV batteries, energy storage systems, energy management solutions, and chargers.

    By the end of this year, the tech giant intends to establish an EV charger production line at LG Digital Park in South Korea with the goal of offering specialised EV charging options for private houses, retail establishments, lodging facilities, and public organisations.

    The acquired company brings to the acquisition a wide range of EV charging solution technologies, from slow chargers to rapid chargers for household and commercial use.

    LG did not specify whether it planned to continue selling AppleMango’s chargers.

  • PUBG earns $307.1 million in Q1 2022 despite going free-to-play

    PUBG earns $307.1 million in Q1 2022 despite going free-to-play

    The South Korean company behind PUBG, Krafton revealed that the PC and console version of the battle royale shooter franchise is making a lot of money despite going free-to-play in January 2022.

    According to Krafton, the game earned $307.1 million in revenue in the first quarter of 2022, up 5 per cent year over year (YoY), after being downloaded more than one billion times as of March 2021.

    Sales on PC were boosted 61 per cent YoY to $82.3 million. The surge in console sales was even higher, up 124 per cent from the previous quarter and 274 per cent on a YoY basis, though Krafton did not disclose a cash amount for the period.

    From Q4 2021 to Q4 2022, PUBG’s average monthly active users nearly tripled.

    When PUBG: Battlegrounds first arrived in early access on Steam in 2017, it was a premium title, but free-to-play battle royale games like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Apex Legends established that the free model can be highly profitable.

    In fact, converting PUBG: Battlegrounds to free-to-play turned out highly beneficial for Krafton. The widely played PUBG: Mobile is already free to download on iOS and Android devices.

    Electronic Arts (EA) also announced that Apex Legends, which has been out for a little over three years, crossed $2 billion in lifetime net bookings in just two weeks, While Epic raised $144 million for Ukraine aid.

  • Hyundai Sonata 2.5 will now cost Rs7.85 million

    Hyundai Sonata 2.5 will now cost Rs7.85 million

    Like the majority of automakers in Pakistan, Hyundai Nishat has joined the price hike bandwagon by raising the price of its sedan offerings; the Elantra GLS, Sonata 2.0, and Sonata 2.5 variants, due to increased shipping costs and continuous depreciation of the local currency.

    The premium category sedan, Hyundai Sonata 2.0 witnessed an increase of Rs140,000 in its earlier rate of Rs6,859,000. After the price hike, the car costs Rs6,999,000. Hyundai Sonata’s top trim will now be sold at Rs7,849,000 after a price increase of Rs100,000 in its previous price of Rs7,749,000.

    Hyundai Elantra GLS after getting a price of Rs150,000 will be offered at Rs4,949,000, the exact model was previously sold at Rs4,799,000.

    Read more: Pakistani rupee crashes to historic low of Rs194 against US dollar

    Almost every local or imported sedan is now out of reach of the masses as the auto industry has been massively affected by the ongoing devaluation of the Pakistani currency against the US dollar, increased freight charges along with the premium culture (own trend) in the country.

  • Samsung rolls out Android 12 based latest One UI 4.1

    Samsung rolls out Android 12 based latest One UI 4.1

    The Galaxy A32 5G received Android 12-based One UI 4.1 update in April, and now the LTE variants are getting Samsung’s latest custom Android interface.

    It also raises the Android security patch level for the smartphone to April 1, 2022, however, given that a few Samsung handsets have already received it, we expect the May patch to arrive soon.

    The smartphone gets a new update with firmware version A325FXXU2BVD6 that delivers a revamped UI and additional functionality.

    Read more: Samsung shipped 73.7 million cellphones in Q1 2022

    The One UI 4.1 update is already launched in several countries, and if you have not received it yet, you can manually check for it by going to Settings > Software update on your handset or wait for a few more days as Samsung takes a while to send updates to Pakistan.

  • Samsung shipped 73.7 million cellphones in Q1 2022

    Samsung shipped 73.7 million cellphones in Q1 2022

    Samsung does not like surrendering its position as the world’s leading smartphone manufacturer. Even though Apple temporarily dethroned it, the firm has fought back and reclaimed what it considers to be its rightful position.

    1st quarter of 2022 According to data from market research organisations Canalys and Counterpoint, Samsung is the global leader in smartphone shipments. Apple did well as well, but it was only able to finish second to the Korean behemoth.

    Samsung’s Galaxy S22 series has contributed to the company’s strong performance in the first quarter of this year. Many Galaxy Note fans were enticed back to Samsung with the Galaxy S22 Ultra in particular.

    According to Canalys, worldwide smartphone shipments hit 311.2 million units in the first quarter of 2022, down 11 per cent year on year. While Samsung regained the lead, delivering 73.7 million units, the company saw a 43 per cent drop in sales.

    Read more: HP to launch its first 17-inch foldable OLED notebook

    Xiaomi came in third place in the ‘top 5 shipping’ list, with 39.2 million units shipped, a 20 per cent decrease. Oppo shipped 29 million units, a decrease of 27 per cent, and Vivo’s growth slowed by 30 per cent.

  • Hyundai Pakistan launches another variant of obsolete Elantra

    Hyundai Pakistan launches another variant of obsolete Elantra

    Hyundai-Nishat has introduced the long-awaited Elantra GL 1.6, with a hefty price tag of Rs4.3 million for the ‘base trim’.

    This model was predicted to compete with the Altis X 1.6, but Rs4.3 million for a base model does not seem to attract much for a car that already existed.

    The ‘latest sedan’ is now available for bookings at Hyundai dealerships for Rs1.2 million. In terms of appearance, the new Elantra GL is identical to the GLS model. The majority of the changes have occurred on the inside.

    GL’s naturally aspirated 1.6-liter 4-cylinder petrol engine produces 127 horsepower (hp) and 155 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque in the new model. It has a 6-speed automatic transmission that drives the front wheels.

    The Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6L, which is priced between Rs3.92 million and Rs4.3 million, will be the Hyundai Elantra GL’s main rival which comes with a 4-year or 100,00 km warranty. Hyundai, as a newcomer to Pakistan’s automarket, appears to be up against a formidable opponent: Toyota Indus, which has been selling automobiles for decades and is known for its sturdiness.

    Read more: Toyota to launch its first electric car with 559 km range next month

    It is too early to comment on its performance at the moment, as its fate will be revealed in the near future when Pakistan Automotive Manufacturer’s Association releases the monthly sales data.