Latest news with #Jun
Korea Herald
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Jun So-jung, who explores divide between Koreas, looks at 'time of land'
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Artist Jun So-jung had arrived in Abu Dhabi late the previous night from Antwerp, Belgium, her flight delayed by Israel's attack on Iran earlier that day. She was in Antwerp for the opening of a group exhibition at M HKA, Museum of Contemporary Art Belgium where her video work 'Syncope' (2023) is being shown. In Abu Dhabi, she participated in a public program held as part of 'Layered Medium: We Are in Open Circuits,' a Seoul Museum of Art and Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation joint exhibition at Manarat Al Saadiyat. The exhibition, part of this year's Abu Dhabi Festival, came to an end June 30. Traveling is part and parcel of being an artist today. Artists often travel to find new inspiration; they also travel the globe, showing their work. Jun, whose works are in the permanent collection of leading art galleries and institutions around the world -- including the Han Nefkens Foundation; the Uli Sigg Collection; MMCA, Korea; SeMA; and Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art -- is often on the road, working on a project and attending exhibitions. 'I was curious in what context my work would be received, how an audience in a place with a very different historical context would respond to my work, especially given that my work is about North and South Korea,' Jun said in an interview with The Korea Herald on June 14, right after a panel discussion entitled 'Society as Medium — Objects as Anchors: Material, Narrative and Memory.' "'Early Arrival of Future' was made 10 years ago and it is also being shown at SeMA as part of an exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of liberation. It is sad. The work is being shown repeatedly like this because we remain divided,' she said, adding that she harbors complex feelings about this state of affairs. 'Early Arrival of Future' (2015) is a video work featuring two pianists — North Korean defector Kim Cheol-woong and South Korean Uhm Eun-kyung — performing a piece the two composed. The title of the song, 'Sinabeuro,' meaning 'unknowingly, little by little,' reflects the process by which the new music was written through dialogue between the artists, each selecting a popular song from their country as a starting point. Jun's other video works shown in Abu Dhabi likewise center on the state of the divided Korean Peninsula. 'Eclipse' (2020) shows North Korean-style gayageum and harp performed by a Korean Japanese and a South Korean, respectively, while 'Green Screen' (2021) shows the lush greenery of the Demilitarized Zone between the two Koreas. 'It ('Early Arrival of Future') has a simple structure, but passing of time adds to its depth,' Jun said, explaining something different is created when seen in a different setting, at a different time. Observing how the moderator of the panel discussion had added her story to 'Early Arrival of Future,' Jun said, 'It was very interesting how, rather than viewing the work just as an exploration of an issue between the two Koreas, she added her own narrative in discussing the work,' she said. 'If I were to make it now, I would not make it so simple, but there is power that such simplicity lends,' Jun said. The work might look simple, but making the video was a complex project. There were 12 stationary cameras surrounding the two artists, who were each playing on a grand piano facing the other. The setup could be used to show the relationship between the two Koreas and how inter-Korean issues or stories are read and dealt with within the geopolitical context, the artist thought. Even more complex was how the two musicians came up with the new composition. A good three to four months went into composing 'Sinabeuro,' involving extensive dialogue. Photographs showing excerpts of their conversations and music scores are on display at the SeMA exhibition 'Prelude: With a Heart Singing Stars,' running through Oct. 26. The conversations between the North Korean defector pianist, who had studied in Russia, and the South Korean pianist, who had studied in Germany, reveal their different backgrounds. 'For example, the North Korean pianist says, 'These are things that must be observed in North Korea, but you keep trying to override them.' The process of creating the music is quite interesting,' she said. Each had decided on a piece that was well known in their respective country — 'Yonggang Ginari,' a lively and joyous work from the North, and 'Eommaya Nunaya,' a plaintive lyrical song from the South. Both pieces share the pentatonic scale that imbues them with a particular mood. But that was where the similarities ended, and the musicians, over time, despite their differences, succeeded in creating a coherent new piece, giving Jun the answer she sought to the question, 'Could ideological conflict be overcome through art?' The video does not identify who is from the North or the South. 'When it was shown, many in the audience thought the woman was from the North. It reflects South Koreans' prejudiced image of North Koreans or North Korean defectors. They said the woman looked very sad, that she looked like she had a lot of stories and that she was very expressive,' Jun said. The opposite is true, however. 'The man was an elite, a graduate of a Pyongyang university. He had had a luxurious lifestyle,' said Jun. "For me, the audience's reaction was very interesting." 'Green Space' was shown in Piccadilly Circus in London in August 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The idea was to turn a very urban, highly commercial scenery into a green one. Jun began shooting in the civilian-controlled zone south of the DMZ in May 2021 and continued into July. It was 'very, very green,' she recalled. 'The vivid scent of the greenery struck my nose.' On screen, the untouched nature of the DMZ looks serene, but the reality is starkly different. 'It is very harsh there,' she said. There are frequent wildfires, many landmine explosions and wildlife are sometimes injured or killed by barbed wire fences, according to an environmental nongovernmental organization she consulted for the project. 'Eclipse' is a two-channel video work that explores the interaction of South Korea and North Korea through a Korean Japanese playing a North Korean gayageum and a South Korean harpist. The story of how gayageum player Park Soon-ah came to play the 21-string North Korean instrument has everything to do with contemporary history. The musician's grandparents had immigrated to Japan before the division of the Korean Peninsula. '(Following the division) North Korea provided a lot of assistance to these Joseonin, including traditional instruments,' Jun explained. Having grown up listening to cassette tapes of gayageum music from the North, Park went to North Korea to learn gayageum. There, she came to realize that she would have to go to South Korea to learn to play the authentic gayageum. In South Korea, the original 12-string gayageum is used, whereas North Korea created the 21-string version in the 1970s so that Western music could be performed, driven by Soviet influence. The music the two artists perform is rooted in the story of modern Korea. It is a newly composed piece inspired by the late Yun I-sang's 'Double Concerto,' written in 1977, which likens the division of the Korean Peninsula to two star-crossed lovers. Another motif of the new composition was Yun's use of Asian music elements in performing Western instruments. 'The idea was to use these motives to create a type of harmony or different rhythm with these two instruments,' Jun said. While all three video works shown in Abu Dhabi revolve around the two Koreas, Jun's greater interest lies in modernity. Jun recently went on a research trip to Almaty in Kazakhstan. 'I visit Europe frequently but I realized that I really don't know about the land in between,' she said. 'Some call it Eurasia. Historically, the Silk Road was here; astrologers journeyed the path as did travelers and pilgrims. I had an idea that it would be good to look at time through this land,' she said. 'Looking at the time of the land means dealing with history. And through that, we can look at the present anew,' Jun said. That initial thought led to yet another idea — to explore the history of migration of Goryoin, ethnic Koreans living in Central Asia. 'There is a very archaeological aspect to this current project,' said Jun, after explaining how her works are conducted with an 'anthropologist's attitude' and involve a lot of on-site research and interviews. The project she is working on lies somewhere between 'being archeological and being science fiction-esque,' she said. It would be a video work and something performative. Asked if she might be featured in the video playing the accordion — she is a member of a band, Black Night, composed of fellow artists — she dismissed the idea with a laugh. 'No, I won't be in it. It will feature local musicians.' khooran@
What's On
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- What's On
8 spots to get the best, most luscious chocolate cake in Dubai
World Chocolate Day is coming up on July 7, but let's be honest, we don't need any kind of excuse to indulge in a big, fat, dense slice of chocolate cake, the kind that makes all your problems go away. If you're looking to satisfy such a category of craving in Dubai, then we've got you covered with this list. By order of What's On , everyone gets chocolate cake. Jun's Now this is a special weekend treat. Jun's chocolate cake contains the magical powers of Chef Kelvin Cheung's genius and gluten-free goodness, so everyone can enjoy a slice come Thursday. Think layers upon layers of chocolate sponge cake topped with dark chocolate mousse & dark chocolate ganache topped with salted caramel and burnt milk crumble – sounds exquisite, and indeed, it is. The layers are thin, rich, packed with flavour and texture, and if this isn't a way to reward yourself on the weekend, we don't know what is. @junsdubai OMA OMA has heartwarming homegrown origins – the whole corporate-to-croissant type story, and while they do cakes and cookies, as well as some tinned varieties like the dream cake and tiramusi, their chocolate crack cake is a divine variation of the traditional chocolate cake. In a tin, like the ever popular dream cake format, with layers of rich Valrhona chocolate with just the right amount of crunch. Grab a spoon and work away through the creamy, dreamy layers. @ Rise Bakehouse Rise Bakehouse in Al Quoz is all about that perfect slice for one. Specialising of sorts in lunchbox cakes, those cute little mini things you've probably seen on your Instagram, they have a chocolate variety as well. Feuilletine chocolate crunch cake – a 4-inch, 2-layered chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream filling and dark chocolate feuilletine. It's enough for two people, but you don't have to share and we support that. Don't miss out on their workshops. @ Parker's Matilda Cake Miss Trunchbull and Bruce Bogtrotter's cake-filled saga has given birth to a Dubai desserts Instagram favourite – the Matilda Cake, found at Parker's outlets across the UAE. Videos of this massive cake slice encased in a little cardboard triangle and filled to the brim with chocolate sauce, and shots of the cardboard being lifted and the most inviting chocolate pour may be frequent on your explore page. Bruce's chocolate smeared face is the telltale sign, perched on little stick and stuck into the slice. It looks so good – the cravings are starting to hit. @parkers Melenzane A bit unconventional but this Milly Cake from Italian spot Melenzane has captured the attention and hearts of many. It's essentially a super creamy, rich, thick mousse, served in a dish with a jar of what looks like chocolate milk. Think crunchy hazelnut layers, silky mascarpone mousse, and rich cocoa anglaise which you can pour over top, drench the cake and have a bite. The entire experience is a party of textures, from the smooth mousse to the sweet milk and the crunchy bits on top. @melenzaneuae Circle Cafe Four layers of chocolate? Now you're talking. Circle Cafe's chocolate cake is one that is big, rich and perfect for when those cravings hit. The sizes are generous but once you've had a bite of this gooey creation, all thoughts of sharing go out the window. The icing is the star, steering away from the thick buttercream that sometimes overwhelms these cakes. The filling is much gooier and moreish as well, and all your chocolate cake dreams will come alive with a slice of this. @ Magnolia Bakery The people stay going gaga over the banana pudding from Magnolia Bakery, but some of their other treats are also drool-worthy, including the chocolate cake. In it's most traditional, authentic form, this two-layered cake comes with layers of soft, moist chocolate sponge, creamy, fluffy, icing and a touch of sprinkles around the edge. No fancy additions, no frilly ingredients – just pure chocolate goodness. Order a slice, or the whole cakes, because whoever said you can't have a whole cake to yourself was wrong. @magnoliabakeryuae Gateaux This one seems to be a resounding Dubai favourite, name-dropped on social media and the good old Reddit forums. The people have spoken, and they love Gateaux's devil's chocolate cake. This a classic one too – a dark moist chocolate sponge made with premium chocolate and layered with rich chocolate ganache, and topped with some fruit (for balance, of course). One of those family classic cakes you can order for a birthday or even for a special occasion, this one will serve a crowd. @gateaux_uae Images: Socials
Korea Herald
02-07-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Samsung bets on Nvidia to reclaim HBM lead
Vice chair's Silicon Valley visit fuels hopes for Samsung's HBM3E supply to GPU giant Samsung Electronics Vice Chair Jun Young-hyun, who oversees the company's semiconductor business, has traveled to the US to meet with Nvidia, fueling expectations that Samsung could narrow the gap with competitors and win new orders for high bandwidth memory chips. According to industry sources on Wednesday, Jun visited Nvidia last week to discuss the supply of Samsung's fifth-generation HBM3E 12-layer products for the GPU maker's Blackwell Ultra GB300, as well as their foundry partnership. This visit to Silicon Valley came less than two months after a similar trip in early May. HBM chips are critical components that enhance the performance of AI processors. While smaller rivals like SK hynix and US-based Micron Technology have already supplied their latest HBM3E 12-layer chips to Nvidia — the largest customer for the advanced memory products — and secured a boost in earnings in the process, Samsung has struggled to pass qualification tests and has fallen behind. After a yearlong delay, Samsung redesigned its latest chip in the second quarter and is now pushing to supply the renewed version. The chipmaker recently delivered HBM3E 12-layer chips for AMD's next-generation MI350X AI accelerators, easing market doubts about its product quality. This has raised anticipation that Samsung could secure Nvidia's certification in the second half of the year. During the visit, Jun also reportedly discussed with Nvidia its next-generation HBM4 chips, which are expected to see market adoption next year. For the sixth-generation HBM4, Samsung plans to become the industry's first to adopt 1c DRAM technology, aimed to gain a competitive edge. SK hynix and Micron Technology already shipped their respective HBM4 samples to key customers in March and June, respectively. Their products reportedly use DRAM chips built on the older 1b process. "For new markets such as HBM4 and custom HBM chips, we will proceed with development and mass production according to the plan, without repeating last year's mistakes," Jun said at the company's shareholders meeting in March. Beyond memory chips, Samsung is seeking to secure contract manufacturing orders from Nvidia. Currently, the Korean chip giant produces Nvidia Tegra T239 chips for Nintendo's next-generation Switch 2 console, using its 8-nanometer process. The Switch 2 has been a commercial success, selling more than 3.5 million units within just four days of its launch in June, which is expected to help improve earnings for Samsung's foundry business. Samsung is now seeking to win orders for Nvidia's next-generation graphic process units using its cutting-edge 2nm gate-all-around process, which is scheduled for mass production by the end of this year. The GAA process is a transistor architecture first developed by Samsung, offering better power efficiency and performance than the widely used FinFET designs. Samsung began mass production of its 3nm GAA process in 2022, but initially struggled with yield rates, making it difficult to attract customers. The company has since improved 3nm yields and is now working to raise yields for its upcoming 2nm process. If Samsung can win Nvidia's high-volume GPU orders, it could significantly improve its financial results and strengthen its competitiveness in the AI chip market. "Securing Nvidia as a customer is critical to leading the next-generation HBM market," an industry official said. "As Samsung continues to report progress in overcoming the semiconductor downturn, its chances of expanding partnerships with major tech players are growing."
Economic Times
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- Economic Times
China's Xiaomi receives almost 300,000 SUV pre-orders in minutes
Reuters Chinese electric vehicle maker Xiaomi received almost 300,000 pre-orders within an hour for its first sport utility vehicles in what the company said was a "miraculous" moment for the Jun, founder and CEO of the electronics-turned-car company, said he was astonished by the reaction from customers. "My goodness, in just two minutes, we received 196,000 paid pre-orders and 128,000 lock-in orders," Lei said in a video distributed after the vehicle's launch on Thursday night. "We may be witnessing a miracle in China's automotive industry."The company's electric vehicle division said later on its official Weibo account that there had been 289,000 pre-orders for the five-seater YU7, priced from 253,500 yuan (about $35,000), within the first hour of Hong Kong-listed shares soared eight percent at one point before paring their gains but ending at a record Beijing-based commercial tech giant made its first foray into car-making with its SU7 EV model last year, part of a broader industry push to boost domestic enthusiasm for intelligent driving features in such vehicles was tempered by the fatal crash of a Xiaomi SU7 in March. The vehicle had been in assisted driving mode just before it crashed, killing three Li Qiang used the World Economic Forum in Tianjin this week to outline China's ambition to become a "major consumption powerhouse", emphasising policies to stimulate demand for high-value goods such as electric vehicles. Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. Profits plenty, prices attractive, still PSU stocks languish. Why? Why Sebi must give up veto power over market infra institutions Oil, war, and the Hormuz gambit: Why the 2025 standoff won't mirror the 2022 shock! Second only to L&T, but controversies may weaken this infra powerhouse's growth story Stock Radar: Titan Company bounces back after testing 200-DMA in June; breaks out from 1-month consolidation – what should investors do? Long- or medium-term investing: Invest in ability & balance sheet; 6 large-caps from different sectors, with upside potential of up to 36% Weekly Top Picks: These stocks scored 10 on 10 on Stock Reports Plus These large- and mid-cap stocks can give more than 23% return in 1 year, according to analysts
CNBC
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- CNBC
Chinese battery giant and Tesla supplier CATL is expanding globally: Here's why it matters
The world's largest electric vehicle (EV) is going all-in on international expansion and could shake up the EV market in the process with its battery-swapping tech rollout. China's Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) is a key player in the global transition to more sustainable transport, with a market share in the EV sector of roughly 38%. CATL's clients include global players like Tesla, Volkswagen and BMW, with the firm boasting technology far superior to that of Western competitors. Despite its outsized impact on the EV industry, the company had mostly flown under the radar until May this year, when it launched the world's largest initial public offering (IPO) of 2025 to date in Hong Kong. The IPO raised 41 billion Hong Kong dollars ($5.2 billion), after CATL stocks surged and an over-allotment option was fully exercised. Here is what CATL has in the works following its IPO. Ahead of its public offering, CATL said 90% of the funds raised by going public would be put toward its expansion into Europe, particularly its under-construction factory in Hungary. The company's 7.6-billion-euro ($8.2 billion) investment into the Debrecen battery plant was first announced in August 2022 and is expected to begin production this year. The battery maker has already established a wholly owned manufacturing base in Germany, which first opened in 2023. It has also announced plans to build a battery plant in Spain through a joint venture with Stellantis. CATL's global investments follow a trend of more Chinese EV companies, including auto giant BYD, shifting to Europe amid aggressive competition and price wars in the domestic market. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Tianjin, China, on Thursday, Ni Jun, CATL's chief manufacturing officer, said the brutal discount war would not end without intervention from Beijing. He added that, if a big player continues to cut prices, it could lead to other competitors being driven out of the market and create a monopoly. While CATL's Jun did not name any companies, CATL's main competitor BYD announced price cuts in late May. Tight margins and overcapacity in China have been a driving force in CATL's Europe push, said Tu Le, founder and managing director of Sino Auto Insights, adding that the company is already supplying "virtually every" EV maker in China, limiting domestic growth opportunities. But not everything in Europe has been easy. The bloc placed punitive tariffs on made-in-China EVs last year, following an even more severe crackdown in the U.S. Le said that the Hungary facility is another major step toward the company's localization plans and that it will lead to lower labor costs and a geopolitically friendlier environment when compared to Germany. CATL is also involved in an integrated electric vehicle battery project in Indonesia. According to local media reports, government officials expect production to begin in March 2026, which could give CATL a presence in the growing EV market of Southeast Asia. CATL said in a recent interview with The Financial Times that it also plans to roll out its battery-swapping and recycling technology to Europe, in a move that could have significant ramifications for the regional market. CNBC has contacted CATL for further details. Modern battery-swapping technology, while popular in China, is yet to take off in Europe. Chinese EV maker and battery-swapping pioneer Nio is one exception. The company has introduced 60 battery swap stations across Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Jeep and Dodge maker Stellantis, meanwhile, recently partnered with U.S.-based Ample to integrate battery swapping technology to a fleet of 100 Fiat 500 EVs in Madrid, Spain. The experience of using a battery swap station is thought to be very similar to using an automated car wash. The EV driver parks the car on a platform with an integrated system, which removes the depleted battery from beneath the vehicle and replaces it with a fresh, fully charged one. The whole process takes about five minutes. Advocates of battery charging through a swapping station say the technology solves a number of issues, particularly relating to fast charging and long-term performance — two major sticking points for the widespread adoption of EVs. Analysts say another key benefit to swapping is that it allows car manufacturers to maintain ownership of the battery, which lowers the initial price of the vehicle and creates a regular revenue stream for the OEMs. Some drawbacks, however, include high initial infrastructure costs and a lack of standardization across car manufacturers. Connor Watts, battery raw materials analyst at consultancy Fastmarkets, said CATL, which has a number of partnerships with Chinese OEMs, is well positioned to implement the necessary level of product standardization across its customer base. "And particularly following its recent influx of cash from its Hong-Kong listing, it has the necessary capital to develop infrastructure within the European market," Watts told CNBC by email. "Of companies that could succeed in developing the European battery swapping industry, none are better placed than CATL considering its market position," he added. Julia Poliscanova, senior director for vehicles and e-mobility supply chains at the campaign group Transport & Environment, said major carmakers would have to agree to a standardized cell design for battery-swapping technology to work at scale in Europe. "Battery swapping is a good addition to the charging space, and in some parts of the market it makes sense … but it is not a silver bullet to solve our problems," Poliscanova told CNBC by phone. "We will still need batteries and we will still need materials for them, whether they are swapped or whether they are in the car permanently," she added.
