Korean tech giants vie to win attention with latest innovations at APEC

A three-tier media pillar

GYEONGJU, October 30 (AJP) - A trifold handset stole the limelight as South Korean tech heavyweights vied to impress global visitors with next-generation technologies showcased across the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit venue in Gyeongju.

Entrance to Samsung Electronics booth at

All the familiar Korean corporate names — Samsung Group, SK Group, Hyundai Motor Group and LG Electronics — mounted large-scale exhibitions at the Expo Park on Thursday, effectively offering a preview of what they may unveil at next year’s CES. Samsung Electronics drew the biggest crowds. Visitors passing through the company’s hypnotic digital columns were led into a hall of new foldables — the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 — and teased with a prototype "Tri-fold Phone."

A prototype "tri-fold phone" from Samsung Electronics on display at the APEC CEO Summit venue in Gyeongju, Oct. 30, 2025. AJP Kim Dong-young

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Resembling the latest Fold7 when shut, the unnamed model measures roughly 1.2 to 1.5 centimeters in thickness and expands to around 10 inches when fully unfolded. A company official said the device was "fully operational and market-ready," but declined to specify its launch schedule or price.

Samsung's "Art Cube" installation also showcased curated works displayed on premium micro-LED panels, created in collaboration with artists Lee Kun-yong, Aerosyn-Lex Mestrovic, Saya Woolfalk, and Marc Dennis, delivering a fully immersive digital experience.

SK Group emphasized the hardware backbone of the AI era. Its pavilion featured next-generation liquid cooling systems for energy storage, capable of partial cooldown, alongside glass substrates for advanced chip packaging expected to boost data-processing speeds by up to 40 percent.

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Although drained of fluid for safety, drawer-like casings demonstrated how batteries and data servers would be submerged in non-conductive coolants beneath tempered glass layers.

Magnified digital model of HBM4

A magnified digital model of SK's HBM4 series stood beside the fingernail-sized actual chips. SK Telecom manager Kim Dong-young explained how 12 vertically stacked layers enable the chipset’s exceptional AI performance.

Robot platforms capable of logistics delivery from Hyundai Motor Group

Nano mobility device from Hyundai Motor Group

Robotics dominated Hyundai Motor Group's exhibition. Compact robotic platforms for logistics and parking-assistance robots capable of maneuvering vehicles in tight spaces showed the group’s expanded ambitions beyond automobiles.

An official said a nano-mobility device resembling a wheelchair had already been deployed this year to support patients with physical disabilities or in hospital settings.

Hyundai also demonstrated through scaled models how magnetic couplings could enable modular rear units for its purpose-built vehicles (PBVs). Owners could switch between a passenger cabin, pickup-style cargo box or mobile workstation by attaching magnetized modules.

The group further laid out its hydrogen roadmap — from production and distribution to mobility solutions spanning land, air and maritime applications. In a nearby pavilion, Hyundai displayed the latest Nexo hydrogen SUV, rolled out in June.

LG Electronics constructed a towering chandelier made from 28 transparent "Signature OLED T" units. Arranged in a circular formation, the wireless OLED screens allowed 360-degree viewing. Periodically, panels unfolded to reveal the razor-thin displays, highlighting how high-resolution TVs can now be built into near-invisible structures.

Second-generation AI glasses from Meta, with a camera on the right side at

Global tech giant Meta also joined the Korean-led showcase, presenting its second-generation AI glasses developed with Ray-Ban. Slightly bulkier than standard eyewear, the frames supported full voice-controlled AI assistance. Commands beginning with "Hey Meta" — such as "Turn on Taylor Swift's Red" — triggered responses through open-ear speakers embedded in both temples.

A high-resolution front-facing camera was positioned on the right side, paired with a light-emitting privacy indicator on the left to signal recording. Korean-language support, however, was still under development, a Meta staffer said, noting the need for updates such as Celsius-based temperature readings and integration with apps like KakaoTalk before domestic release.

One section of the venue, the K-Business Square, displayed a compressed timeline of South Korea's industrial ascent — from war-torn recovery to manufacturing powerhouse — ending with today’s advanced automation where robotic arms now replace factory-line labor.

Silla kingdom's smiling roof tiles

Gyeongju-themed digital works dotted the venue. A tapering three-tier media pillar paid homage to Seokgatap, the city's iconic Buddhist pagoda, while a hexagonal kaleidoscope tunnel projected shifting Silla-era motifs, including the kingdom's signature smiling roof tiles.

Tech startups also added their flair. One popular booth featured an AI sketching robot capable of holding a natural conversation while drawing a caricature in real time with its pen-gripping mechanical hand.
Kim Dong-young Business Reporter davekim0807@ajupress.com

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