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EQ GLOBAL CEO Stanley Choi: “Strengthening Core Management to Emerge as a Global Semiconductor Repair Company”

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1 year ago

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SEOUL, South Korea, March 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — “This year, we are committed to strengthening our core management and expanding our business scale to establish a foundation for EQ GLOBAL’s growth as a leading global semiconductor equipment repair company.”

Stanley Choi, who took the helm of EQ GLOBAL, a subsidiary of SurplusGLOBAL, in January, is a veteran in the semiconductor industry with nearly 30 years of experience. Having started his career at LG Semiconductor, he has worked at Dongbu Anam Semiconductor, SMIC, and SK keyfoundry, accumulating expertise in engineering and technology marketing. In an exclusive interview, Stanley shares his business vision and management strategies for EQ GLOBAL.

– What changes have you implemented in the corporate culture since taking office?

“Although I have been in office for only two months, I have not made structural changes yet. However, I am actively promoting three key cultural principles based on my experience. First, ensuring transparency in work processes; second, fostering a culture of open discussions and autonomous decision-making; and third, enhancing collaboration among employees. I have emphasized these principles to our team, and the response has been positive, with employees finding the approach refreshing.”

– What are your business goals for this year?

“Last year, our revenue reached approximately KRW 23 billion. This year, we aim for a 15-20% increase, with an expected operating profit margin of around 10%. Although EQ GLOBAL has been in business for 25 years, it has not seen significant growth. While our recent revenue has improved, we are implementing various strategies to enhance overall profitability. In the short term, we plan to improve operational efficiency to secure better profitability.”

– What are your key management objectives for this year?

“We have three main objectives. First, strengthening our custom pipeline; second, enhancing our capacity for repairing used semiconductor equipment; and third, reducing Turnaround Time (TAT) for repairs. By shortening repair durations from one week to three or four days, we can significantly improve revenue. Our immediate focus is on solidifying our market dominance in our core business areas rather than pursuing new ventures. In the mid-term, we will prepare for new business expansions, including M&A, to scale the company. Our long-term goal is to achieve an IPO within the next five years.”

– What are your plans for overseas expansion?

“Currently, we operate repair centers in Wuxi, China, and Singapore, where we have four stationed employees. We are in discussions to enter the U.S. market and are developing new clients in Chinese Taipei, with a potential office establishment depending on successful product validation by the end of this year. Additionally, SurplusGLOBAL recently launched a German branch, headed by an expert in the back-end semiconductor sector, through whom we plan to target the European market.”

– What are the biggest challenges in global expansion?

“The U.S. semiconductor policies under the Trump administration present a challenge. Our primary clients in Korea are Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, and any impact on them will inevitably affect EQ GLOBAL. While the direct impact may not be significant, our long-term growth depends on the success of these major players. The ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions remain a critical risk factor, as U.S. sanctions on China could hinder business opportunities, making it challenging to navigate the market.”

– What is your strategy for expanding the SemiMarket parts mall service, set to launch in June?

“We are aligning our preparations with SurplusGLOBAL’s schedule. Initially, we will focus on selling existing semiconductor equipment and parts, with a full-scale online rollout by December. This platform will evolve into a global marketplace connecting buyers and sellers. Given EQ GLOBAL’s repair capabilities, we plan to offer repair services for products listed on SemiMarket, elevating the service into a premium offering—an industry first. The online sale of used semiconductor equipment and parts remains an untapped market. Traditionally, semiconductor component transactions require on-site inspections and engineering dispatches for repairs. Locating necessary parts is a time-consuming process. However, with the SemiMarket parts mall, buyers and sellers can interact directly, enabling faster information exchange and procurement. Increased transparency in product information and pricing will also enhance market integrity.”

– Any final thoughts?

“When I first entered the industry, the semiconductor market was experiencing a DRAM boom—producing memory chips alone was highly profitable. However, with economic downturns, including the financial crisis, the semiconductor sector has become highly volatile. While South Korea is recognized as a semiconductor powerhouse, its presence in the non-memory segment remains weak, with inadequate foundry infrastructure and limited government support. While Samsung and SK hynix have solid footing in the memory sector, the foundry and non-memory industries require substantial government backing to stay competitive. In the past, Korea had companies similar to TSMC, but most have disappeared. Taiwan’s rise as a non-memory semiconductor giant was driven by strong government support, social consensus, and robust infrastructure. Unlike memory chips, foundry manufacturing is significantly more complex and diverse. Without an in-depth understanding of this diversity, progress in the non-memory sector is unlikely. Although Korea is late in the game, I hope the country takes lessons from Taiwan to foster its foundry industry.”

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SOURCE SurplusGLOBAL, Inc.

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From China Mobile’s Call Upgrade to the Commercial Launch of “Calling + AI” by Leading Operators: AI Is Reshaping the Value of Native Calling

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14 minutes ago

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July 25, 2026

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BEIJING, July 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On June 15, 2026, China Mobile announced a comprehensive upgrade to its traditional calling services, ushering in a next-generation calling experience defined by HD, intelligence, and security. This milestone not only marks a major leap in telecommunication innovation but also reflects a global, inevitable shift: the transformation of basic communication into intelligent, inclusive services.

Breaking Experience Barriers and Redefining the Paradigm of Basic Calling

Overcoming the limitations of traditional, voice-only interactions, China Mobile has leveraged its mature VoLTE/VoNR network foundation to deeply integrate AI models with HD audio and video capabilities. Without requiring users to change their phones or SIM cards, seven core AI functions are now seamlessly embedded into the native dialer interface.

These upgrades include Live Captions bridge communication gaps for the elderly and hearing-impaired; HD video calls and AI noise reduction create a crystal-clear, immersive calling experience; AI anti-fraud intercepts high-risk calls in real time to safeguard users’ assets. Furthermore, the introduction of Data Channel (DC) technology and visual call menus transforms standard calls into agile, interactive service windows, enabling multi-party collaboration and seamless business transactions directly within the call. Through this initiative, China Mobile has successfully evolved traditional calls from a mere voice pipeline into a secure, integrated information hub.

“Calling + AI” Becomes a Strategic Consensus Among Global Leading Operators

From a global perspective, China Mobile’s call upgrade is not an isolated milestone, but a microcosm of the global telecommunications industry’s broader transformation. Throughout 2026, major operators worldwide are accelerating the commercial deployment of “Calling + AI” solutions:

Deutsche Telekom launched Magenta AI, leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance calling across all scenarios;T-Mobile US introduced a network-side, real-time translation service covering over 80 languages, effectively breaking down cross-border communication barriers;Saudi stc rolled out English-Arabic bilingual simultaneous interpretation, which has now entered large-scale commercial trials;South Korea’s LG U+ launched its ixi-O intelligent calling assistant, shifting the user experience from passive responses to proactive smart interactions and earning three prestigious GLOMO industry awards.

The synchronized efforts of these global leaders confirm that basic calling services have officially entered a new era of AI integration. Deeply empowered by artificial intelligence, “Calling + AI” has become the definitive blueprint for the intelligent transformation of the global telecommunications industry. As operators continue to refine these native capabilities, the traditional voice network is poised to reclaim its position as the most secure, ubiquitous, and valuable entry point in the AI era.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/from-china-mobiles-call-upgrade-to-the-commercial-launch-of-calling–ai-by-leading-operators-ai-is-reshaping-the-value-of-native-calling-302834622.html

SOURCE China Mobile

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Trip.com Group Sincerely Accepts Administrative Penalty Decision Issued by the State Administration for Market Regulation of the People’s Republic of China

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3 hours ago

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July 25, 2026

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SINGAPORE, July 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Trip.com Group Limited (Nasdaq: TCOM; HKEX: 9961) today announced that it has received the administrative penalty decision issued by the State Administration for Market Regulation of the People’s Republic of China.

Trip.com Group sincerely accepts the decision and will adopt rectification measures in accordance with applicable laws and regulations to implement the decision’s requirements. The Company will strengthen its long-term governance mechanisms and strive to contribute to the sustainable development of the travel industry.

Trip.com Group’s management team will host a conference call at 8:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time on July 27, 2026 (or 8:00 PM Hong Kong Time on July 27, 2026).

The conference call will be available on Webcast live at: http://investors.trip.com.

All participants must pre-register to join this conference call using the participant registration link below:
https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BIb78e08d8f18340c4882a7e4ab961906b.

Upon registration, each participant will receive details for this conference call, including dial-in numbers and a unique access PIN. To join the conference, please dial the number provided, enter your PIN, and you will join the conference instantly.

For further information, please contact:
Investor Relations
Trip.com Group Limited
Email: iremail@trip.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tripcom-group-sincerely-accepts-administrative-penalty-decision-issued-by-the-state-administration-for-market-regulation-of-the-peoples-republic-of-china-302834599.html

SOURCE Trip.com Group Limited

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NAVER Partners with Brookfield and NVIDIA to Expand Korea’s National AI Factory Infrastructure Buildout

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5 hours ago

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July 25, 2026

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SAN FRANCISCO, July 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — NAVER, Brookfield and NVIDIA announced an expansion of Korea’s sovereign AI factory infrastructure. New investments will increase the initial NVIDIA DSX™ AI factory deployment from 55 megawatts to 200 megawatts.

Announced during Korea President Jae Myung Lee’s AI Summit visit to San Francisco, the planned 200-megawatt expansion will be built with the NVIDIA DSX platform at NAVER’s GAK Sejong hyperscale data center in Sejong, South Korea. The expanded infrastructure will provide Korea- and U.S.- based AI innovators with access to production-scale AI compute for building next-generation models, agents and AI-powered services.

Under the terms of the agreements, Brookfield will fund up to $9 billion as the exclusive capital partner, NVIDIA will invest $1 billion and NAVER will fund the remaining amount to finance the $10 billion project.

This builds on NAVER’s June announcement to extend its GAK Sejong data center with NVIDIA DSX, with a long-term path to gigawatt-scale sovereign AI infrastructure serving Korea’s enterprises, industries, government organizations and global AI cloud customers. Combining Brookfield’s capital with NVIDIA’s computing platform, the investment supports NAVER’s AI factory deployment.

“NVIDIA’s strategic investment and our infrastructure supply agreement with Brookfield have propelled NAVER’s vision for the AI Factory business into a robust execution phase,” said Haejin Lee, Founder and Chairman of NAVER. “Leveraging the solid partnerships with our global partners, we will drive technological innovation, foster a sovereign AI ecosystem, and spearhead efforts to strengthen South Korea’s AI competitiveness.” 

AI Factory Expansion and Open Model Collaboration to Fuel AI Innovators

NAVER, as an NVIDIA Cloud Partner, provides deep expertise in operating hyperscale infrastructure powered by the full-stack NVIDIA AI platform. The 200-megawatt AI factory, featuring NVIDIA Vera Rubin and Blackwell platforms, will establish a dedicated resource pool for emerging AI companies, providing the compute, software and support needed to develop and deploy competitive AI models and applications at scale.

This expanded infrastructure also builds on NAVER and NVIDIA’s collaboration on open model development for agentic and physical AI. NAVER is advancing its HyperCLOVA X models to be based on NVIDIA Nemotron™ 3 Ultra open models with its proprietary data and training expertise. NAVER is also the first Korean company to join the NVIDIA Nemotron Coalition, contributing to open model development across pretraining, post-training and reinforcement learning.

NAVER plans to launch an AI agent platform in Korea in the second half of the year, powered by NVIDIA Agent Toolkit software including NVIDIA NemoClaw™ blueprints. NAVER is also developing a Seoul World Model using proprietary urban street-view and spatial modeling data, built on NVIDIA Cosmos™ world foundation models.

About NAVER

Founded in 1999, NAVER is Korea’s largest Internet company and one of the world’s top tech companies. Leading cutting-edge technologies, NAVER operates the No.1 search engine in Korea and holds various business portfolios encompassing commerce, fintech, cloud, AI and robotics.

NAVER recorded sales of KRW 12.04 trillion (USD 8.18 billion) in 2025. TEAM NAVER continues to enhance its business portfolio and expand its global presence across Japan, North America, and Europe, while pursuing innovation through continuous research and development in future technologies.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/naver-partners-with-brookfield-and-nvidia-to-expand-koreas-national-ai-factory-infrastructure-buildout-302834577.html

SOURCE NAVER

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