Korean Tech Leaders Converge on MWC26 / Samsung and LG Sweep iF Design…

SKT to Verify Reliability of National AI Model on Global Stage at MWC26

SKTelecom announced on the 25th that it will participate in the “Global AI Red Team Challenge” held during MWC26 to verify the safety and reliability of its in-house AI model, “A.X K1.” The challenge is co-hosted by the GSMA and AI trust evaluation specialist Select Star, and will take place on March 3 at the Talent Arena inside the Mobile World Congress 2026 venue in Barcelona.

A panel of 100 evaluators will directly test large language models (LLMs) from domestic and global telecom and AI companies for risks such as generating discriminatory responses and information breaches. A.X K1 was independently developed from model design to training. It was recently selected in the first phase of the national “sovereign AI foundation model” evaluation, demonstrating its technological capability. SKT plans to reflect the results of the challenge in advancing its AI services and enhancing the completeness of its sovereign AI model.

LG Electronics Unveils Next-Generation Smart Telematics Solution at MWC26

LG’s VS Business Division will participate in MWC26 for the first time and unveil a next-generation smart telematics solution that integrates the vehicle communication TCU (Telematics Control Unit) and antenna into a single module.

As the automotive industry transitions beyond SDVs to AIDVs, vehicle communication technology has emerged as a core mobility competitiveness factor. LG will operate a private booth to strengthen strategic collaboration with automakers and telecom operators.

The solution integrates antennas that collect various external signals—including 5G, GPS, V2X, and satellite communications—with a TCU that converts them into data. By directly designing and optimizing key components, LG reduced hardware size while advancing software signal-processing algorithms. It minimizes signal loss and delivers industry-leading security. Simplifying internal vehicle wiring improves assembly efficiency and enables sleek exterior design by eliminating the conventional shark-fin antenna.

KT Showcases ‘Hi-Order’ to Promote K-Dining Tech at MWC26

KT will present its premium table-order service “Hi-Order” at MWC26 under the concept of “A Day in the Life of an Office Worker in Gwanghwamun.”

Hi-Order allows customers to place orders and make payments simultaneously through tablets installed on restaurant tables. Since its launch in May 2023, the service has expanded beyond restaurants to hotels, hospitals, and leisure facilities.

At the exhibition, visitors can directly order and pay for tteokkochi and yuja ade using tablets, showcasing Korea’s everyday digital ordering environment on the global stage. Hi-Order supports 13 languages, enabling foreigners to order without staff assistance. Its intuitive UI visually presents menu items to reduce language barriers. It also features AI-based image generation, detailed vegan and allergy options, and bill-splitting functions.

LGUplus Introduces ‘Self-Evolving’ Next-Generation AICC at MWC26

LGUplus will unveil its next-generation customer service solution “Agentic AICC,” developed using OpenAI technology, at MWC26.

The solution is the result of a strategic MOU in the AICC field signed with OpenAI in July 2025. OpenAI engineers directly participated in technical support, focusing on optimizing LLM response speed and improving consultation accuracy.

Moving beyond rule-based systems, the solution leverages OpenAI’s large language models to understand customer intent and context in real time. Even when inquiries change or involve complex requests, it maintains natural conversation flow without interruption.

At this year’s MWC, LG Uplus will present the “Self-Evolving” concept, under which the system learns from customer responses generated in new consultations based on 33 million annual consultation data records, continuously advancing itself. A “digital human” counselor applying this technology will be available for visitors to experience at the booth.

Salesforce: 84% of Korean Firms Cite Data as Key to AI Success, 61% Struggle with Utilization

Salesforce released its “State of Data and Analytics” report covering 8,000 companies worldwide, including 500 in Korea.

Sixty percent of Korean companies consider themselves “data-driven organizations,” up 28 percentage points from 2023. Among leading domestic firms, 84% recognize a strong data foundation as critical to AI success. However, 61% reported difficulties in connecting data to actual business priorities.

Fifteen percent of corporate data remains siloed and inaccessible, while 66% of respondents said their most valuable insights lie within such data. Globally, CIOs are allocating four times more budget to data infrastructure than to AI technology itself. In Korea, 56% of companies have adopted a “zero-copy” integration strategy that connects data without duplication. Salesforce plans to support these challenges with its data integration platform “Data Foundation” and agentic analytics platform “Tableau Next.”

Samsung Electronics Wins 77 Awards, Including Two Golds, at iF Design Award 2026

SAMSUNG won a total of 77 awards, including two Gold Awards, at the iF 디자인 어워드 2026.

The Gold Award winners were the object-style Wi-Fi speaker “Music Studio 5,” inspired by spheres and dots, and the “Sustainable Home Appliance Consumables Concept,” which repurposes manufacturing waste into consumable materials with differentiated colors based on post-processing methods.

Other award-winning products include the 5.8mm-thin “Galaxy S25 Edge,” the “The Freestyle+” optimized for projection on various curved surfaces, and the “Infinite AI Combo” washer-dryer.

In the UX/UI category, “One UI 7,” optimized for mobile AI, and “Home Insight,” which analyzes appliance status and suggests solutions, were also recognized. Samsung received awards across categories, including 39 in product design, 14 in UX, and 16 in concept design.

LG Electronics Wins 26 Awards at iF Design Award 2026

LG received 26 main awards at the iF Design Award 2026.

The home robot “LG Cloi,” which interacts by responding to facial expressions, voice, and gestures, and the 9mm-thin wireless wallpaper TV “LG OLED evo W6” were recognized as innovative products.

Other award winners include the “LG Gram Pro” laptop using aerospace material “Aero Aluminum,” the curved OLED display “LG UltraGear OLED evo” monitor, and the “LG PuriCare Bath Air System” for bathroom air and humidity management.

Additionally, an employee AI agent UX, the architectural design of the flagship appliance store “D5” in Gangnam, Seoul, and “Easy-to-Read Books” for slow learners and children with developmental disabilities were honored for social inclusivity and sustainability.

KT Mmobile Enhances eSIM Data Roaming ‘mobi’ Easy Registration

KT M mobile, Korea’s leading MVNO, has significantly enhanced convenience features of its carrier-developed eSIM data roaming service “mobi” and launched a discount promotion targeting spring overseas travel demand.

Previously, users needed to scan a QR code or manually enter an activation code after purchasing an eSIM, creating barriers for beginners. mobi has applied a new “easy registration” function to all devices, simplifying the process to a single in-app button.

The supported countries for the “pre-activation check” service, which allows users to verify normal eSIM operation domestically before departure, have expanded to include China and Macau. From the 25th to March 4, an early-bird spring promotion will be held on Naver Smart Store. Customers purchasing “1+1” products for eight countries—including Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, China, and the United States—can receive discounts of up to 25%.