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Moebius House a super-sized strip of math wonder

The Moebius House doesn't look or sound real. It's designed to be built on a Korean island in a forest growing on volcanic rock. It's inspired by the unending brain teaser known as a Mobius strip.

Design firm Planning Korea has tackled some creative projects in the past, including designs for a mega-bridge over the Han River and a cocoon-shaped house that looks like it could hide a giant insect inside. It's no wonder those same architects saw a Mobius strip as a good basis for a house.… Read more

Google's Eric Schmidt to meet Kim Jong-Un?

Wouldn't you like to be a wall on the flight?

Can you imagine what Google's Eric Schmidt will be muttering to other members of a U.S. delegation that is reportedly going to Pyongyang, North Korea for a little diplomatic pying-pyong?

According to the Associated Press, this trip might even happen in the next few weeks, with former Governor of New Mexico Bill Richardson also in the party.

Naturally, details of this alleged trip are being kept very close to official chests. But one can surely hope for nothing more than a meeting between Schmidt and North Korean … Read more

LG OLED TV to begin shipping in February

Today LG announced it would make the first 55-inch OLED TV available to the public next month in South Korea for a cost of around $10,000. Select Korean stores will begin taking preorders tomorrow.

LG said that it would announce availability in additional markets, likely including the U.S., "over the next several weeks." I'm taking a wild guess that more will be said at the company's 8 a.m. (PT) CES press conference January 7.

The television, model 55EM9700, is the successor to the 55EM9600 that won CNET's highest honor at the Consumer … Read more

Yahoo completes withdrawal from South Korean market

As it promised earlier this year, Yahoo has completed its exit from the South Korean market before the end of the year, according to a brief report by the Yonhap News Agency.

Yahoo announced its intention in October to withdraw from the country, saying that the move was a response to "efforts to streamline operations and focus our resources on building a stronger global business that's set up for long-term growth and success."

The South Korean unit, which had been in operation since 1997, consisted of about 200 employees, delivered editorial content and handled the company's … Read more

Motorola Mobility to leave South Korea, cut jobs

Motorola Mobility will close "most" of its South Korean operations by 2013, according to a leaked internal memo.

According to the memo (in Korean), the move is part of a continued global restructuring effort by parent company Google, which bought the smartphone maker earlier this year for $12.5 billion. Since then, however, restructuring costs have bumped the overall price close to $13 billion.

The deal was proposed by Google to acquire more than 17,000 patents from Motorola, but the hefty price tag will soon be challenged in court, where the search giant may discover that … Read more

iPhone 5 hits South Korea Friday, and 50+ new lands in December

Apple said today that the iPhone 5 would be available in South Korea on Friday, with more than 50 additional countries getting its marquee smartphone later this month.

As the company has gotten its supply chain issues under control, with ship times in the U.S. dropping dramatically, it is starting to look to expand availability and reach of the iPhone 5.

Apple last week said that the iPhone 5, the iPad Mini, and the fourth-generation iPad would hit the China market in December.

As with previous launches, Apple has had a tough go of it this time around in … Read more

Flushed with pride, Korea celebrates toilet theme park

I've been to some bizarre spots in South Korea, from DMZ tunnels to a seaside park dedicated to giant penises, but a new theme park in Suwon is at the top of my must-see list: it celebrates toilets.

The Restroom Cultural Park is billed as the world's first toilet theme park. It's a monument to the colorful former mayor of Suwon, a man known as Mr. Toilet.

The late Sim Jae-duck was himself born in a toilet and had an affection for loos throughout his life, rigorously promoting public facilities while mayor. … Read more

Apple Maps draws Korean complaint over Dokdo islets

South Korea has voiced its displeasure over Apple's map service for the iPhone indicating both the Korean and Japanese names in reference to the Dokdo islets, the ownership of which is a point of tension between the two countries.

Citing a foreign ministry official, a report by Yonhap News on Wednesday said Apple's Korean unit notified the local government its new English map service under the iOS 6 mobile operating software simultaneously uses Korean, Japanese and Franco-English names -- "the Liancourt Rocks" -- to describe Dokdo, which is also claimed by Japan.

The … Read more

Google TV makes its way to Korea

Google TV is expanding its reach and moving into Korea. The local provider, LG Uplus, is now offering an integrated Google TV set-top box with its television subscription service.

"If you've ever considered moving to Korea to enjoy its kimchi and K-pop -- starting today we have another reason for you," Google wrote in a blog post. "New and existing LG Uplus subscribers can get the u+tv G starting today, bringing live TV and 50,000 on demand titles, now integrated with Google TV apps like Search, YouTube, Google Play and Chrome."

This partnership … Read more