Google sets up research centre in South Korea

SEOUL: Google on Tuesday said it would set up a research and development centre in South Korea to take advantage of the country's advanced market and to recruit its computer experts.   

The world's top Internet search portal signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy and the Korea Trade Investment Promotion Agency on the establishment of the centre.   

"Google's R&D centre in Korea enables us to recruit local computer scientists to further develop innovative search technologies for Korean users and users around the world," said Alan Eustace, senior vice president.   

"Korea is one of the most technologically advanced markets in the world," he said.   

Details, including the size of the investment and when and where the centre will open, were not made public.   

Industry Minister Chung Sye-Kyun said the government was looking forward to the investment and employment opportunities that the Google center will bring to the country.   

Google's Korean R&D center is the latest addition to a growing number of global engineering offices, which include Britain, Israel, Norway, Japan, Switzerland, India, Russia and the Americas.