On September 25, 2025, the landscape of smart technology in South Korea shifted notably, as two major developments signaled the country’s growing appetite for interconnected devices and seamless digital lifestyles. Xiaomi Korea, the local arm of the Chinese tech giant, unveiled a suite of eight new gadgets and home appliances—including its flagship Xiaomi 15T Pro smartphone and the compact Xiaomi Pad Mini tablet. Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp. introduced their much-anticipated "Home-to-Car" service, a collaboration with Samsung Electronics’ SmartThings platform that allows drivers to remotely check and control their vehicles through smartphones and smart home devices.
For Xiaomi Korea, the launch marks both a milestone and a statement of ambition. According to Yonhap, the company has seen remarkable success since opening its first store in South Korea just three months ago. Jony Wu, general manager at Xiaomi Korea, highlighted the strong local demand for premium devices, revealing that "40 percent of Xiaomi smartphones sold since launching its first store in South Korea three months ago were high-end models." This appetite for top-tier gadgets, Wu explained, informed the decision to introduce the high-spec Xiaomi 15T Pro and expand the company’s footprint in the country.
"Soon, we'll be working with Hyundai Department Store to take our offline presence even further," Wu stated in a release, hinting at Xiaomi’s aggressive retail strategy. The company is set to open two additional stores in collaboration with the retail giant E-Land Group within the week, and it’s not stopping there. Xiaomi is actively exploring a partnership with T-money—a ubiquitous mobility and payments service in Korea—aiming to integrate its devices more deeply into Koreans’ daily routines.
Beyond physical stores, Xiaomi is also expanding its digital reach. The company has begun collaborating with SSG.com Corp. and Naver Corp., two of South Korea’s leading online platforms, to ensure its products are available to a broader audience. Recognizing the importance of after-sales support in building customer trust, Xiaomi announced plans to launch an Exclusive Service Center in central Seoul this October. The move is designed to enhance warranty and repair services for local users, a clear nod to the high expectations of South Korean consumers.
While Xiaomi is busy embedding its devices into the fabric of Korean life, Hyundai Motor and Kia are pushing the boundaries of what it means to live in a truly connected world. On the same day as Xiaomi’s launch, the two automakers rolled out the "Home-to-Car" service—a technological leap that blends automotive convenience with the smart home ecosystem. As reported by Hyundai Motor and Kia, the service leverages Samsung’s global SmartThings platform, granting owners of Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis vehicles the ability to check their car’s status and control key functions from a range of smart home devices and their smartphones.
This isn’t just about locking or unlocking doors from afar. The Home-to-Car service is available for models equipped with the latest ccNC and ccIC27 infotainment systems, and it lets users monitor real-time vehicle status, including tire pressure, whether doors or windows are open, climate control settings, battery levels, and remaining driving range. Remote actions such as starting the engine, activating climate control, and managing electric vehicle charging can all be executed with a tap or a voice command.
The integration goes further, weaving vehicles into the daily routines of users. Imagine this: as you leave home for work and lock your smart door, the system automatically turns off all lights and appliances, starts the robot vacuum cleaner, and simultaneously fires up your car’s engine and climate control to create a comfortable environment before you even step outside. It’s a vision of convenience that feels almost futuristic, yet it’s happening now in South Korea.
SmartThings, Samsung’s platform, is already a staple in millions of homes worldwide, and it’s not limited to Samsung-made devices. This universality means that Hyundai and Kia’s vehicles can now interact with a vast ecosystem of smart gadgets, potentially creating powerful synergies for users who crave seamless connectivity. According to a Hyundai and Kia official, "Vehicles are no longer just a means of transportation, but are becoming another platform connected to customers’ living spaces. Through this partnership, we will continue to provide experiences where cars and daily life seamlessly connect."
Looking ahead, Hyundai and Kia have ambitious plans to expand the service even further. They’re working on Car-to-Home functions, which will allow drivers to control home appliances from their vehicles, as well as AI-based routine automation and voice recognition-based integrated control. These developments are expected to roll out in phases, promising even tighter integration between home, car, and user in the not-so-distant future.
Both Xiaomi and the Hyundai-Kia-Samsung alliance are tapping into a powerful trend: South Koreans’ deepening interest in smart living and digital convenience. The country’s dense urban environments, high smartphone penetration, and tech-savvy population make it fertile ground for innovations that blur the boundaries between home, mobility, and personal devices. Xiaomi’s strategy of expanding both its physical and online presence, coupled with enhanced after-sales service, aims to win over a market that demands both cutting-edge technology and robust customer support.
Meanwhile, Hyundai, Kia, and Samsung are betting that the next wave of automotive innovation isn’t just about electric engines or autonomous driving—it’s about making the car an extension of the connected home. By allowing drivers to manage their vehicles as easily as their smart refrigerators or thermostats, they’re hoping to create stickier, more valuable relationships with customers.
Of course, such rapid advances also raise questions about data security, interoperability, and the potential for technological overload. As more devices and services become intertwined, users will need to navigate issues of privacy, compatibility, and the occasional glitch. But for now, the excitement in South Korea is palpable, as consumers and companies alike race to define what the future of smart living will look like.
In a country renowned for its embrace of innovation, the events of September 25, 2025, may be remembered as another leap forward—one where the smartphone, the car, and the home finally began to speak the same language.