[Graphic News] Imports of party supplies hit record high through Nov.

South Korea’s imports of party supplies, such as decorations and balloons, hit a record-high through November this year, customs data showed, as the country has lifted social-distancing rules. The combined imports of party supplies over the January-November period came to $64 million, up 31.7 percent from a year earlier, according to the data compiled by the Korea Customs Service. The amount far exceeds $56 million tallied for all of 2021. The growth came as people hosted various parties,

Jan. 6, 2023

[KH Explains] No more ‘Burberry check’ on Korean school uniforms

With a new semester starting in two months, South Korean school uniform makers are currently busy reproducing a slew of checkered-pattern school uniforms. "Tens of millions of won have gone to waste," said an official from Hyungji Elite, a school uniform brand, who wished to be unnamed. The hasty disposal and reproduction of school uniforms follows an agreement reached last year between UK fashion juggernaut Burberry and the Korean School-uniform Industry Association, a business lobb

Jan. 5, 2023

Duty-free industry pinning high hopes on China liftng 'COVID-zero' policy

With China abolishing measures to quarantine its travelers starting 2023, South Korean duty-free shops are expecting a boost in its earnings, according to industry sources Monday. China's National Health Commission announced recently that starting Jan. 8, overseas entrants to China will no longer need to be quarantined or take PCR tests upon returning to the country. This marks the first time in three years since the pandemic broke loose that Chinese tourists will be able to travel abroad w

Jan. 2, 2023

Naver-Coupang rivalry entering new phase

E-commerce platform Naver is bolstering its delivery service, which has remained its weak point despite its vast vendor network, and renewing competition with its archrival Coupang. Naver said recently it is launching a new delivery scheme, called “Naver Guaranteed Delivery Service,” starting Jan. 14, which aims to minimize delivery time and compensate consumers if their orders do not arrive on time. The point reward worth 1,000 won ($0.8) compares to delivery fees normally priced at

Jan. 1, 2023

New rules on 'best before' dates to increase products' shelf life

The nation’s 38-year-old food expiration date system will be revised from next year to be based on use-by dates of food items, not sell-by dates, in an attempt to reduce food waste. The use-by date refers to the last day food can be consumed. If the food is older than that date, the consumer should not eat, freeze or cook the food as it may cause food poisoning. For decades, Korea has adopted a scheme based on the sell-by date, which reflects the producer’s estimate of when a food it

Dec. 26, 2022

Samsung chief's puffer vest sells out in one day

A simple puffer vest worn by Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong stole the limelight when the business mogul appeared at Gimpo International Airport on Wednesday, with the item selling out online just one day later. Lee, who usually dresses in formal Western business attire for official engagements, was headed for Vietnam to participate in an inauguration ceremony for a newly built Samsung Research and Development center. The mobile device R&D center is the company's largest in So

Dec. 23, 2022

7-Eleven speeds up converting Ministop stores

US-originated convenience store chain 7-Eleven is speeding up to complete the ongoing conversion of Ministop stores by the end of next year as the Korean operator owned by Lotte Group aims to cement its market position among the nation’s top three convenience store operators, according to Korea Seven on Wednesday. Lotte CVS 711, a Lotte affiliate, recently transferred an additional 20.5 billion won ($16 million) to Korea Seven, the local operator of 7-Eleven stores, to expedite switching M

Dec. 21, 2022

Luxury hotels slash VIP benefits to brace for lackluster year

Popular hotel chains are tightening criteria for VIP memberships and slashing generous benefits in a move to brace for lackluster sales next year, according to industry sources on Tuesday. Starting Jan. 1, Lotte Hotel, the nation’s largest hotel chain, will raise the bar to qualify for its Rewards Membership. Currently, classic, silver, gold and platinum memberships are awarded based on the customer's number of stays at Lotte chain hotels nationwide. A customer must now stay over at a

Dec. 20, 2022

[Photo News] Wishing tree

A promotional poster for Paris Baguette's Christmas seasonal cake "Snow Wishing Tree" is pictured. The coffeehouse-to-bakery chain, owned by SPC Group, has unveiled this year's Christmas cake lineup consisting of five tree-shaped cakes.

Dec. 20, 2022

Fashion powerhouse inks exclusive contracts with overseas designer brands

Hyundai Department Store's fashion retail arm Handsome said Thursday it inked three separate exclusive domestic distribution contracts with foreign designer brands, in a drive to expand its overseas fashion portfolio. The fashion retailer clinched exclusive deals with US designer brands Gabriela Hearst, Veronica Beard and Swedish fashion brand Toteme. French luxury brand Chloe's creative director Gabriela Hearst's eponymous clothing brand was launched in the US in 2015 and focuses

Dec. 15, 2022

Ministry bets big on fostering food-tech startups

In a bid to strengthen the nation's food technology industry, the government unveiled its plan on Wednesday to incubate 30 unicorn startups and aim to quadruple food-tech related exports by 2027. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, food-tech refers to a newly rising industry which applies state-of-the-art technologies such as biotechnology, and artificial intelligence to various processes including preservation, processing, packaging, distribution, and use of

Dec. 14, 2022

[Herald Interview] Retail mogul calls for diaspora support

Administrative and financial support to over 7 million ethnic Koreans living outside South Korea has largely remained insufficient, despite their contributions to the growth of Korea's export-driven economy, claimed a supermarket boss who runs over 130 stores in Vietnam. "Businesses run by ethnic Koreans overseas have been at the forefront of the Korean economy," said Ko Sang-goo, president of the Vietnam-based K-Market supermarket chain operator K&K Global Trading Co., in a r

Dec. 14, 2022

Pulmuone supplies plant-based food to 18 US universities

South Korean food giant Pulmuone’s US affiliate Pulmuone Foods USA said Tuesday it has secured deals with 18 major US university campuses to supply plant-based foods. Pulmuone had forayed into the US market in 2014, working with one of the US’ largest college food service providers UMass Dining to supply plant-based food products such as vegan steaks to universities and restaurant chains. Under its partnership with UMass Dining, the food giant signed a contract to supply its plant-ba

Dec. 13, 2022

[Graphic News] Imports of leisure equipment up 2.5% through October

South Korea’s imports of camping and hiking equipment rose 2.5 percent on-year through October this year, data showed Wednesday, as more people enjoyed activities avoiding crowds amid the pandemic. The combined imports of leisure equipment, including camping and hiking gear, came to $304 million in the January-October period, rising from $297 million posted a year earlier, data compiled by the Korea Customs Service showed. It also marked a sharp rise from just $148 million posted for all o

Dec. 12, 2022

2023 retail outlook worse than pre-pandemic levels: survey

Over half of retail business owners, or 55.3 percent, who were surveyed projected a gloomy outlook for 2023, as business sentiment among them seemed worse than pre-pandemic levels. According to a survey conducted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry on 300 retail business owners that was released Sunday, respondents predicted an average of 1.8 percent growth in the retail sector next year, compared to this year’s estimated 5.9 percent growth. “Despite expectations about econ

Dec. 11, 2022

Clothing prices hit all-time high in a decade

Apparel prices surged by the largest margin in more than a decade last month, government data showed Monday. According to data from the Korean Statistical Information Service, in November, the consumer price index for clothing and shoes in the country put prices at 107.33 -- up 5.5 percent from the same month last year. CPI gauges the measure of the average change in prices for a fixed-market basket, or a fixed list of goods and services of constant quantity, purchased by South Korean consumers

Dec. 5, 2022

Oriental Brewery's Cass tops beer market in October

Oriental Brewery's flagship beer brand Cass secured the top market share in the domestic beer market in October and seeks to continue its momentum via various promotions related to the World Cup, said the country's largest beer maker Wednesday. According to market research firm Nielsen Korea, Cass logged the largest market share in the off-trade market for the beer industry in October. Off-trade market refers to retail outlets such as hypermarkets, supermarkets, convenience stores and

Nov. 30, 2022

Chinese beer imports make strong comeback

Among imported beers, Chinese brands were imported the most to South Korea according to data on Tuesday -- successfully reclaiming the top position after weathering dwindling profitability for years due to a nationwide reluctance to use Chinese products during the pandemic. According to data from the Korea Customs Service, $31.16 million of Chinese beer was imported into the country in October -- the highest total for imported beer from one country for the month. The data shows a drastic recover

Nov. 30, 2022

Retail sales up 7.3% in October on growing outdoor activities

Retail sales in South Korea grew 7.3 percent on-year in October, as people's outdoor activities and demand for various services grew amid eased antivirus curbs, data showed Tuesday. The combined sales of 25 major offline and online retailers came to 14.66 trillion won ($10.95 billion) last month, compared with 13.7 trillion won a year earlier, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. It marked the eighth consecutive month of on-year rise, though the grow

Nov. 29, 2022

Breaking the glass ceiling: Chaebol groups make breakthrough with female leaders

A wind of change may be blowing at the nation’s male-dominant corporate culture, with more women getting promoted to take top seats amid year-end reshuffles. LG Group last week tapped two female CEOs to lead its key affiliates – Lee Jung-ae for its retail arm LG Household & Health and Park Ae-ri for its advertising unit G II R. It was the first time not just for LG, South Korea’s fourth-largest conglomerate, but for one of the nation’s top five chaebol groups, to appo

Nov. 27, 2022