Articles by Kim Hae-yeon
Kim Hae-yeon
hykim@heraldcorp.com-
Coupang pledges W3tr to expand Rocket Delivery nationwide by 2027
South Korean e-commerce firm Coupang on Wednesday pledged to invest 3 trillion won ($2.23 billion) over the next three years to expand its signature Rocket Delivery service nationwide by 2027. The company's logistics network is expected to be drastically expanded, with eight new fulfillment centers being built by 2026. The centers also will feature more advanced automation technology to improve operational efficiency overall. Following the expansion, Coupang said that its overnight Rocket D
Industry March 27, 2024
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Antitrust watchdog to launch large-scale survey on e-commerce platforms
With the rapid influx of global e-commerce into the domestic market, the Fair Trade Commission is set to launch an extensive market survey starting Tuesday, to examine the evolving landscape and structure of the e-commerce market in Korea. The survey marks the first step in gathering data to produce a policy report slated for release by the end of this year. The report's objective is to proactively identify and analyze fair trade and consumer issues arising from shifts in e-commerce market
Industry March 25, 2024
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Walter Cho charts course for seamless integration with Asiana Airlines
Korean Air Chair and CEO Walter Cho secured his position as a board member of the national flag carrier and pledged to steer the company toward successful integration with Asiana Airlines this year, marking a leap toward establishing a megacarrier. Cho received an 85 percent endorsement from participating shareholders during their annual meeting on Thursday. "Despite the prolonged timeline, the merger between Korean Air and Asiana Airlines will be a substantial driver of long-term growth,
Industry March 24, 2024
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Paris Baguette, Pascucci partner for Italian market entry
SPC Group's bakery chain Paris Baguette is poised to enter the Italian market in collaboration with Italian coffeehouse chain Caffe Pascucci. SPC Group Chair Hur Young-in inked a business agreement with Mario Pascucci, CEO of the Italian coffee brand Caffe Pascucci, during Pascucci’s visit to Korea on Sunday, for the Korean franchise bakery's expansion to Italy. Paris Baguette's entry into Italy will mark its third expansion into Europe, following launches in France and Brit
Industry March 24, 2024
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AliExpress to open bidding for logistics partner in Korea
Chinese e-commerce giant AliExpress has chosen to solicit open competitive bids in Korea instead of extending its delivery contract with CJ Logistics, set to expire in April. According to industry sources Thursday, AliExpress recently submitted bid proposals to major logistics firms here to handle customs clearance and parcel delivery services. The new contract period, which reportedly spans one year from May, is seen as AliExpress' cost-saving measure, according to sources. In addition to
Industry March 21, 2024
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Sephora exits Korea after years of losses
French cosmetics retailer Sephora, owned by LVMH Group, on Tuesday declared its withdrawal from the Korean market, following years of financial losses. "With heavy hearts, we have decided to cease operations in Korea. From May 6, we will gradually wind down our presence across online platforms, mobile applications and physical stores, ultimately withdrawing completely from the market," a social media post by Sephora Korea announced Tuesday. Sephora said that it will fulfill pending ord
Industry March 20, 2024
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Trade specialist named new CEO of Hyosung Heavy Industries
Hyosung Heavy Industries on Monday announced that it has appointed Woo Tae-hee, an international trade specialist who currently serves as the vice chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as its new CEO overseeing the company's heavy industry and construction businesses. Woo, 62, a graduate of Yonsei University's Department of Public Administration in 1984, obtained his doctorate in business from Kyung Hee University in 2011. After passing the public service examinatio
Industry March 18, 2024
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Korean Air to expand flights to pre-pandemic levels
Korean Air on Monday said it plans to expand the number of its international flights for the upcoming summer season, elevating its operational rate to nearly 96 percent of pre-pandemic levels. From March 31 through Oct. 26, the company will resume operations of weekly flights to four cities, including China’s Zhengzhou and Zhangjiajie, as well as Zurich and Bangkok. The Incheon-Zurich route will have three weekly flights to meet the high demand for summer travel to the Swiss city among Kor
Industry March 18, 2024
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[Herald Interview] Lithium-rich Chile seeks to lure more Korean investment
Chile's Ministry of Public Works and the investment promotion agency, InvestChile, recently visited Seoul to boost the country's infrastructure and technology sectors, inviting investors in Korea to participate in its extensive portfolio of projects. During an interview with The Korea Herald at the Embassy of Chile in central Seoul on Thursday, InvestChile Director Karla Flores and Concession General Director Juan Manuel Sanchez shed light on their strategies to attract new investment
Industry March 17, 2024
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Overseas direct purchases to lead e-commerce trends: data
Amid escalating competition in Korea's e-commerce landscape, direct overseas transactions between individual sellers and consumers have become a growing trend, according to eBay. On Friday, eBay unveiled insights into this year's online direct purchase market, drawing from comprehensive annual sales data of Korean sellers gathered through its platform. Three major keywords were "Collectibles," "North America" and "March." Particularly, the keyword "Co
Industry March 15, 2024
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Alibaba pledges $1.1b investment for Korea expansion
Alibaba Group, the company of Chinese e-commerce giant AliExpress, renowned for its budget-friendly offerings, plans to invest more than $1 billion in Korea over the next three years, with a massive distribution center being built within the year. According to industry sources on Thursday, Alibaba has recently submitted its business expansion plan in Korea, including an investment of $1.1 billion, to the local authorities possibly for regulatory approval. The investment plan includes a new distr
Industry March 14, 2024
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Yanolja launches US office amid IPO push
Korean travel platform operator Yanolja announced the opening of its first US office in Manhattan, New York, on Wednesday. The move aims to accelerate its North American travel solutions business, coinciding with growing anticipation for the company's potential listing on the US stock market this year. Since its inaugural overseas branch opened in Singapore in 2019, Yanolja has rapidly broadened its local presence in key countries. The firm currently operates 50 overseas offices across 27 c
Industry March 13, 2024
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[KH Explains] Coupang's Farfetch gambit: Was the deal undervalued?
In December last year, South Korean e-commerce giant Coupang made a surprise announcement that it was buying Farfetch, the British luxury shopping platform, in a $500 million deal. The highly-publicized acquisition seemed like a win-win for both: Coupang’s global expansion could be accelerated, backed by Farfetch’s extensive business network, while cash-strapped Farfetch could streamline its operations to elevate its sluggish profits. But a group of Farfetch investors, called the 202
Industry March 12, 2024
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Posco wins massive EV magnet orders from global carmakers
Posco International, the trading and energy arm of Korean steel giant Posco, announced Tuesday that it has recently secured a substantial order for rare earth permanent magnets, an essential part of an electric vehicle drive motor core, through its overseas subsidiaries. The US subsidiary of Posco International plans to procure permanent magnets worth some 900 billion won ($685 million) from 2026 to 2031, for a global automaker in North America. The magnets produced will be utilized in the drive
Industry March 12, 2024
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Koreans lose appetite for fruits amid soaring prices
South Korea’s fruit consumption has diminished by almost 20 percent over the past 15 years amid supply shortages and soaring prices, government data found Sunday. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the nation’s per capita fruit consumption declined by 19 percent to 55 kilograms in 2022 after peaking at 67.9 kilograms in 2007. Tangerines and apples topped the per capita consumption with 11.8 kilograms and 11.0 kilograms, respectively, followed by pears (
Industry March 10, 2024
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