In a move to expand its footprint in the health care sector, CJ CheilJedang will spin off its health and wellness business, the Korean food maker said Tuesday. Set to be launched on Jan. 1, the new subsidiary CJ Wellcare will be entirely controlled by CJ CheilJedang. The move comes after CJ Group Chairman Lee Jay-hyun in early November pledged to invest 10 trillion won ($8.41 billion) over the next three years to boost four growth engines -- one of which is the health and wellness sector.

Consumer Nov. 23, 2021

Prices are rising for ramyeon, milk, and other everyday foods and drinks, as the pandemic has disrupted supply chains and pushed up the prices of agricultural goods. According to data from the Bank of Korea released Monday, consumer prices in the third quarter rose 2.6 percent from the same period last year. It was the steepest on-year increase in nine years, the institution said. First to feel the impact was South Korea’s No. 1 fried chicken franchise, Kyochon F&B. The company on

Consumer Nov. 22, 2021

Hyundai Livart’s first smart furniture production plant and distribution center has begun operations, according to Hyundai Group’s furniture arm Hyundai Livart on Thursday. Located in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, the 85,950-square-meter Smart Work Center hosts an automated furniture production plant and massive distribution facilities. It is the first smart furniture factory not only in Korea, but in all of Asia, the company said. The smart factory is controlled by an IT system t

Consumer Nov. 18, 2021

The Korean Consumer Agency on Wednesday issued a scam warning over websites and emails with a “top-sale-korea.com” URL. The institution has received a total of 66 consumer complaints regarding the address as of Oct. 20, it said. In 65 percent of the cases, the sites arbitrary canceled orders without giving a refund. The rest concerned vendors going out of contact after delivery of defective or faulty products. Customers were lured into the websites via social media advertise

Industry Nov. 17, 2021

Samyang Foods said Wednesday it had inked a partnership deal with United Arab Emirates retailer Sarya General Trading to accelerate Spicy Buldak Ramen sales in the Middle East. Under the 2.5 billion-won ($2.1 million) deal signed on Tuesday, Sarya will be Samyang’s exclusive distribution partner in the country. The two plan to increase export volume to 50 billion won by 2023, it said. UAE is the region’s biggest market for Samyang. Currently, some 71 percent of Korean instant no

Consumer Nov. 17, 2021

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, outdoor sports facilities and counseling centers have enjoyed a business boom, while internet cafes and karaoke rooms struggled, fresh data shows.  According to Shinhan Card’s Big Data Lab on Tuesday, which analyzed new business openings in the January-September period in 2020 and 2021, tennis courts and outdoor golf courses saw a jump of 174 percent and 131 percent, respectively, during the nine-month period.  Golf has enjoyed expl

Industry Nov. 16, 2021

Fried chicken and beer -- known locally as “chimaek” -- is a food pair beloved by many Koreans.    In a new development in South Korean chimaek scene, major chicken brands are coming up with their own beer brands, in order to give this popular food combo a special appeal.  KFC confirmed Monday to The Korea Herald that it was preparing to launch its own craft beer.  The US fried chicken franchise has formed a partnership with independent brewery Kabrew, and

Consumer Nov. 15, 2021

Six Korean companies have been added to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI) said a public institution under the Ministry of Industry, Sunday. The six companies are Samsung Biologics, Kakao, SK Telecom, Hyundai Motors, logistics company Hyundai Glovis and car parts maker Hyundai Mobis, the Korea Productivity Center said. The Dow Jones Sustainability World Index is part of a larger family of Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) launched in 1999 as the first global sustainabilit

Industry Nov. 14, 2021

Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun was approved as head of World Archery Asia, the biggest group promoting archery in Asia region, for the fifth time, the carmaker announced Sunday. Chung was reappointed as the institution’s president at the group’s general meeting held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Friday. Of the 28 member countries that attended the event, 26 voted in favor of Chung leading the association for the next four years, the group said. Following the appointment, Ch

Industry Nov. 14, 2021

SK Group announced Thursday that it will invest $340 million in Crown X, a consumer retail platform within Vietnam’s Masan Group, in an effort to expand its strategic partnerships in Southeast Asia. SK Group recently bought a 9.5 percent stake in the Vietnamese consumer goods company, in line with its Global Story initiative to discover new market opportunities through direct foreign investment. Crown X is a subsidiary of Masan Group and owns Masan Consumer Holdings, a food and bevera

Industry Nov. 11, 2021

SPC Group said Thursday it opened the nation’s first Paris Baguette bakery in the Ashta District 8 shopping mall of Indonesia capital Jakarta. The move comes after the South Korean food company set up a joint venture with its local partner, Erajaya Group, last month. With a population of 270 million, Indonesia is SPC’s seventh market. The 189-square-meter space is located in the city’s biggest commercial area, the Sudirman Central Business District, and boasts more than 50

Consumer Nov. 11, 2021

Rolls-Royce’s latest model in its bespoke cars lineup, the Black Badge Ghost, is unveiled in Seongsu-dong, eastern Seoul, Wednesday.  The new model is a redesign of the New Ghost released last year. It is topped with a 6.75-liter twin turbo V12 engine and boasts a maximum 600 horsepower.  Retail prices start at 550 million won ($423,000).

Mobility Nov. 10, 2021

Hollys Coffee’s Chief Financial Officer Lee Jong-hyun has been named the new CEO of the coffee chain, its operator KG Hollys F&B announced Wednesday. Lee was named the brand’s CFO last year, when KG Group acquired the franchise to bring it under its food and beverages unit, which is now KG Hollys F&B. “Our goal is not to become the brand with the most stores, but a coffee franchise with a low closure rate. We will strengthen our dessert and deli menus, as well as f

Consumer Nov. 10, 2021

Korea Communications Commission Chairman Han Sang-hyuk tested positive for COVID-19 Friday, after one employee from the commission was found to be infected with the virus.  Han was fully vaccinated, local reports said. As Han attended a National Assembly session Tuesday, attendees have been told to get tested by the health authorities, among them Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum. Following chairman Han’s test results, the government requested the National Assembly Budget Settlement Co

Industry Nov. 5, 2021

Starbucks Korea announced Thursday that a dozen of its locations in Seoul will get rid of single-use plastic cups as part of the chain’s ongoing efforts to reduce plastic waste. Starting Saturday, 12 Starbucks stores in Seoul will serve beverages only in mugs, tumblers or reusable cups. These include the City Hall Station, Seosomun-ro and Eulji-ro branches in the city center. Seoul is the second location where the coffee chain has decided to move away from single-use plastic cups, aft

Consumer Nov. 4, 2021