Shilla Duty Free Shop holds summer sale

Shilla Duty Free Shop is holding a summer sale until Aug. 21, giving out discounts of up to 80 percent. First-time visitors to the Incheon International Airport outlet will be given a Gold Pass guaranteeing a discount of up to 15 percent and a 50,000 won voucher. Those who visit the Jangchung-dong outlet in Seoul with a Hana SK credit card will be offered a 20,000 won voucher. An additional 20,000 won prepaid card will be given to those who shop in the morning. All visitors to the Gimpo Internat

July 22, 2014

KITA releases FTA report in English

The Institute for International Trade released a report in English on Korea’s major trade and economic policies. “The Decade-Long Journey of Korea’s FTAs” by the think tank under the Korea International Trade Association deals with Korea’s free trade agreement policies, processes and communication strategies between governments and private businesses. It also highlights the 10-year history of the Korea-Chile FTA and the future of various others. This is the first English-language report released

July 22, 2014

Roger Dubuis releases Excalibur models

Swiss watchmaker Roger Dubuis has released two limited edition models, the Excalibur Round Table and Excalibur Quartor Diamond, to mark the June 22 opening of its first Korean outlet in Lotte Department Store Avenuel in central Seoul.Inspired by King Arthur’s 12 knights, the Round Table presents a golden plate with enamel-diamond figurines of 12 heroes on it. The Quartor Diamond has four spring balances and five differential gears, in the shape of four maestros playing five musical instruments.

July 22, 2014

Janssen to sell Pfizer antidepressant

Janssen Korea and Pfizer Korea have launched the antidepressant Efexor XR, a serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, in Korea.SNRI works in the brain to correct chemical imbalances caused by lack of neurotransmitters including serotonin, which plays a key role in mood control. The drug is used to treat major depression and symptoms of depressive illness, including anxiety, loss of interest in usual activities, sleep problems, changes in appetite, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or guilt,

July 15, 2014

[Herald Interview] Dongsuh paves ‘Frima Road’ with dedication to localize

Adding a spoonful of cream to a cup of coffee doesn’t sound too special, but Dongsuh Food’s powdered coffee cream Frima is more than that. It is used in many different ways including as a dry milk replacement, as an ingredient for cereal mix and baking mix, and as a taste enhancer for bubble tea. Having started to sell beyond the Korean market in 1982, Frima is now sold in 27 countries, ranging from Russia and Central Asia all the way to Vietnam, grossing more than $60 million in 2013 from overs

July 15, 2014

Minute Maid launches 5 alive

Coca-Cola Korea’s juice brand Minute Maid presents 5 alive, a line of fruit juice blends. Four fruits ― orange, apple, muscat and mango ― are blended with carrots. The drink allows people to enjoy a sweet yet nutritious beverage, the company said, hoping that it could be a breakfast or snack replacement. 5 alive comes in a 1 liter Tetra pack and 1.5 liter plastic bottle as well as a 350 milliliter bottle and 100 milliliter plastic pouch. They are priced from 3,500 won.(baejisook@heraldcorp.com)

July 15, 2014

Nespresso introduces ice recipes

Premium capsule coffee brand Nespresso is presenting its “Ice Recipe Campaign,” recommending five ice coffee recipes using Grand Cru coffee. They are Yuzu Refresher, made of fruity Rosabaya de Colombia coffee; Ice Caramel Cafe, made with the sweet Caramelitto capsule and milk; Raspberry Ice Chocolate Coffee, made with the biscuit flavored-Boluto capsule and raspberry syrup; Ice Pistachio, made with the Arpeggio capsule and ice cream; and Pampelope Grapefruit Lemonade Coffee, a mix of grapefruit

July 15, 2014

TAG Heuer holds exhibition in Busan

Swiss timepiece maker TAG Heuer is holding its “La Maison” tour exhibition at Centum Plaza inside the Shinsegae Centum City Department Store in Busan until July 24. The event highlights the 150-year history of the brand and unforgettable moments with the watches. Busan will be the exhibition’s fourth destination, following Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai and Beijing. The featured models include Mikrograph, a patented chronographer that can measure one-100th of a second, and Mikrogirder, which is the only

July 15, 2014

Big data changes health care landscape

Professor Jan Casselman, chairman of the radiology department at St. John’s Hospital in Bruges, Belgium, once said installing a hospital-wide automated dose monitoring system has gotten top European radiologists interested in data management. The Web-based patient radiation dose monitoring software captures, tracks and reports radiation doses directly from any imaging device. It helps radiologists deliver the right dose. By tracking patients’ cumulative dose over time, the medics can take steps

July 15, 2014

Baskin Robbins releases three ice cream cakes

Baskin Robbins is presenting three ice cream cakes for this summer. Sunshine Dreaming is in the shape of the sun, and is comprised of 31 Yogurt, Cherry Jubilee, Almond Bon Bon, Shooting Star, Mint Chocolate Chip, Blueberry Cheesecake and other flavors. Dual What You Want No. 6 is comprised of Chocolate Mousse, Almond Bon Bon, Shooting Star, Puss in Boots, Cheery Jubilee and 31 Yogurt. It has chocolates in the shape of summer fruits on the top. Blueberry Yogurt S, consisting of Blueberry Cheeseca

July 15, 2014

[Herald Interview] ‘Being a brand is being responsible’

Very few South Korean low-to-mid-range accessory makers survived after the influx of cheaper Chinese products in the 2000s. They remained anonymous as outsourcers for the global market or nestled in online markets. JMarkers, the company behind the accessory brands accessory kitchen and Rustik, is a rare breed, building up its own brand and exporting products under its own brand. Established in 2011 by Jake Han and Jeen Park, JMarkers runs seven stores and sells its tems at two select shops. It a

July 8, 2014

Shin Ramyun sticks to basics but accepts diversity

The secret to the worldwide success of Shin Ramyun, Nongshim’s signature red-hot spicy instant noodles, lies in the company’s unwavering determination to stick to its original flavor, according to Park Jun, the chief executive of noodle maker Nongshim. “My belief is that what is most Korean is the most global,” Park said in an interview with The Korea Herald. “Sometimes you lose the quintessential characteristics of the product by following local trends or characteristics. But the tongue-achingl

July 8, 2014

[Herald Interview] Heerim aims to be Asia’s top architecture firm

South Korean architectural firm Heerim Architects & Planners is aiming to make its services available to more countries around the world, mostly to emerging regions where architectural know-how is in big demand. “Heerim hopes to become Asia’s No. 1 and the world’s fifth (largest)global architectural service provider by 2020,” Heerim’s chief executive Jeong Young-kyoon told The Korea Herald in an interview. “My goal is to plant our architectural style in as many places as I can.”To jump into a le

July 8, 2014

Kunhil authorized to sell insomnia treatment

Kunhil Pharm’s insomnia treatment, Cricadin, won the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety’s sales approval. The prolonged-release melatonin provide good quality natural sleep for patients with primary insomnia, the drug distributor said. Circadin is said to have shown positive results in improving morning alertness, sleep and safety. Melatonin is an endocrine hormone that is principally produced and released into the blood by the pineal gland. Melatonin has been identified as a sleep-anticipating si

July 1, 2014

Hanwha opens duty-free store in Jeju airport

Hanwha Group’s very first duty-free store made its full opening at the Jeju International Airport on Saturday. Under the main concept of “Departure Time into Luxury,” the 409 square-meter Galleria DFS presents a total of 102 brands ― 24 cosmetics, 14 foods, 15 liquor, 10 watch and six electronics brands. Three sections specializing in baby goods, sheet masks and haircare are also available. “About 90 percent of the customers are expected to be Chinese. We have equipped MCM, Hazzys, La Palette an

July 1, 2014

[Herald Interview] Nike goes digital

Sports may seem like the least-digitalized activities humans have designed for themselves, as they mainly involve physical movement. But Nike, the world’s largest sporting goods maker, has refused to accept this concept. Instead, it has decided to begin a digitalization initiative for all aspects of its business ― everything from marketing to the product line-up. “Innovation is always at the core of Nike. In order to stay ahead of the game and make the most of what we have, going digital is impo

July 1, 2014

[Herald Interview] Bibigo spearheads CJ’s charge into global food market

CJ CheilJedang, the nation’s top food maker, is spearheading the globalization of Korean cuisine by distributing its food products through global retail channels under its food brand Bibigo.“When the company set a goal of going global in the mid-2000s, what we needed the most was to develop a global brand to draw the attention of global consumers,” said Kim Chul-ha, CEO of CJ CheilJedang, a flagship affiliate of CJ Group.The food giant unveiled the Bibigo brand in 2010, declaring its new mission

July 1, 2014

[Newsmaker] Dongbu in crisis after steel deal collapses

Dongbu Group, the nation’s 17th-largest conglomerate in terms of assets, is in grave jeopardy. After the sale of key units of its flagship affiliate Dongbu Steel fell through, the group will now have to ask the steelmaker’s creditors to step in ― this means there is no hope of the steelmaker staying in one piece. On Tuesday, POSCO, the nation’s biggest steelmaker, gave up its bid for Dongbu Steel’s Incheon plant and Dongbu Power Dangjin Corp., citing low profit margins and excessive financial bu

June 25, 2014

Human resource leaders to gather for Birkman Conference

Attendees listen during the launching conference of the Birkman Method, hosted by outplacement service firm JMCAREER, in 2012. (JMCAREER)Human resources chiefs will gather for the 2014 Birkman Conference on Wednesday to discuss new human resource concepts. JMCAREER, a local outplacement service firm that first introduced the Birkman Method ― a workplace behavioral assessment approach ― to Korea in 2012, will host the conference at the Federation of Korean Industries building in Yeouido, Seoul, “

June 24, 2014

Hyundai E&C consortium wins deal to renovate Dutch reactor

Hyundai Engineering & Construction has become the first South Korean company to renovate an atomic reactor for research purposes in Europe, the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning said Tuesday. Ministry authorities said that a consortium formed of Hyundai Engineering & Construction, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute and Hyundai Engineering was named the preferred bidder for renovating an atomic reactor at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands and for adding a cold n

June 24, 2014