Retailers roll out paid vaccine leave as vaccine rollout speeds up

Retail giants such as Shinsegae Group and Lotte Group are rolling out paid vaccine leave for staff as the country’s vaccine rollout gathers speed. Shinsegae Group, the retail giant behind Shinsegae Department Store and Emart, said on Monday it would provide two days off work to those who get vaccinated. The group said one additional day off will be provided to those who have side effects from vaccination. “We are actively providing our employees with an environment where they can

May 31, 2021

Ministry to push for 'use-by dates' to cut food waste

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said Sunday it would take steps to replace sell-by dates with the use-by dates in an effort to give food a longer shelf life and reduce food waste. Sell-by dates on food products indicate the period of time said products can be distributed and sold. But use-by dates show how long products can be stored for and still used. The latter often lasts longer than the former, though sell-by dates are what is currently used in the country. Milk, for instance, oft

May 30, 2021

[From the scene] Fans line up for BTS Meal at McDonald’s in South Korea

Under a light drizzle on Thursday morning, a group of young people stood outside a McDonald’s in Sinchon, Seoul, waiting in line. “Since the announcement in April, I have been waiting for the launch of the BTS Meal, and I am very glad to finally have it today,” Toni Yeptho told The Korea Herald as she stepped outside with a McDonald’s meal to go. Not just any meal, but the BTS Meal. Clad in her green BTS sweatshirt, Toni, an exchange student from India, introduced he

May 27, 2021

SPC Samlip brings US yogurt brand Chobani to Korea

South Korean food company SPC Samlip has signed an exclusive contract with US-based Chobani to distribute and sell their yogurt products here, the company said Thursday. Starting July, SPC Samlip said it will exclusively supply Chobani products to retailers here, and also work on producing new products under the brand using homegrown ingredients. Chobani supports the Farmer’s Assuring Responsible Management animal welfare program, which ensures that farms supplying milk to the company

May 27, 2021

Coupang Eats offers loyal delivery workers 6,500 won per delivery

Food delivery service Coupang Eats will drastically hike delivery incentives for veteran delivery workers in a trial next month amid growing competition to secure more drivers. In a recent announcement to a select group of its drivers, the company said seasoned delivery workers can claim up to 6,500 won ($5.79) per delivery, more than double the regular delivery fee of 2,500 won given to Coupang Eats drivers per delivery. To receive the higher “Legend” wage, workers must have carr

May 26, 2021

Coupang to provide health care program to delivery drivers

E-commerce giant Coupang will introduce a health care program to a select group of its delivery drivers, the company said Tuesday, as the country’s online shopping boom has left delivery workers exposed to even more relentless work conditions. Dubbed as “Coupang Care,” the program will see partakers set aside from their regular assignments and instead receive education on healthy diets, exercise and disease management from experts for four weeks. The drivers, known as “

May 25, 2021

‘Funsumer’ products: milk-inspired body wash sparks safety fears

Earlier this month, supermarket chain Homeplus announced a milk powder-scented body wash -- an unexpected three-way collaboration with LG Household & Health Care and Seoul Dairy Cooperative. The result set the internet abuzz over its quirky packaging that takes the shape of cartons of Seoul Milk, the bestselling milk in the country. “We came up with the retro product that lives up to the sentiment of consumers based on our experience as a milk buyer,” the company said in a stat

May 24, 2021

Hy to launch plant-based protein brand Protein Code

Food and beverage company Hy, previously known as Korea Yakult, said on Thursday it will enter the plant-based protein market with its new brand Protein Code. Though the company previously released protein-focused products, it marks the first time it has launched a brand dedicated to protein-heavy products. “Protein Code products are 100 percent plant-based, keeping in line with consumer trends such as going vegan and value-based consumption,” the company said in a statement. The

May 20, 2021

More water bottles go label-free as retailers ramp up green marketing efforts

More retailers are joining the trend to go label-free on their water bottles amid growing environmental awareness and green marketing efforts in the industry. South Korean supermarket chain Homeplus said on Wednesday that it has so far sold some 1.34 million label-free bottles of water, which were released as part of its premium private brand Homeplus Signature late last month. Described as an “ethical consumption” product, the supermarket estimated the label-less water bottles red

May 19, 2021

HiteJinro renews advertising partnership with LA Dodgers

South Korean distiller HiteJinro said on Tuesday it has extended an advertising partnership with Major League Baseball team LA Dodgers for another three years. First signed in 2012, the ongoing deal will help promote the company’s products and boosts its global brand awareness among local baseball fans during the Major League Baseball season, the company said. With the deal in effect until 2024, the two will have teamed up for more than a decade following the new signing. The move will

May 18, 2021

GS25 opens 3 convenience stores in Mongolia

Convenience store chain GS25 is opening three locations in Mongolia, in its second major overseas foray, the company said on Tuesday. According to GS Retail, the firm behind the chain, it has partnered with Shunkhlai Group, one of leading conglomerates in the country, to enter the Mongolian market. A launch event was held in both South Korea and Mongolia, livestreamed online on Tuesday, with company officials as well as dignitaries from both countries in attendance, including the South Kore

May 18, 2021

Coupang launches “Global Shopping Day,” offers up to 40% discount

Coupang, South Korea’s e-commerce giant, is offering discounts of up to 40 percent on overseas direct purchases and Coupang direct import items for three days through through Wednesday, as part of its “Global Shopping Day.” Items are organized by theme for the three-day event to help customers shop with more ease and convenience. Under the theme “Get ready for summer now,” customers can shop for home gym equipment and dietary supplements such as protein supplem

May 17, 2021

Fashion brand Juun.J unveils uniform for Hybe’s museum staff

South Korean fashion brand Junn.J has revealed the uniform for staff at entertainment giant Hybe’s new museum. The ensemble consisting of a white T-shirt and a black wide sleeve top and a pair of black cargo jogger pants will be worn by staff at Hybe Insight, which opened last week on the two basement floors of Hybe’s new headquarters in Yongsan, central Seoul. The design took on board Hybe Insight’s image, a venue where music can be experienced in various ways and Junn. J&rs

May 17, 2021

Japan beauty firm DHC under fire again after CEO’s discriminatory comments

Japanese beauty firm DHC has come under fire once again after its chairman used discriminatory language targeting ethnic Koreans in a recent column on its official website. CEO Yoshiaki Yoshida claimed the company’s request to place an advertisement in newspapers and air a TV commercial has been rejected by multiple media outlets in Japan. The proposed ad featured names of ethnic Korean celebrities who “deserve to be despised for the benefit of Japan,” according to the post.

May 16, 2021

Gmarket kicks off ‘Mega G Festival’ for foreign shoppers

Gmarket is holding its Mega G Festival, an online shopping event targeted at foreign shoppers at home and abroad until next Tuesday, offering discounts for a wide range of items including K-pop albums, K-beauty and Korean food products. The event kicked off on the Gmarket Global Shop in conjunction with eBay Korea’s Big Smile Day, a shopping event organized by operators of multiple e-commerce platforms including Gmarket, Auction and G9. The event saw some 2.87 million items sold on its op

May 16, 2021

Meat analogues find way onto Korea’s fast food menus

Fake meat, or meat analogues are becoming more familiar in the South Korea’s food scene, with fast food franchises rolling out items that use plant-based meat alternatives. It was just February last year when Lotte GRS’ burger chain Lotteria became the first fast food franchise to roll out a meat analogue option. The Miracle Burger uses a specially developed patty made of wheat and beans. Since then, more fast food franchises have added options with meat alternatives to their menu

May 16, 2021

Coupang deliver record-breaking revenue of W4.7tr in Q1

South Korean e-commerce giant Coupang posted a record-breaking 4.7 trillion won ($4.2 billion) in revenue during the first quarter of this year as the business continues to grow in size but its operating loss nearly doubled due to an increase in operating and administrative costs. According to the firm’s earnings report, revenue was up 74 percent compared to one year ago, its biggest Q1 sales figure to date. “We ended the quarter with 16 million active customers, a 21 percent year-

May 13, 2021

E-commerce giant Coupang logs record sales in Q1

South Korean e-commerce giant Coupang Inc. said Wednesday its first-quarter sales hit a new high, but operating losses widened sharply due to increased costs and investment. Sales stood at $4.21 billion in the January-March period, up 74 percent from a year earlier, Coupang said in a regulatory filing. The figure was the largest top line for the first quarter, the New York-listed company said. Yet Coupang registered an operating loss of $295 million for the last quarter, up a whopping 180 per

May 13, 2021

HiteJinro to sell Terra in US, Singapore and Hong Kong

South Korean liquor maker HiteJinro said on Wednesday it will bring popular lager Terra to the US, Singapore and Hong Kong. The move marks the first time the green-bottled beer will be sold outside Korea since its release three years ago, with a batch of 1.2 million 330-milliliter bottles set to hit the shelves in Hong Kong first, before they are made available in the US and Singapore. Terra will be supplied to Korean communities in the countries first, where high demand is expected, before be

May 12, 2021

[Feature] One year into pandemic, contactless businesses continue to thrive

Once fueled by an emphasis on social distancing and hygiene woes, contactless businesses are continuing to thrive in Korea nearly one year into the coronavirus pandemic as companies rush to prepare for the post-pandemic era. Lee Do-shim, a 29-year-old Pilates instructor in Sejong City, is among the many who have become used to meeting basic necessities such as grocery shopping and getting takeout food without human interaction. “After the pandemic began, social distancing became the norm

May 12, 2021