Korea's e-commerce platform sector is highly competitive, but The Woorishop thinks it has the standout solution: a cashback offer to keep customers coming back. The platform provider offers a package that returns high-percentage cash paybacks to consumers, allowing buyers to enjoy substantial discounts while sellers boost their sales. "The Woorishop operates on a business model that benefits both buyers and sellers when they interact online," said Jeon Ho-geun, CEO of The Woorisho

Companies May 29, 2024

South Korea has for the last nearly three decades seen a rise in the number of self-employed individuals who have been forced to start their own businesses due to layoffs and reduced employment opportunities. With the number of job losses outpacing the number of new hires in recent data, a general increase in involuntary early retirements and the rapid rise of the digital gig economy since the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, many people here have added side jobs or are working multiple freelance job

Companies May 29, 2024

South Korea widened the range of drinks that restaurants can sell by the glass Tuesday, as drinkers increasingly prefer to consume alcohol in smaller amounts, rather than by the bottle, according to government officials. Previously, restaurants were restricted from selling most types of alcoholic beverages in individual glasses because this practice was deemed unauthorized processing by law. Although violations such as eateries selling wine by the glass were common, restaurants that broke these

Industry May 28, 2024

South Korean e-commerce giant Coupang has set up its first overseas distribution unit in Taiwan in an apparent move to boost its presence in the burgeoning retail market there, according to industry sources Monday. The new subsidiary, named Haitong Shangmao, specializes in distributing locally produced daily necessities from Coupang’s fulfillment centers to customers. A Coupang official also confirmed the establishment, which he said is part of the company’s expansion plans for its s

Companies May 27, 2024

For both developed and developing countries, carbon neutrality is no longer a choice, but a human survival strategy, experts and policymakers told the H.eco Forum 2024 on Wednesday in Seoul. During a panel talk with the theme of “Energy Transition for Net Zero Roadmap,” Yoo Yeon-chul, executive director of the UN Global Impact Network Korea, shared how three core themes shaped recent notable international events, such as the 28th UN Climate Change Conference held in Dubai in 2023 and

Social Affairs May 22, 2024

Chinese e-commerce platforms, including the big three -- AliExpress, Temu and Shein -- suffered a more than 40 percent fall in sales in April, possibly hit hard by consumer concerns over product safety. According to a Monday report by BC Card, the nation’s largest payment processing company, payments on Chinese e-commerce platforms dropped more than 40 percent last month compared to the previous month. The transaction volume also decreased by 38.1 percent over the same period. Payments for

Industry May 20, 2024

South Korean builder Daewoo Engineering & Construction Chairman Jung Won-ju met Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, who was visiting South Korea for a bilateral summit, to seek support for the builder's expansion plans in Cambodia, the company said Friday. During the meeting, Jung requested support for Korean companies making inroads investments into the Cambodian market and discussed ways to enhance economic cooperation between the two nations, the firm said. "Daewoo E&C, as o

Companies May 17, 2024

CJ Group's health and beauty drugstore CJ Olive Young showed stronger year-on-year performance in the first quarter, largely driven by robust sales in foreign markets and an increasing number of foreign visitors to Korea. According to its regulatory filing Thursday, the company reported 1.08 trillion won ($797 billion) in sales for the first quarter of the year, up 30 percent increase compared to the same period last year. The profit figures were not immediately disclosed. The company first

Companies May 17, 2024

South Korean logistics company LX Pantos said Thursday it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Sinotrans, the Chinese logistics giant, as part of efforts to facilitate maritime and aerial transportation for deliveries to the US and Europe, as well as between the two Asian countries. The signing event was held Monday at Sinotrans’ headquarters in Beijing, with the attendance of LX Pantos CEO Lee Yong-ho, Sinotrans President Song Rong and other relevant officials. Under the agreemen

Companies May 16, 2024

Korean food giant CJ CheilJedang beat earnings estimates in the first quarter of this year, largely driven by increased overseas sales. According to its regulatory filing Tuesday, the company posted 4.44 trillion won ($3.24 billion) in sales and 267 billion won in operating profits in the first months of the year. Its profits alone surged 77.5 percent from the same period last year. Its flagship food business reported 2.83 trillion won in sales and 184.5 billion won in operating profits, up 2.6

Companies May 14, 2024

In the realm of materials science, diamonds have long held a prestigious status for their unparalleled hardness and brilliance. Traditionally, the synthesis of these coveted gems has relied on high-pressure, high-temperature methods, representing a significant barrier to large-scale production. However, recent research by Rodney S. Ruoff and his team at the Center for Multidimensional Carbon Materials within the Institute for Basic Science has opened a new chapter in diamond synthesis -- growing

Industry May 14, 2024

Samyang Roundsquare shares rallied Monday, driven by investor expectations of the growing popularity of its spicy ramyeon brand, the Buldak series, especially in the US market. The shares soared to a record high of 353,000 won ($258) at one point in the morning before closing at 329,000 won. Over the past three months alone, the shares jumped more than 70 percent. Samyang's upward trajectory began in August 2023 when it posted record exports of its Buldak products in the second quarter. E

Companies May 13, 2024

Kwon, an office worker in her 30s residing in Seoul raises a small white Maltese called Seolgi. She says that she is increasingly feeling the pinch from prolonged inflation that has also hit the prices of her dog's food. A 20-kilogram bag of dog food, equivalent to about a month's worth of food for Seolgi, was priced at 38,000 won ($28) last year, but now the price has reached more than 44,000 won. However, Kwon said she has no intention of reducing her spending on her beloved companio

weekender May 11, 2024

Daewoo Engineering and Construction has been showcasing its engineering prowess not only domestically but also internationally, winning a series of large-scale bridge construction projects. On home soil, Daewoo E&C constructed the Dongjak Bridge, the first combined railway and roadway bridge in South Korea in 1984. Since then, they have successfully completed numerous bridges, including the Gwangan Bridge, Cheonsa Bridge, and the Geoga Bridge, which features the country’s first underwa

Companies May 9, 2024

HD Hyundai Marine Solution, a ship maintenance unit affiliated with Korean shipbuilding giant HD Hyundai, made its stock debut Wednesday, with the stock price soaring on the first day of trading. Listed on Kospi, the nation’s main bourse, its stock opened at 119,900 won ($88), a 48.8 percent surge from the initial public offering price of 84,300 won. It hit a high of 166,100 won before closing at 163,900 won. During its book-building period earlier in April, the company managed to amass

Companies May 8, 2024