Shot by Lim Jeong-yeo and Kim Da-sol / Edited by Lim Jeong-yeoWhen Samyang Foods released Buldak Spicy Chicken Ramen in 2012, the company did not expect it would receive such explosive popularity from customers abroad -- especially in the YouTube community.“In the beginning, we developed the product targeting local spicy food lovers in the niche market,” Park Jung-seok, Samyang Foods’ marketing manager, told The Korea Herald. Buldak refers to grilled chicken marinated in super-spicy red chili pa

Industry Jan. 23, 2018

Young South Koreans tend to stick to a beer brand when dining out, a survey showed Monday.According to a survey of 1,000 people in their 20s by research company IDINCU, nearly 80 percent of the respondents said they regularly order a specific beer when eating out. While 20.5 percent said they drank whatever beer that the wait staff brought for them, 79.5 percent said they ordered a specific brand. (OB)The results showed that 54.5 percent chose Cass from Oriental Brewery, a South Korean brewery o

Industry Jan. 22, 2018

CE-commerce platform Cafe24 said Friday that it has partnered with major Japanese payment platform SoftBank Payment Service.“Cafe24 will continue to expand partnerships with key global companies that possess technical expertise in order to provide optimized local services in various countries,” said Cafe24 CEO Lee Jae-suk.Cafe24 signed a memorandum of understanding with SoftBank Payment Service to share business know-how and boost the global e-commerce market, the company said. Under the agreeme

Industry Jan. 19, 2018

Mercedes-Benz’s electric vehicle sub-brand EQ has made Korean debut on Friday, by displaying its plug-in hybrid SUV at the new terminal of Incheon International Airport. Mercedes-BenzThe 2018 GLC 350e 4Matic SUV is the first plug-in hybrid from EQ to enter Korea. The name EQ signifies “Electric Intelligence” and is derived from the Mercedes-Benz’s brand values of “emotion and intelligence,” the company said. “What EQ aims for is the smart mobility, the vision which we wanted to share with public

Mobility Jan. 19, 2018

After nine years of construction, South Korea’s main gateway airport finally opened its sleek new terminal this week. Incheon Airport’s second terminal cost approximately 5 trillion won ($4.7 billion) to build. Armed with smart technologies, its impressive new features are evident from the moment passengers step into the new terminal. Shilla Duty FreeBy using the Incheon Airport mobile application, passengers can find their way around and locate check-in kiosks and restaurants with the help of a

Industry Jan. 19, 2018

South Korea started the new year as the world's 59th placed football team in the FIFA rankings. According to the January men's rankings table released by FIFA on Thursday, South Korea moved up one spot to No. 59 with 569 points. South Korea were the world's 37th-ranked team one year ago. The Taeguk Warriors, having qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, had the fourth highest position among Asian Football Confederation (AFC) members. Iran fell two spots to No. 34, but remained the top-ranked Asi

Soccer Jan. 18, 2018

With the latest announcement of a merger with the media arm of the group, CJ O Shopping, South Korea’s largest home shopping company by revenue, is expected to make a foray into media-converged commerce and wider overseas markets. CJ O ShoppingCJ O Shopping on Wednesday announced it will merge with CJ E&M, with the finalization slated for Aug. 1 after the plan earns approval at a general meeting of shareholders in June. CJ O Shopping is CJ Group’s home shopping network and has top sales in the i

Industry Jan. 18, 2018

E-commerce company Coupang has launched OneTouch Payment, the first Korean mobile checkout system that allows online payment with a single touch, the company said Thursday. Coupang’s OneTouch Payment     CoupangOnline payment options mostly require an additional authentication step, such as a password, fingerprint or security card. However, Coupang’s OneTouch Payment will allow users to simply click the “Pay” button to check out on its mobile app, the company explained.OneTouch Payment is availa

Industry Jan. 18, 2018

(Photo courtesy of SPC)The sixth Shake Shack store in Korea has opened at Incheon Airport’s new terminal. It is the largest among five other branches of the burger chain at airports worldwide. Shake Shack stores in Korea are operated exclusively by SPC Group. The new branch is located on the first basement level of Incheon Airport’s Terminal 2, slated to open Thursday. It will offer a variety of new items including Egg N’ Cheese, Shack Blended Coffee and a dessert called Fly Me to the Shack.Offi

Industry Jan. 17, 2018

Incheon Airport officially opens its second terminal Thursday, marking its first large-scale expansion in 17 years armed with smart technologies.  A view of Incheon Airport’s Terminal 2 from the control tower. YonhapPassengers at Terminal 2 will be able to complete the whole check-in process in 30 minutes via a host of smart technologies, such as automated check-in services and a face-recognition system, according to Incheon Airport. In addition, larger waiting areas in the departure and arrival

Industry Jan. 17, 2018

The government eased a key anti-corruption law’s limits on the value of certain gifts Wednesday, saying it hoped the change would bolster agricultural sales.“The effectuation of the revision to the enforcement ordinance of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act is expected to bring great and positive change to agricultural and fishery industries, especially with the New Year’s holiday less than a month away,” said Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Kim Young-rok during a press brie

Industry Jan. 17, 2018

About 64 percent of part-time staffers at eateries in Korea were in favor of banning customers accompanied by children from the premises, a recent survey showed. (The Korea Herald)According to the survey conducted by Albamon, a part-timer recruiting website, about 64 percent of 1,268 part-timers at eateries supported a “no-kids policy.”More than 84 percent of the respondents said they had experienced inconvenience due to children.South Korea has seen a growing number of child-free venues in rece

Industry Jan. 15, 2018

When the mercury falls below zero in one of the coldest regions in Korea -- cold enough to freeze the river -- it is then that the place gets ready to begin the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival.This year’s Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival, now in its 15th year, kicked off on Jan. 6. At least 380,000 local and foreign guests visited Hwacheon County in Gangwon Province during the first three days of the three-week festival. Ice fishing is just one of the highlights of the festival, which includes

Social Affairs Jan. 12, 2018

For an increasing number of Koreans, rice and noodles are no longer the foundation of their meals. A growing appetite for sandwiches and baked goods like cakes, pastries and doughnuts have made bakeries ubiquitous across Korea.Wheat consumption has continued to grow in a country where traditionally a meal without rice was no meal at all. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the average South Korean ate 33.2 kilograms of wheat flour in 2016.(123RF)Meanwhile, rice cons

Industry Jan. 12, 2018

　2016년 7월 한국에 상륙해 폭염 속에서도 버거를 사기 위해 하루 종일 줄이 늘어서는 진풍경을 연출했던 ‘쉑쉑버거’(쉐이크쉑)이 인천공항 제 2터미널(T2)에 들어오는 신매장에는 무인주문 시스템인 ‘키오스크(Kiosk)’ 설치를 고려하고 있다고 밝혔다. 　　쉐이크쉑은 2016년 개점 초 최소 한 시간 이상 줄을 서야 주문할 수 있었다. 폭염 속에서 기다리는 소비자들에게 닥칠 혹시 모를 건강상 위험을 대비해 SPC 측에서 부채와 생수는 물론, 간호사까지 준비시킬 정도였다. 　  인천공항 제2터미널(T2)에 입점 예정인 인기 햄버거 매장 쉐이크 쉑(Shake Shack) 6호점 (사진=인천공항공사 제공)하지만 이번 달 18일 인천공항 제 2터미널에 개장하는 쉑쉑버거 국내 6호점에서는 길게 선 줄을 대신할 수 있는 주문과 결제가 한번에 가능한 키오스크가 선보일 가능성이 높다. 　　쉐이크쉑을 국내에 들여온 SPC그룹 관계자는 10일 “인천공항 제 2터미널의 전반적인 무인 키오스크 컨셉에

한국어판 Jan. 10, 2018