Debate over the characteristic of Coupang’s popular Rocket Delivery service was put to rest after a local court on Tuesday upheld its legality, confirming that it was not considered a paid transport service under current law.“The court has reaffirmed Coupang’s long-standing position that Rocket Delivery was not a paid shipping service,” an official for Coupang said.Rocket Delivery allows consumers who buy more than 19,800 won's ($18) worth of products from Coupang to receive free guaranteed next

Industry July 19, 2017

Retail giant Shinsegae said Wednesday that it will release a branded credit card called the SSG Card on Thursday.While most retailers partner with existing credit card companies to create credit card benefits for their consumers, Shinsegae produced its own card to create synergy with its SSG Pay system. Models pose with the SSG Pay system using the new SSG Card (Shinsegae)When used together with SSG Pay, the SSG card allows consumers to earn 1.5 percent of their spending as cash points called SS

Industry July 19, 2017

진행자: 원호정, Paul Kerry1. 정부, 북한에 군사당국회담 및 적십자회담 제안정부는 17일 월요일, 북한에 군사당국회담과 추석 이산가족 상봉을 위한 적십자회담을 동시에 제안했습니다. 북한이 회담 제의에 응하면 지난 2015년 12월 남북 차관급 회담 이후 1년7개월만의 남북 당국회담의 성사이자 2015년 10월 이후 첫 이산가족 상봉이 될 것입니다.아이튠즈(아이폰): https://itunes.apple.com/kr/podcast/koliaheleoldeu-paskaeseuteu/id686406253?mt=2팟빵 (안드로이드): http://www.podbbang.com/ch/6638‘Seoul proposes talks with NK on military, family reunions‘[1] South Korea on Monday proposed military talks with the North in its first formal overture under Presid

Podcast July 19, 2017

The third mall under Shinsegae’s Starfield brand has set its opening date for Aug. 24, according to Shinsegae Property on Tuesday.Starfield Goyang in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, will span 365,000 square meters and will include a kids’ theme park and Shinsegae’s flagship outlets such as Shinsegae Department Store and Emart Traders.  An image of an entrance to Toy Kingdom in Starfield Goyang (Shinsegae)Other entertainment facilities previously showcased at Starfield Hanam, including Aquafield and S

Industry July 18, 2017

The executive board of Kumho Industrial on Tuesday proposed a revised offer regarding the Kumho Tire brand, partially accepting creditors’ version but remaining firm on who pays fees for the brand.“The executive board of Kumho Industrial has decided to accept the revised offer from Korea Development Bank of paying 0.5 percent of sales for 12.5 years for brand rights to Kumho Tire,” Kumho Asiana said through a statement.  However, Kumho Asiana said that while it agreed to the 0.5 percent rate at

Industry July 18, 2017

A lawsuit filed against McDonald’s Korea claiming that a 4-year-old contracted a condition causing kidney failure after consuming a hamburger at the fast-food chain has been spreading fear about the safety of burger patties. (Yonhap)Earlier this month, a woman surnamed Choi filed a suit against McDonald’s Korea claiming that her daughter became sick with hemolytic uremic syndrome after eating a Happy Meal at a McDonald’s branch in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province.The child suffered kidney failure a

Industry July 17, 2017

The Korean duty-free industry may see a drop in on-year annual sales in 2017, which would make it the first decline in 14 years, according to data from the customs regulator Sunday.Since the outbreak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome virus in 2003, the duty-free industry had seen steadily rising sales until last year. Especially in 2016, sales had risen sharply to 12.3 trillion won ($10.83 billion), breaking the 10 trillion-won mark thanks to the popularity of Korean music and dramas and

Industry July 16, 2017

Despite being in the red since its launch three years ago, Shinsegae announced it will be investing 300 billion won ($264 million) over the next three years into its convenience store business, rebranding it from Withme to Emart24, redesigning its stores’ layout and introducing private label products.Describing Emart24 as an “innovation program” at a press event held at Coex on Thursday, the company’s Chief Executive Kim Song-yong said that the chain hopes to find its place “in the intensely com

Industry July 13, 2017

Korea’s two full-service carriers were questioned by police over allegations that they were running illegal restaurant operations at their lounges in Incheon Airport, the airlines confirmed Wednesday.Korean Air and Asiana Airlines’ airport lounges, which are technically convenience facilities, are not licensed to operate as restaurants. However, Korean Air heats and mixes some of the food it serves to its business class and first class passengers on-site, which police construe as cooking. Asiana

Industry July 12, 2017

Upon the conclusion by the audit board that Lotte Duty Free was wrongfully denied duty-free licenses by the Korea Customs Service in 2015, the prosecution has launched its own investigation into the case that is also connected to the ongoing trial of impeached former President Park Geun-hye.The Board of Audit and Inspection has said Tuesday that after two rounds of its investigation, they have found the KCS knowingly manipulated data submitted by duty-free operators to prevent Lotte Duty Free fr

Industry July 12, 2017

Retail giant Shinsegae said Tuesday that its affiliate Jeju Soju will be releasing a new brand of soju called “Pureunbam,” marking the group‘s entry into the market.The name “Pureunbam,” literally meaning “Blue Night,” was chosen because it reflected images that are often associated with the southern island of Jeju such as tranquility and purity. Promotional image for Shinsegae‘s upcoming soju brand “Pureunbam” (Shinsegae)The company said that it has created a “new recipe utilizing Jeju's clear,

Industry July 11, 2017