E-Land Group’s fast fashion brand SPAO said Thursday it would launch a casual hanbok collection ranging from robes, pajamas to accessories. Ten items featuring patterns inspired by plum blossoms and bamboo will be released as part of the collection, which will go on sale online on the brand’s official website and fashion e-commerce platform Musinsa on Friday. The collection, which is a collaboration project with hanbok brand Leesle, garnered attention before its official release ov

Consumer June 24, 2021

BAT Korea has unveiled a new “Eco Package” for its tobacco heating product Glo in its latest effort to embrace environmental, social and corporate governance values. To minimize carbon emissions and resources during the product distribution process, the size of the package has been reduced 30 percent, the South Korean unit of the British multinational company said. In addition, the product instructions have been simplified while the charging adapter, which was mainly made of plast

Consumer June 24, 2021

Big data consulting firm Lotte Members said Wednesday that it has begun a “workcation” program for its staff this month, offering the opportunity to work from Jeju Island. Some 10 employees will work from one of the country’s most popular holiday destinations for a week during each round of the eight-round program. During the week, participants will only work Monday to Thursday between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., the company said. For safety reasons, workers who are part of the pr

Industry June 23, 2021

In March, Coupang made history as the first South Korean startup to make its debut on the New York Stock Exchange in the US, becoming a subject of both awe and envy among entrepreneurs here. But a few months later, it now faces growing criticism, with many suggesting the company achieved stellar growth by sacrificing the safety and well-being of its workers. A series of deaths among its workers and a fire at one of its distribution centers last week seem to have reinforced that view. Outside

Consumer June 22, 2021

E-commerce platform operator Coupang has once again surprised the market by winning the exclusive rights to broadcast the Tokyo Olympics online, apparently beating out local tech giants Naver and Kakao. For the deal, which has not yet been officially announced, Coupang may have agreed to pay up to 50 billion won ($44 million), industry observers said Monday, adding that it testifies the Nasdaq-traded firm’s strong intent to expand into the over-the-top content business. Since launching

Technology June 21, 2021

Hyundai Motor’s sedan Avante has sold over 100,000 units nearly one year after its release, the company revealed Sunday. The all-new Avante, which was unveiled in April last year, racked up 104,937 sales as of April, and 111,634 units as of last month. Having sold over 77,000 models within last year alone, it is the second bestselling sedan and third bestselling passenger car in the country so far this year, following Hyundai Motor’s Grandeur and Kia’s Carnival, which sold 43

Mobility June 20, 2021

Naver and CJ Logistics said on Sunday its “all-round” fulfillment center in Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province, had begun operation in a further push for next day delivery. The five-story warehouse, boasting a floor space of 38,400 square meters -- an equivalent of five soccer stadiums -- can store, manage, pack and ship items using the latest logistics technology including MPS and eFLEXS. Another center with a cold chain system focusing on chilled and frozen products is set to open in Yongi

Consumer June 20, 2021

It is not so often that companies in South Korea go out of their way to cater to the LGBTQ community. Eve, however, is not afraid to embrace everyone. With its gender-neutral models and simple product packaging, the sexual health brand is a far cry from the heteronormative narrative that has dominated the condom industry for years. “While everyone who is sexually active is our potential target, it is true that the condom industry has heavily relied on sex appeal and focused on heterosexu

Consumer June 14, 2021

South Korean convenience store GS25 said Sunday that it has recently launched a delivery service using an artificial intelligence-based robot at a second location in southern Seoul. The second AI-powered robot dispatched at its GS Tower branch in Yeoksam-dong in the Gangnam area comes after the company first unveiled the service last year. Customers can place an order via KakaoTalk to have staff load the items onto the robot, which then brings it to the customer’s doorstep using wireles

Consumer June 13, 2021

The new owner of eBay Korea, the third-largest e-commerce operator in the country, is expected to be announced this week after a monthslong bidding process draws to a close, industry sources said. The race is between two retail giants Shinsegae and Lotte Shopping. Both operate a wide range of businesses in the retail sector, including supermarkets and department stores, and have submitted their letters of intent for the Korean unit of eBay during the final round of bidding on June 7. Whoever w

Consumer June 13, 2021

South Korea said on Wednesday it will accelerate travel bubble talks with the likes of Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand to allow quarantine-free package tours for those who are fully vaccinated from as early as July. With only group tours allowed at the beginning, one or two flights will fly a week, carrying up to some 200 passengers once a travel bubble is formed, with plans to extend the scale of the travel scheme later, the Transport Ministry said. The move comes as the government is set to

Mobility June 9, 2021

South Korea’s exports of computers, display panels and home appliances could weaken later this year as a result of declining global demand and growing tensions between the US and China, a new report has warned. But other sectors -- secondary cell, automobile, semiconductor and shipbuilding industries -- would fare better and expect to enjoy an upward trend at least until next year, according to the according to the report released on Tuesday by the Federation of Korean Industries. The r

Industry June 8, 2021

Hopes for air travel recovery are starting to coalesce around the vaccine rollout in South Korea, as booking sites and airlines prepare for a surge in travel demand. E-commerce platform WeMakePrice said Monday that bookings for international flights jumped 442 percent between May 27 and June 2 – the week when the government’s leftover vaccine appointments began. “With main travel destinations lifting quarantine requirements for vaccinated travelers and South Korean airlines r

Mobility June 7, 2021

Line Man Wongnai, a food delivery service firm distantly affiliated with South Korea’s Naver, has said it will expand its operation nationwide in all 77 provinces in Thailand by the end of this year and hopes to branch out into districts in an effort to continue its growth. CEO Yod Chinsupakul said the company is “well primed” for a fast expansion given its database and local expertise, in a Zoom interview this month with The Korea Herald. “Wongnai already is a restaur

Consumer June 6, 2021

Fueled by support from loyal fans of its fresh and sweet flavor, mint chocolate is going mainstream in Korea. Snack firm Orion said Thursday it has released the Mint Choco Pie -- a minty take on its internationally popular snack. The limited edition of the snack, which is made of cacao biscuits covered in mint syrup and mint chocolate will be sold only this summer. Vanilla cream was added to Choco Pie’s signature layer of marshmallow to increase the sense of mintiness, the firm said. &l

Consumer June 3, 2021