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Korea Retail News

Reporting and analysis on retail, e-commerce, and consumer trends in Korea, updated continuously by our newsroom.

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6 Jun 2019

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video streaming media youtube
Minjun ParkTelecom

SKT to provide first 5G live TV sports broadcast

SK Telecom has revealed plans to offer the world’s first live TV sports broadcast using a 5G network for the SK Telecom Open 2019 golf tournament. The tournament, which will be held as part of the KPGA Korean Tour, will be live broadcast on JTBC’s dedicated…

korea retail
Wei ZhangGeneral

South Korean retail sales surged during Holidays

The unprecedented extension of the Japanese Golden Week holiday to 10 days has seen a surge in tourists visiting South Korea. The holiday was extended to mark the enthronement of Crown Prince Naruhito from the usual April 29 to May 5 period. Duty free…

5G Indoor
Rajiv MenonTelecom

South Korea already has 260,000 5G subs

South Korea’s mobile operators have already racked up over 260,000 5G subscribers since launching full-fledged services on April 3, government figures indicate. SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus have been rapidly adding 5G customers during the first month of…

AmorePacific’s My Beauty Atelier Seoul 4
Rajiv MenonFashion

Amore Pacific launches Etude House

Amorepacific Group, the largest global beauty company headquartered in Korea, has launched Etude House in India. Etude House has become the third Amorepacific brand introduced to India after Innisfree and Laneige. The brand made its debut on the Indian market…

coffee
Sarah ChenFood

Blue Bottle Coffee Taking Off in Seoul

The first South Korean cafe for Blue Bottle Coffee has launched today. The brand’s 14,000sqft headquarters in Seoul includes a roastery and training lab, which is open for public tours, classes, and tastings. Blue Bottle will open a second cafe in Seoul later…

SK Telecom Shop
Wei ZhangTelecom

SKT to help broadcasters create 5G livestream system

SK Telecom has signed agreements with South Korea’s top three terrestrial broadcasters to develop new media solutions and business models based on 5G technology. The operator has signed memoranda of understanding with Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS), Korean…

SK Broadband
Maria SantosTelecom

SK Broadband agrees to merge with t-broad

South Korea’s SK Telecom has arranged to merge its fixed broadband subsidiary SK Broadband with the nation’s second largest cable TV operator t-broad to help both companies weather rapid changes in the pay TV market. Under the proposed merger, which still…

LG
Maria SantosElectronics

LG Aledgly stopping flagship smartphone production in Korea

LG’s smartphone business has been struggling for quite some time, but the company is still hopeful of turning a profit. At this point, a sudden uptake in smartphone sales seems unlikely so LG has recently focused on cost-cutting measures, one of which seems…

Vietnam Ecommerce
Wei ZhangE-Tailing

South Korean E-Commerce Under Pressure

Mounting losses in the South Korean e-commerce industry are calling local business models into question. Competitive pricing and fast delivery capacities have made the industry an ascendant phenomenon in the territory, with the purchase of a whole spectrum of…

shibuya apple 800x533
Minjun ParkElectronics

Apple’s 5G iPhone Using Samsung Modems to be released in 2020

In one fell swoop, Apple cut the Gordian knot of 5G modem supply and it is smooth sailing from here, as it paid Qualcomm undisclosed amount to settle the patent litigation and secure a multi-year contract for 5G iPhones. “It’s personal. I don’t see anybody…

Sephora Malaysia2 e1358940658873
Wei ZhangFashion

Sephora heads to Seoul, Korea

LVMH-owned cosmetics retailer Sephora will launch its first outlet in South Korea this October. The first Sephora South Korea retail space will take up 547sqft in Gangnam, featuring hundreds of brands as well as home-brand products under the Sephora label.…

KB Kookmin Bank
Rajiv MenonFinance

South Korean bank launches hand palm recognition verification

A South Korean bank has launched a service allowing customers to use palm recognition to withdraw cash – a likely precursor to similar technology becoming available in retail stores. KB Kookmin Bank says by using palm prints, customers no longer have to use a…

uniqlo
Rajiv MenonFashion

Greater China and South Korea drive Massive Uniqlo sales

Heavy discounting necessary to offload winter stock has hit Uniqlo sales. Parent Fast Retailing has struggled with a shortage of popular winter items in the past, and overcompensated last winter by ordering too much inventory ahead of what proved to be an…

GS25
Maria SantosLiving

Korean GS25 launches shared-bike charging service

Starting June, customers of South Korean GS25 convenience stores will be able to charge shared electric bicycles or kickboards. GS25 announced on Wednesday that it will set up an electric bicycle and kickboard charging service facility at its stores in…

retail vietnam china korea japan sales
Wei ZhangE-Tailing

South Korean online retail sales show steep climb

South Korean online sales posted double-digit growth in February, underpinned by soaring demand for air purifiers. The spike in demand was caused by an instance of fine-dust pollution that hit Korea during the month. The findings were published in a Ministry…

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