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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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7 Jan 2019

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Latest Korea retail stories

fur fashion
Maria SantosFashion

Vegan fashion trend booming in Korea

Stroking down the plush set of colorful fibers, it is hard to tell they could be anything but fur. Hanging in the corner of an ethical fashion store in Dongdaemun, the fur-free fur coats and silk-free silk robes are soft and luxurious, but without the cost of…

GM korea
Aiko TanakaAutomotive

Korean imported vehicle sales up 11.8 percent last year

Sales of imported vehicles in Korea continued to rise last year, aided by firm demand for foreign brands and the resumption of sales by Audi Volkswagen, industry data showed Friday. The number of newly registered foreign vehicles reached 260,705 last year, up…

apple store korea opening
Minjun ParkE-Tailing

Coupang to become an authorized Apple retailer

Coupang, Korea’s top e-commerce platform, has been selected as an authorized retailer to sell Apple products, the company announced Friday. It said that the e-commerce giant was selected to become an authorized reseller of Apple products, and the service will…

04193551
Rajiv MenonLiving

Slime found to contain toxic levels of boron

Scientists have discovered potentially dangerous levels of boron in children’s slime. On Wednesday, Seoul National University scientists from the school’s Institute of Health & Environment wrote in a scientific journal that 25 out of 30 slime toys they…

seoul 770x514
Aiko TanakaLiving

Culture complexes blooms in Asia

In recent years, the term “culture complex” has often been seen on social media. Postings showing people spending time at these spaces are shared often, attached with hashtags that read “culture life,” “leisure time” and “relaxation.” Culture complexes have…

netflix streams verbruiken minder data nieuwe technologie
Maria SantosLiving

Four Korean firms join forces to fight Netflix

SK Telecom is teaming up with three major broadcasters to launch a new video content service in a bid to challenge the popularity of foreign services like Netflix. On Thursday, SK Telecom and broadcasters KBS, MBC and SBS signed an MOU to combine their…

Metal straw sunway
Aiko TanakaLiving

Malaysian mall introduces metal straws for shoppers

Malaysia’s Sunway Malls is introducing metal straws in a move to help eliminate single-use plastic straws from its property. The decision, made in alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and the government’s decision to ban plastic…

korea department store
Maria SantosGeneral

E-Land’s owners step down from management

Owner family members of fashion conglomerate E-Land Group stepped down from management on Thursday, handing over the helm to younger executives internally promoted to leadership roles. The move comes in an effort to rejuvenate its governance structure to…

playing games
Aiko TanakaLiving

Korean gaming firm could go up for sale at $7 billion

The founder of Korea’s top gaming company Nexon has put the company up for sale, according to a local media outlet, in what could be the biggest such deal in Korean history. According to a report, Kim Jung-ju, chairman of NXC, the de facto holding company of…

Starbucks Hong Kong Flagship Exclusive Merchandise
Minjun ParkFood

Starbucks South Korea offers incentives using own cups

Starbucks South Korea says the number of customers bringing their own cups to the store leapt 24 per cent in just one month. The boost is the result of its ‘Eco Bonus Star Program’ aimed at reducing waste and improving consumer awareness of sustainability…

Kakao Taxi
Aiko TanakaLiving

Kakao T signs MOU with premium taxi service

Kakao Mobility is partnering with premium taxi provider Tago Solutions to improve customer service quality and drivers’ income levels. The move comes as tensions continue to boil over with much of the taxi industry fiercely protesting the company’s carpooling…

Samsung Vietnam
Wei ZhangElectronics

Samsung signals big 5G equipment push, again, at factory

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong’s first appearance in the field this year was to celebrate the start of production at a 5G network equipment factory Thursday. His field visit comes as the company puts more weight this year on the 5G…

hyundai kia
Minjun ParkAutomotive

Hyundai sales ups a bit in December

Hyundai Motor, Korea’s largest carmaker by sales, said Wednesday its December sales rose 0.4 percent from a year earlier on weak overseas demand. Hyundai sold 410,326 vehicles last month, up from 408,637 units a year earlier, the company said in a statement.…

ecommerce
Wei ZhangE-Tailing

Korea e-commerce hits high of 10.62 trillion won in November

The total value of online shopping in Korea reached a record high in November, government data showed Wednesday, in the latest sign that a growing number of Koreans are using computers or mobile devices to buy things ranging from clothes to electronic goods.…

ssangyong2
Rajiv MenonAutomotive

SsangYong Motor rehires 60% of its workers

SsangYong Motor said Monday that it has rehired 60 percent of workers who were sacked amid the carmaker’s restructuring efforts over a decade ago. The maker of the Rexton and Tivoli SUVs has been mired in protracted disputes with those who left the company…

general motors pension plans
Wei ZhangAutomotive

GM Korea to cut prices after disappointing sales

GM Korea, the Korean unit of General Motors, said Tuesday it has cut the prices of mainstay models in an effort to revive lackluster sales. Starting Tuesday, GM Korea revised the prices of its major models — such as the Impala sedan, Trax, and Equinox…

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