Reporting and analysis on retail, e-commerce, and consumer trends in Korea, updated continuously by our newsroom.
South Korea’s Samsung Electronics said Friday it’s considering building a factory to make household appliances in the United States as various industries brace for potential protectionist trade policies under the administration of President Donald Trump. A…
Duty free shops in Korea have begun to invite internet celebrities from China, better known as “Wang Hong” there, to attract Chinese tourists during the upcoming holiday season. The shops are seeking to break through Beijing’s economic retaliation against…
The Korean duty free market surged by 33.5% year-on-year in 2016 to KW12.2 trillion (US$10.5 billion), according to new figures from Korea Customs Service. The results reflect a strong bounce-back from the MERS-ravaged 2015, allied to booming Chinese visitor…
Out of the 19 million homes in South Korea, a government survey found that 99.2 percent have access to the internet. Up by 3.2 percent from last year, South Koreans over the age of three are all plugged into the World Wide Web. What makes this truly amazing…
Sales at South Korea’s department stores in December rebounded from November on year-end gift purchases, trade ministry data showed on Monday, while sales for the whole year ended on a positive note, reversing two years of decline. Combined sales last month…
The deal with V-Grass represents the biggest cross-border merger and acquisition agreement in Korea’s fashion industry. E-Land Group said proceeds from the sale will help the company reduce its debt level to 240 percent by the first quarter from the current…
The scuba diving equipment market in South Korea to grow at a CAGR of 5.97% during the period 2016-2020. The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the scuba diving equipment market in South Korea for 2016-2020. To calculate the market…
Italian eyewear specialist Safilo Group has signed an exclusive distribution agreement in South Korea with Seeone, a respected local commercial eyewear operator. The new partnership is effective from 1 February. However, Safilo’s Korean duty free business…
The weeklong Lunar New Year holiday season has started in China, and surrounding countries and regions are expecting the usual surge in spending by Chinese tourists. This year, however, things may be different. According to China’s biggest online travel…
South Korea’s LG Electronics on Wednesday reported its second successive year of slumping net profits due partly to weak smartphone sales. Full-year net profit for 2016 was 126.3 billion won (Dh398 million, $109.3 million), the Seoul-based firm said, down by…
Luxottica Global Channels, part of Luxottica Group, and DFS Group have joined forces in a worldwide exclusive launch of the new Prada Cinéma sunglasses collection. The limited edition range has been available exclusively at selected DFS airport and T Galleria…
According to the Korean Customs Service (KCS) which recently shared some Korean duty free sales figures with the local media, the total DF market in South Korea grew by +33.5% in 2016, registering sales of KRW12,275.7bn (US$10.56bn) The No. 1 duty free…
Indonesia’s retail/media conglomerate CT Corp is partnering with cinema companies to open movie theatres in its retail complexes. CT retail arm Trans Retail has announced a partnership with Graha Layar Prima, which runs the Korean-owned CGV cinema chain…
As it turns around and heads toward profitability again, Australian fast-food chain Pie Face has plans to expand into Japan and South Korea. Its receiver flags the hot-pie business will be sold soon, but it has left behind a trail of destruction: secured debt…
Samsung Malaysia Electronics has launched its first Samsung Experience Store (SES) in Genting Highlands, at Sky Avenue mall. It is a one-stop shop providing mobile phones and accessories as well as associated services. Samsung Malaysia Electronics IT and…
China has banned imports of South Korean air purifiers, industry sources said Friday, amid growing concerns Beijing is retaliating against Seoul’s move to install an advanced U.S. missile defense system. Air purifiers made by LG Electronics Inc., Shinil Co.…
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