Reporting and analysis on retail, e-commerce, and consumer trends in Korea, updated continuously by our newsroom.
Samsung’s surprise surge in 2016 fourth quarter profit may further close the gap with its US competitor Apple. As the high-profile Samsung-Apple battle continues, the Korean company reported sales revenue of 53 trillion won (US$44 billion) with an operating…
Vietnam was the world’s third largest importer of South Korean products during January-October, data show. The Korea-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, which took effect a year ago, has largely expanded exports from South Korea to Vietnam. South Korea’s shipments…
Apple published a total of 15 retail job listings to its corporate website today seeking candidates for the Apple Store Leader Program, business managers, Genius Bar staff and marketing, among other positions. As expected, the job postings seek employees for…
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Friday it is discussing with Korea ways for American egg producers to tap into the Korean market that is suffering from an egg shortage as a result of a massive outbreak of avian influenza. Amid the rising egg prices…
Brick-and-mortar shops will no longer be the only go-to place for buying new automobiles, as online e-commerce shops are stepping into the industry as well. Interpark said Wednesday it would start a retail service for imported vehicles with local company…
As expected, Lotte Duty Free opened its World Tower flagship duty free outlet yesterday, following a six-month period of uncertainty caused by last June’s closure of the duty free section in the building. The opening follows the well-publicised and…
Apple announced it plans to open its first store in South Korea — an aggressive move, considering its main rival in the smartphone space, Samsung, is headquartered there. To that end, it’s hiring 15 staff members in the region and has stated publicly how…
China’s new import tax regime has enabled cosmetics giants AmorePacific and Estee Lauder to lower their prices in China by up to 30 per cent. AmorePacific’s China division says it will reduce Mainland cosmetics prices for 327 lines under the brands of Etude…
After winning a Korea Airports Corporation (KAC) tender, Lotte Duty Free has officially re-launched at Gimhae airport. The retailer now has 980.44 sqm of space, an increase of 329.2 sqm over its area last year. Lotte Duty Free had a 158.34 sqm presence at the…
After launching in Korea, French fast-casual restaurant chain Lina’s Paris is planning to roll out across Southeast Asia. Working with a franchisee, it already has 10 restaurants in Korea and has just opened a kiosk in Seoul Art Center with 100 seats. Founded…
Korean group CJ Foodville has opened two Tous Les Jours cafes in Chongqing with plans to expand further into China’s inland cities. CJ Foodville is running its Tous Les Jours business in China in the form of direct ownership and master franchise. It already…
The government will waive duties on imports of eight types of egg-related products, including fresh and powdered eggs, as the shortage in Korea is deepening after a widespread outbreak of avian influenza, which has led to the culling of nearly 30 million…
South Korea has banned the sale of 10 models of Nissan, BMW and Porsche vehicles after the carmakers were found to have fabricated certification documents, in the latest fallout from the Volkswagen emissions scandal. The government announced in August that it…
The southern South Korean port of Busan said on Friday (Dec 30) it would allow activists to place a statue symbolising victims of Japanese wartime sex slavery outside the city’s Japanese consulate. The municipal authorities had previously removed the “comfort…
EV or electronic vehicle is slowly rising to the competition in the automobile industry. South Korea already made changes to their rules to those who are interested in EVs. The South Korean government will change one of their rules when it comes to EVs. South…
E-Land Group, headed by Chairman Park Sung-su, is fiercely refuting the Korea Investors Service’s latest credit downgrade of its holding firm, E-Land World, vowing to file a lawsuit against the ratings agency affiliated with the U.S.-based Moody’s. Officials…
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