SEOUL, March 5 (Korea Bizwire) — The escalating tariff war initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump is disrupting the decades-old global free trade system, triggering a shift toward protectionism among major economies, including China. The retreat from free trade threatens export-driven economies like South Korea, which now faces mounting challenges amid intensifying U.S.-China economic rivalry. [...]
SEOUL, March 5 (Korea Bizwire) — In a move that has sent shockwaves through South Korea’s retail industry, Homeplus, one of the country’s largest retail chains, filed for court receivership on March 4, citing concerns over potential liquidity issues that could affect vendor payments as early as May. The bankruptcy filing has drawn criticism from industry [...]
SEOUL, March 4 (Korea Bizwire) — Luxury rental prices in Seoul have surged, with a growing number of apartments commanding monthly rents exceeding 10 million won ($6,900), highlighting a shift in the city’s high-end housing market. According to data from South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, released on March 3, nearly 38% of [...]
SEOUL, March 4 (Korea Bizwire) — The government said Tuesday it plans to conduct inspections at 22,000 construction sites across the country this year to prevent defective projects and review on-site safety measures. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said it will collaborate with 12 agencies, including regional land management offices and the Korea [...]
SEOUL, March 4 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has imposed a hefty fine on Dunlop Sports Korea for restricting retailers from offering discounts on its golf clubs, a move deemed an illegal restraint of competition. The FTC announced on Monday that Dunlop Sports Korea would face a 1.865 billion won ($1.29 [...]
SEOUL, March 4 (Korea Bizwire) — Homeplus Co., a discount store chain in South Korea, said Tuesday it has filed for corporate rehabilitation with a Seoul court after its credit rating declined amid liquidity worries. Homeplus filed for the court-led rehabilitation program with the Seoul Bankruptcy Court after its corporate credit rating plunged last week. [...]
SEOUL, March 4 (Korea Bizwire) — HD Hyundai Construction Equipment Co. (HCE) said Tuesday it has secured orders for a total of 557 units of construction equipment in the Middle East and Turkey in the first two months of the year. The company said it won contracts for 333 units from Saudi Arabia, the United [...]
SEOUL, March 4 (Korea Bizwire) — South Koreans consumed an average of 30 kilograms of pork per person in 2024, marking a 6.8% increase from the average consumption of the past several years, according to a report released Monday by the Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI). The figure, published in the KREI’s “Agricultural Outlook 2025” report, [...]
SEOUL, March 3 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s e-commerce market is entering a new phase of competition as major players escalate their efforts to enhance delivery services, aiming to challenge Coupang’s dominance in logistics. With next-day delivery now an industry standard, retailers are racing to expand same-day shipping to differentiate themselves and meet rising consumer [...]
SEOUL, March 3 (Korea Bizwire) — The financial burden of food expenses for South Korea’s lowest-income households has skyrocketed over the past five years, growing at a significantly faster rate than for higher-income groups. New data reveals that the bottom 20% of earners saw their monthly food expenditures rise by nearly 40%, far outpacing the [...]