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Coupang Posts Record Quarterly Sales but Faces Mounting Profitability Pressures and Intensifying Competition

Coupang Posts Record Quarterly Sales but Faces Mounting Profitability Pressures and Intensifying Competition

SEOUL, Nov. 5 (Korea Bizwire) —  Coupang reported record-high sales for the third quarter of 2025, buoyed by increased customer spending on its Rocket Delivery service and rapid growth in new ventures such as its Taiwan operations and Coupang Eats. Yet analysts warn that the company’s profitability remains stagnant, with operating margins stuck in the [...]

Online Shopping Hits Record High in September on Tesla, Food Demand

Online Shopping Hits Record High in September on Tesla, Food Demand

SEJONG, Nov. 3 (Korea Bizwire) – Online shopping sales in South Korea increased 13.3 percent from a year earlier to a record high for any September, driven by strong sales of Tesla vehicles and rising demand for food services, data showed Monday. The value of online shopping transactions stood at 23.79 trillion won (US$16.61 billion) [...]

Battle Heats Up Over South Korea’s First Licensed Fractional Investment Platforms

Battle Heats Up Over South Korea’s First Licensed Fractional Investment Platforms

SEOUL, Oct. 30 (Korea Bizwire) —  A fierce contest has erupted among major financial institutions and fintech startups in South Korea as they vie for preliminary approval to operate the country’s first licensed trading platforms for fractional investments. According to industry sources, three consortiums have submitted applications ahead of the October 31 deadline, with the [...]

Retailers Target Global Shoppers Ahead of Black Friday and Singles’ Day

Retailers Target Global Shoppers Ahead of Black Friday and Singles’ Day

SEOUL, Oct. 28 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean retailers are gearing up for a surge in global shopping demand next month, timing major overseas promotions with U.S. Black Friday and China’s Singles’ Day as they seek to capture more spending from international consumers. W Concept, operated by Shinsegae, will run a two-week “W Week” promotion on [...]

Baemin Faces Scrutiny Over Alleged Price Inflation in Discount Program

Baemin Faces Scrutiny Over Alleged Price Inflation in Discount Program

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Korea Bizwire) —  South Korea’s leading food delivery platform Baemin is facing fresh criticism over allegations that it tacitly allowed restaurant owners to inflate menu prices before applying promotional discounts, effectively misleading consumers. According to a report released Monday by the Fair Platform Business Owners Association (or For Fair Platform), a Baemin [...]

Coupang Faces Political Firestorm Over Labor Probe Allegations Ahead of National Assembly Hearings

Coupang Faces Political Firestorm Over Labor Probe Allegations Ahead of National Assembly Hearings

SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean e-commerce giant Coupang has found itself at the center of a political and legal storm after a prosecutor alleged that senior officials pressured investigators to clear the company of wrongdoing in a wage-related case — a revelation that has reignited debate over prosecutorial reform and cast new scrutiny [...]

Baemin’s ‘Single-Bowl’ Delivery Service Surpasses 10 Million Orders as Solo Dining Trend Grows

Baemin’s ‘Single-Bowl’ Delivery Service Surpasses 10 Million Orders as Solo Dining Trend Grows

SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s leading food delivery platform Baedal Minjok (Baemin) is seeing surging demand for its “One Bowl” service, which targets the country’s rapidly expanding population of single-person households. According to the company, cumulative orders for the service — launched in April — exceeded 10 million by the first week [...]

E-Commerce Platforms Join Luxury Battle for Korea’s ‘VVIP’ Shoppers

E-Commerce Platforms Join Luxury Battle for Korea’s ‘VVIP’ Shoppers

SEOUL, Oct. 6 (Korea Bizwire) — Once the exclusive domain of department stores, the competition to court South Korea’s most coveted “VVIP” customers — very, very important patrons with deep pockets and high loyalty — is heating up in the online retail world. E-commerce companies, traditionally focused on price-sensitive shoppers, are now introducing tiered membership [...]

Socar’s Vehicle Delivery Platform ‘Handler’ Doubles Membership to 200,000 in Two Years

Socar’s Vehicle Delivery Platform ‘Handler’ Doubles Membership to 200,000 in Two Years

SEOUL, Oct. 5 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean mobility platform Socar said Sunday that membership for its vehicle delivery service, “Handler,” surpassed 200,000 in May, doubling in just two years as flexible, gig-based work gains traction among younger drivers. According to Socar, Handler’s total membership climbed from 100,000 in May 2023 to 130,000 in 2024, [...]

Online Shopping in South Korea Hits Record August High, Boosted by Tesla Sales and Food Demand

Online Shopping in South Korea Hits Record August High, Boosted by Tesla Sales and Food Demand

SEOUL, Oct. 1 (Korea Bizwire) — Online shopping in South Korea surged to its highest level for any August on record, fueled by booming Tesla sales and growing appetite for food services, government data showed Wednesday. Total online transactions reached 22.48 trillion won (US$15.56 billion) in August, up 6.6 percent, or 1.39 trillion won, from [...]