SEOUL, Jan. 14 (Korea Bizwire) — In response to the growing trend of direct overseas purchases of cosmetics through international online platforms, South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) announced on Monday, that it will strengthen safety regulations to prevent consumer harm. This initiative will be carried out in collaboration with the Korea [...]
SEOUL, Jan. 12 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s decision to designate January 27 as a temporary public holiday has extended the Lunar New Year break to six consecutive days, sparking a surge in travel demand while causing concerns among small business owners in the food and beverage industry. The travel industry is witnessing a sharp increase [...]
SEOUL, Jan. 8 (Korea Bizwire) — The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) unveiled its 2025 Retail Industry White Paper on January 7, identifying “S.N.A.K.E”—Survival, Next, AI, K-Culture, and Economical Consumption—as the year’s key consumer market trends. Survival in a Stagnant Market With global economic challenges and stagnating consumer markets, competition for limited spending [...]
SEOUL, Jan. 8 (Korea Bizwire) — Hyundai Motor Co. said Wednesday it has begun to sell its vehicles on Amazon.com, one year after the South Korean carmaker signed a strategic partnership with the U.S. retail giant. Starting Jan. 7 (local time), U.S. consumers can browse, order and finance any new Hyundai vehicle through a participating [...]
SEOUL, Jan. 8 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s department store industry showed stagnant growth of less than 1% last year, with the disparity between high-performing and struggling stores becoming increasingly pronounced. According to industry data released on January 7, the five major department store chains – Lotte, Shinsegae, Hyundai, Galleria, and AK – recorded combined sales [...]
SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Korea Bizwire) — Shinsegae Group and China’s Alibaba Group have joined forces to form a strategic e-commerce alliance, a move that has drawn close attention from Coupang, South Korea’s market leader in online retail. The partnership, announced on January 6, could significantly alter the competitive dynamics of the e-commerce sector. Coupang’s senior [...]
SEOUL, Jan. 6 (Korea Bizwire) — Chinese businesses are making significant inroads into South Korea, diversifying their presence across retail, electric vehicles (EVs), e-commerce, and consumer electronics. This trend reflects a broader shift as Chinese companies seek to offset slowing domestic growth and navigate rising trade barriers in the U.S. and Europe. Retail Resurgence: Miniso’s [...]
SEOUL, Jan. 6 (Korea Bizwire) — With South Korea facing its worst domestic retail downturn since the 2008 global financial crisis, major retailers are accelerating their international expansion plans in search of new growth opportunities. On January 5, industry sources revealed that Lotte Department Store is planning to expand overseas with its next-generation shopping complex brand, [...]
SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Korea Bizwire) — Ashley Queens and Outback Steakhouse, two leading casual dining chains in South Korea, have achieved a retail milestone by establishing locations in all three major department store groups – Lotte, Shinsegae, and Hyundai – marking the first time both restaurants have accomplished this feat. According to industry sources, Eland Eats [...]
JEJU, Dec. 30 (Korea Bizwire) — Jeju’s government-run food delivery app Mukkebi has achieved a milestone of over 10 billion won ($7.5 million) in cumulative transactions just two years after its launch in December 2022. According to the Jeju Provincial Government, as of December 23, 2024, the platform has registered 44,064 members and 3,352 partner restaurants. [...]