SEOUL, Feb. 11 (Korea Bizwire) — Faced with the worst economic downturn in 21 years, South Korean consumers are increasingly turning to supermarkets over big-box retailers, preferring to buy necessities in smaller quantities rather than bulk purchases. According to data from Statistics Korea and industry sources, total retail sales fell by 2.2% in 2024, marking [...]
SEOUL, Feb. 10 (Korea Bizwire) — Privacy watchdogs and government agencies are raising alarms about DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence platform, amid reports of extensive data collection practices. However, tech enthusiasts and small businesses are increasingly turning to the platform’s open-source models as an alternative. According to DeepSeek’s privacy policy released on February 9, the platform [...]
SEOUL, Feb. 10 (Korea Bizwire) — Until the late 1990s, the gray uniforms of Daewoo Motors workers in Bupyeong, Incheon, were a symbol of pride. These “Daewoo men” were welcomed everywhere in town, representing not just local economic vitality but South Korea’s industrial might. That era came to an abrupt end when Daewoo Motors defaulted in [...]
SEOUL, Feb. 10 (Korea Bizwire) — A growing number of young couples in South Korea are breaking from traditional wedding customs, choosing efficiency and personal meaning over long-established practices that some view as outdated or burdensome. Take Oh, 29, who recently decided to skip the customary bouquet toss at her wedding. “I was concerned about the [...]
SEOUL, Feb. 10 (Korea Bizwire) — In a bold move to support young couples and maintain recent upticks in birth rates, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced plans to provide newly married couples with 1 million won in marriage grants starting this October. The initiative, currently under review by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, will target [...]
SEOUL, Feb. 9 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s ambitious deep-sea gas exploration project, codenamed “Daewang Whale,” faces an uncertain future after the first drilling attempt failed to yield economically viable hydrocarbon reserves. With the government unwilling to fund a second drilling phase and the Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC) grappling with financial instability, the project’s continuation [...]
SEOUL, Feb. 8 (Korea Bizwire) — While legal experts believe a Supreme Court reversal is unlikely, the extended legal process means Samsung must continue navigating uncertainties that could affect its strategic decision-making. The prolonged case may delay key investment decisions and hinder Samsung’s ability to recover from its recent struggles in the semiconductor industry. A senior [...]
HAENAM, South Korea, Feb. 8 (Korea Bizwire) — Haenam County in South Jeolla Province has introduced an expanded financial support system for newborns, ensuring that a child born in 2025 will receive up to 91.56 million KRW ($63,100) in government assistance by the time they turn 18. According to Haenam County officials on February 7, the [...]
SEOUL, Feb. 7 (Korea Bizwire) — BMW has introduced the latest iteration of its all-electric Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV), the ‘New iX,’ marking its global debut. The automaker announced the unveiling on February 7, highlighting significant advancements in power, design, and battery efficiency. The New iX, part of the BMW i sub-brand, incorporates the company’s latest [...]
SEOUL, Feb. 7 (Korea Bizwire) — A new survey has revealed distinct generational preferences in social media use among South Koreans, with younger users gravitating toward Instagram while those over 50 show a stronger affinity for Band. However, KakaoTalk remains the most widely used platform across all age groups. According to the “2024 Social Media User [...]