SEOUL, March 18 (Korea Bizwire) — Zara, the Spanish fashion giant, is set to open its first Zacaffe location in South Korea this May, launching inside the brand’s newly renovated flagship store in Myeong-dong, Seoul. The move reflects a growing trend among global fashion brands incorporating cafés into their retail spaces, offering customers a more [...]
SEOUL, March 18 (Korea Bizwire) — If given the chance to restart their retirement planning, South Korean retirees would overwhelmingly choose real estate investment as their primary strategy, according to a new national survey released today by the Korea Insurance Development Institute. The survey, conducted last November across South Korea’s 17 provinces and major cities, gathered [...]
SEOUL, March 18 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s middle class continues to experience a prolonged decline in consumer spending, even as low- and high-income groups show signs of recovery, according to a new report from the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) released Monday. The study, titled “Recent Consumption Trends and Implications,” analyzed real [...]
SEOUL, March 18 (Korea Bizwire) — A majority of leading South Korean companies now evaluate job candidates’ compatibility with their organizational culture during the hiring process, according to the results of a government survey released on March 17, highlighting a growing emphasis on workplace cultural alignment in Asia’s fourth-largest economy. The Ministry of Employment and Labor and [...]
SEOUL, March 18 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea will increase subsidies for electric motorcycles that offer faster charging speeds and enhanced battery status monitoring, the Ministry of Environment announced Monday. Under the newly finalized 2025 subsidy guidelines, electric motorcycles equipped with 3kW fast-charging capability or a battery status display/app integration will be eligible for an [...]
DAEJEON, March 18 (Korea Bizwire) — Scientists at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have developed a novel electrolyte solvent that could cut electric vehicle charging times in half while extending battery life, potentially marking a significant advancement in lithium-ion battery technology. The research team, led by professors Choi Nam-Soon and Hong Seungbum, created [...]
SEOUL, March 18 (Korea Bizwire) — A battle is brewing in South Korea’s semiconductor equipment industry as SK Hynix, one of the world’s largest memory chip makers, moves to diversify its suppliers of crucial chip-stacking machinery, challenging the longtime market dominance of Hanmi Semiconductor. The competition centers on thermal compression bonders (TC bonders), essential equipment used in [...]
SEOUL, March 18 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean companies could boost their corporate value by increasing shareholder returns, precisely because of their currently low level of shareholder protection, according to a new analysis by the Bank of Korea released on March 17. The central bank’s report, titled “The Impact of Shareholder Return Policies on Corporate Value,” examined [...]
SEOUL, March 17 (Korea Bizwire) — Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong has issued a stern warning to the company’s executives, criticizing the loss of Samsung’s competitive strength and urging a bold, all-or-nothing approach to overcoming the crisis. According to industry sources, Samsung shared Lee’s message during an executive seminar aimed at restoring the company’s founding values. The [...]
SEOUL, March 17 (Korea Bizwire) — LG Electronics set a new record for research and development (R&D) spending in 2024, investing heavily in AI-driven smart home technology, automotive electronics, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. According to LG’s latest business report, the company spent ₩4.76 trillion ($3.28 billion) on R&D in 2024, marking a [...]