SEOUL, Nov. 20 (Korea Bizwire) – Outstanding credit card loans have risen sharply to reach an all-time high as of end-October amid tight lending regulations by banks and weak domestic demand, data showed Wednesday. Outstanding loans extended by nine major credit card firms amounted to 42.22 trillion won (US$30.25 billion) as of end-October, the largest [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korean cosmetics companies are rolling out smaller-sized products to capture the growing market of Generation Z and Alpha consumers, who are increasingly seeking affordable ways to experiment with beauty products. Daiso, a popular discount retailer, reported a dramatic surge in cosmetics sales for January through October this year, with [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Korea Bizwire) – A significant shift in attitudes toward traditional family structures is emerging among South Korea’s younger generation, with two in five people in their 20s now believing that marriage is not a prerequisite for having children, according to a new government survey. The 2024 Social Survey by Statistics Korea reveals that [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 15 (Korea Bizwire) – In response to ongoing inflation, South Korean consumers are expected to evolve beyond simple cost-cutting measures to adopt more sophisticated “wiser wallets” spending patterns in the coming year, according to a new global consumer trends report. The “2025 Global Consumer Trends Report,” released on November 14 by global data analytics [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 14 (Korea Bizwire) – A new short film starring Kim Nam-gil, co-produced with KB Kookmin Bank, is set to premiere exclusively at Lotte Cinema on November 20, joining a growing trend of abbreviated theatrical releases in South Korea known as “snack movies.” The 31-minute film, “How to Open a Door” will be screened for [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 12 (Korea Bizwire) – Nearly 7 in 10 South Koreans believe that couples can live together without getting married, and almost 40 percent support having children outside of wedlock, a government report showed Tuesday, signaling a shift in perceptions around marriage and childbearing in the traditionally conservative country. The report was based on [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 11 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korean domestic beer is poised to reclaim its position as the best-selling alcoholic beverage at major retailers this year, overtaking wine as consumers adapt to persistent inflation, according to recent market data. An analysis by Emart, one of South Korea’s largest retailers, shows that through November 6, domestic beer [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 11 (Korea Bizwire) – In South Korea’s fiercely competitive coffee market, where a “coffee war” is in full swing, Coffee Bean leads major franchises with the highest prices, charging 5,000 won for an Americano. For context, the true price ceiling in South Korea’s coffee scene belongs to Bacha Coffee’s Cheongdam flagship store, recently opened [...]
SEOUL & Washington, Nov. 10 (Korea Bizwire) – In the wake of Donald Trump’s election as the 47th President of the United States, a growing number of American women are embracing the “4B movement,” a social protest originally popularized in South Korea that advocates for abstaining from dating, marriage, childbirth, and sexual relationships as a response [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 9 (Korea Bizwire) – As South Korea’s entertainment industry grapples with economic headwinds, producers are shifting from expensive dramas to more cost-effective variety shows, with character development emerging as a crucial factor in both formats, industry experts said at a forum on November 7. At the K-Culture Trend Forum held at Amore Pacific headquarters [...]