Retail Archives | Be Korea-savvy
Coupang Dethrones E-Mart as Top Retail Brand in South Korea

Coupang Dethrones E-Mart as Top Retail Brand in South Korea

SEOUL, Apr. 1 (Korea Bizwire) – In a seismic shift for South Korea’s retail landscape, the e-commerce giant Coupang has surpassed the long-dominant E-Mart to become the country’s highest-ranked retail brand, according to the latest quarterly evaluation by brand consultancy BrandStock.  Coupang achieved a brand stock top index (BSTI) score of 902.8, vaulting to 9th place [...]

As Fresh Produce Prices Soar in South Korea, Retailers Race to Preserve Freshness

As Fresh Produce Prices Soar in South Korea, Retailers Race to Preserve Freshness

SEOUL, Mar. 19 (Korea Bizwire) – With apple prices hitting record highs and fresh food costs skyrocketing, retail chains in South Korea are deploying innovative techniques to extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables, seeking to minimize wastage of these increasingly precious and perishable commodities. At Lotte Mart, the company has been installing “Pure Space” [...]

Korean Retailers Tap Young Talent to Revamp Corporate Culture

Korean Retailers Tap Young Talent to Revamp Corporate Culture

SEOUL, Mar. 18 (Korea Bizwire) – On a recent morning at Hyundai Department Store’s headquarters, a junior employee took the stage to provide a most unconventional corporate training: instructing the company’s highest executives on how to market to young consumers.  The speaker, a manager from the cultural content team, regaled the audience of C-suite leaders and [...]

Industrial Output, Retail Sales Inch Up amid Weak Investment in January

Industrial Output, Retail Sales Inch Up amid Weak Investment in January

SEOUL, Mar. 4 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s industrial output inched up in January despite the marked fall in semiconductor production, data showed Monday. Industrial output gained 0.4 percent on-month last month, the third consecutive on-year increase, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea. But the output in the overall mining manufacturing sector shed [...]

Retail Sector’s AI Evolution: From Search and Recommendation to Autonomous and Hyper-Personalized Services

Retail Sector’s AI Evolution: From Search and Recommendation to Autonomous and Hyper-Personalized Services

SEOUL, Feb. 19 (Korea Bizwire) – The utilization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the retail industry is advancing beyond basic search functionalities, personalized recommendations, and chatbot consultations, towards unmanned and hyper-personalized services. According to recent industry reports, a competitive race in AI development and application is unfolding across various sectors, including e-commerce, department stores, supermarkets, convenience [...]

Over 400,000 Sales and Retail Jobs Vanish in South Korea Amid Online Shopping Boom

Over 400,000 Sales and Retail Jobs Vanish in South Korea Amid Online Shopping Boom

SEOUL, Jan. 30 (Korea Bizwire) – The landscape of South Korea’s job market has shifted dramatically over the last decade, with a significant decline in the number of sales and retail positions, largely due to the growing dominance of online shopping over traditional stores. This shift has led to a noticeable reduction in personnel within the [...]

Retail Sales Up 5.9 pct in July on Growing Outdoor Vacation Activities

Retail Sales Up 5.9 pct in July on Growing Outdoor Vacation Activities

SEOUL, Aug. 29 (Korea Bizwire) — Retail sales in South Korea rose 5.9 percent on-year in July as more people enjoyed outdoor activities for summer vacation amid eased antivirus curbs, the industry ministry said Tuesday. The combined sales of 25 major offline and online retailers came to 14.73 trillion won (US$11.12 billion) last month, compared [...]

Retail Sales Up 8 pct in February amid Return to Pre-pandemic Normalcy

Retail Sales Up 8 pct in February amid Return to Pre-pandemic Normalcy

SEOUL, March 28 (Korea Bizwire) — Retail sales in South Korea grew 7.9 percent on-year in February on rising demand for fashion, tourism and other items as people increasingly adapted to post-pandemic life amid eased antivirus restrictions, the industry ministry said Tuesday. The combined sales of 25 major offline and online retailers came to 13.1 [...]

Retail Sales Up 4 pct in January on Growing Online Demand

Retail Sales Up 4 pct in January on Growing Online Demand

SEOUL, Feb. 27 (Korea Bizwire) — Retail sales in South Korea grew 4 percent on-year in January, though offline retailers saw their sales fall due to the New Year’s holiday and amid an economic slowdown, data has showed. The combined sales of 25 major offline and online retailers came to 14.7 trillion won (US$11.19 billion) [...]

Retail Sales Up 8.4 pct in November on Major Promotion Events, World Cup

Retail Sales Up 8.4 pct in November on Major Promotion Events, World Cup

SEOUL, Dec. 29 (Korea Bizwire) — Retail sales in South Korea grew 8.4 percent on-year in November on the back of major shopping events and growing demand for foodstuff and other items during the World Cup, the industry ministry said Thursday. The combined sales of 25 major offline and online retailers came to 14.8 trillion [...]