Articles by Kim Da-sol
Kim Da-sol
ddd@heraldcorp.com-
No love lost for Valentine’s Day marketing
Retailers, confectionery firms and convenience stores sell up to 10 times as many sweets in February and March than other periods, as Korea celebrates Valentine’s Day in February and White Day in March, but they have faced growing complaints of excessive packaging and low-quality products.“When I unwrapped the Valentine’s Day chocolate basket, I felt fooled because the basket was mostly filled with chocolates from lesser-known brands except two to three, although it looked like it was filled wit
Industry Feb. 14, 2019
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Peugeot to challenge local SUVs with upgraded lineup
JEJU -- With continued demand for larger sport utility vehicles here following changing lifestyles, more foreign carmakers are rolling in larger premium family models with upgraded functions and interior space.French automobile maker Peugeot is one of them. Earlier this year, the carmaker’s new 3008 and 5008 SUVs, which came back with larger space and multifunction steering wheels, hit the domestic market. Peugeot 3008 and 5008 SUV (Hanbul Motors)The new five-seater 3008 SUV features the new EA
Mobility Feb. 13, 2019
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Starbucks Korea saves 7.5m straws per month with new lids
Starbucks Korea said Tuesday that it has saved up to 7.5 million straws per month after it adopted strawless lids for iced drinks at its local stores. The number is equivalent to about 50 percent of straws that had been used at some 1,100 stores nationwide per month. The Korean unit of the US coffee giant introduced a specially designed lid, which resembles a sippy cup, in November in an effort to reduce waste and protect the environment. Starbucks’ strawless lids (Starbucks Korea)As part of it
Industry Feb. 12, 2019
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S. Korea’s ramen exports top $400m
Exports of South Korean instant noodles ramen (called ramyeon here) topped $400 million last year for the first time, making a twofold growth in six years, data from Korea Trade Statistics Promotion Institute showed.Last year’s total ramen exports came in at $413 million, up 8.4 percent from a year ago. Industry insiders viewed that it was mainly driven by the popularity of spicy noodles in overseas markets including in the US and Southeast Asia. Ramen exports to the US and Japan saw around 20 p
Industry Feb. 11, 2019
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South Korea’s automobile production slips 2.1 percent
South Korea’s automobile production slipped by 2.1 percent last year, falling a third year in a row, according to industry data Sunday.The Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association said that South Korea produced 4.02 million automobiles last year, a fall of 2.1 percent from the previous year. China topped the list in production terms, followed by the US, Japan, Germany, India and Mexico, in that order. South Korea, at No. 8, was followed by Brazil, Spain and France. China’s 4.2 percent fall in
Mobility Feb. 10, 2019
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[Weekender] How soon will flying taxis arrive here?
It is the clash between taxi operators and carpooling services that is making headlines today. But automakers and tech startups around the world are already taking the next step, showcasing the latest future mobility technologies designed to take the control of vehicles from human hands. This technological adventure to create a new industry leaves one question that we all want to know: so when will flying cars or robot taxis become commercialized? During the Consumer Electronics Show that took p
Mobility Feb. 7, 2019
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[Weekender] Carpooling, an option not threat
Amid the ongoing clash between taxi drivers and those moving to create new technology-based services, the head of a local ride-sharing company has called for ways to coexist, saying that carpooling is just another option, not a threat to the taxi industry. Expressing deep concern, Seo Young-wu, CEO of ride-sharing startup Poolus, highlighted the death of a 57-year-old taxi driver who set himself on fire in protest against a carpooling service late last year.Poolus CEO Seo Young-wu (Poolus)The pl
Mobility Feb. 7, 2019
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Yuhan Corp. taps new head of Yuhan USA
South Korean pharmaceutical company Yuhan said Friday that it had tapped its research center head as a new chief of its US subsidiary Yuhan USA. The company said Choi Soon-kyu would lead Yuhan USA, making full use of his experience in developing new medicines and exporting technologies. Choi has worked at multinational companies including German pharmaceutical company Bayer and PTC therapeautics. Seoul-based Yuhan established a wholly owned subsidiary in the US, named Yuhan USA, in San Diego in
Industry Feb. 1, 2019
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Homeplus to convert all 12,000 contract workers to regular positions
South Korean discount chain Homeplus said Friday it will grant permanent full-time employment status to all of its some 12,000 contract workers at 124 stores.The exact date when their status will be changed has not been confirmed, as it requires discussions with the labor union, the company said. It is the first attempt in the industry to grant contract workers permanent-employment positions.According to Homeplus, the company has been discussing the minimum wage with its labor union. Both sides
Industry Feb. 1, 2019
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Bodyfriend to open flagship store in Paris
South Korean health-and-wellness company Bodyfriend is tapping into the European market with the opening of a flagship store in Paris, the company said Friday.The firm has opened flagship stores in the US and China. The 660-square-meter store in Paris will be located in a building on Boulevard Haussmann, an area known for luxury shops. Prior to the opening, the company will run a pop-up store at the Bon Marche department store for two months from Feb. 23. High-end massage chairs, such as the Lam
Industry Feb. 1, 2019
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Coway aims to attract 2 million customers in Southeast Asia by 2020
South Korea’s leading water and air purifier maker Coway announced Monday a plan to attract 2 million customers in Southeast Asia by 2020, amid its high popularity in the overseas markets. During an event celebrating the company’s achievement of securing 1 million units sold last year, Coway CEO Lee Hae-sun unveiled the company’s overseas expansion plan.Coway CEO Lee Hae-sun (fourth from right) poses with Coway Malaysia executives and employees for a photo during an event held in Kuala Lumpur, M
Industry Jan. 28, 2019
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Top 10 chaebol groups’ stock assets rise by W2tr in January
The owners of South Korea’s top 10 chaebol groups saw their stock value rise by about 2 trillion won ($1.7 billion) this month to reach 30.17 trillion won, industry data showed Sunday. According to Chaebul.com, which tracks conglomerates here, the figure was up 8.3 percent from 27.8 trillion won at the end of last year. Individually, the value of stocks held by Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee rose to 15.1 trillion won, up 11.5 percent from 13.6 trillion won at the end of last year. Lee,
Industry Jan. 27, 2019
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[Weekender] For you, anything: Children put on pedestals
Baby care products have usually taken up only a small section at department stores in South Korea, with a handful of baby care stores filling about half a floor.But brands for babies and toddlers have recently expanded their territories at many of the major department stores here, which have traditionally targeted affluent women in their 40s as their main customers.(AP)Buoyed by demand from parents looking further upmarket in selecting goods for their children, Lotte Department Store, has filled
Industry Jan. 24, 2019
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Fine dust pollution reshapes local home appliance market
Amid deteriorating air quality in South Korea, air purifiers and clothes dryers have become more popular in the nation’s home appliance market, market data showed Tuesday. According to local discount store chain E-mart, sales of air purifiers from Jan. 1 to 20 jumped 180 percent compared to the same period last year. Sales of air purifiers ranked eighth this month in the home appliance category.In light of concerns over air quality, home appliances that reduce exposure to dust, such as air purif
Industry Jan. 22, 2019
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JTI Korea taps former Mexico unit chief as CEO
JTI Korea, the Korean unit of the global tobacco maker, said Monday that it has tapped Jose Luis Amador as the new CEO of the Korean unit. JTI Korea said Amador was chosen to lead the Korean company based on his combined experience in marketing and sales at global offices in Spain, Hong Kong and the head office in Switzerland.The Spanish CEO spent the last seven years in Mexico, where he led the Mexican unit and launch of global cigarette brand Winston in the country. Jose Luis Amador (JTI Kore
Industry Jan. 21, 2019
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