Brandy Melville: Does English fit all — even in Korea?

Fast-fashion brand Brandy Melville's Korea debut draws backlash — not for its sizing, but for speaking English Brandy Melville, the fast-fashion giant known for its “one-size-fits-most” clothes and laid-back California aesthetic, finally opened its doors in South Korea on Jan. 3. But despite the excitement expressed by some, the brand is facing backlash from others — and not for reasons you might think. It’s not the sizing that’s causing a stir. It’s the staff's use of English. The controversy k

Jan. 8, 2025

[From the Scene] K-beauty platform Yless opens flagship store in Bukchon

Aiming to redefine the global K-beauty experience, cosmetics platform Yless has launched its flagship store near Seoul’s Bukchon Hanok Village, blending traditional Korean charm with modern beauty innovation. Earlier on Tuesday, Yless' online platform was launched simultaneously in Korea and the US, anchoring its global ambitions. Yless was created by KoreaTech, the company behind the beauty brand Kahi, which spearheaded the multi-balm craze in 2020. Building on its success, with export revenues

Dec. 20, 2024

Samsung to present AI-driven appliances at CES 2025

Samsung Electronics announced Wednesday that it will unveil a new lineup of home appliances powered by artificial intelligence at CES, the world’s largest tech trade show taking place in Las Vegas from Jan. 7-10, 2025. The lineup includes AI-driven refrigerators, washing machines and dryers designed to streamline household tasks and enhance connectivity. Central to these devices is Samsung’s “AI Home” solution, which allows users to remotely monitor and control all compat

Dec. 18, 2024

Economy's biggest fear is uncertainty, says SK chief

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, who also heads the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, on Tuesday urged policymakers to ensure consistent economic policies to support businesses amid growing uncertainty following the National Assembly’s impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his botched martial law decree. During a meeting with National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, Chey relayed the business community’s concerns regarding stalled economic bills and the challenge of navigati

Dec. 17, 2024

Get ready for aggressive US trade policy: ex-Trump adviser

A former top trade adviser to US President-elect Donald Trump during his first administration warned that Trump's second term would likely adopt a more “aggressive” stance on trade, urging South Korean businesses to engage proactively with US officials to navigate potential challenges. Stephen Vaughn, a lawyer and former acting US Trade Representative, spoke at a seminar, titled "Trade Regulations Under Trump's Second Term: Risk Management and Strategies for Korean Com

Dec. 16, 2024

Calls grow for swift passage of stalled chips, AI bills

Business leaders are calling on lawmakers to expedite the approval of bipartisan, noncontentious bills on semiconductors and artificial intelligence, amid rising concerns that political uncertainty following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment could delay enactment of critical legislation, jeopardizing industry competitiveness. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok on Sunday stressed the importance of passing legislation such as the Semiconductor Special Act, the AI Basic Act and the Expansion

Dec. 16, 2024

How much will you spend on Christmas cakes?

Luxury cakes have emerged as seasonal highlights in South Korea's hotel industry, appealing to consumers seeking something special for Christmas, but they have drawn criticism as well as praise, thanks to their high prices. On Nov. 25, Hotel Shilla showcased "The Taste of Luxury," a Christmas cake priced at 400,000 won ($285), up 30 percent from the hotel's most expensive Christmas cake last year. According to the hotel, this year’s version has 25 percent more premium w

Dec. 3, 2024

Inside K-food-themed CU convenience store in Myeong-dong

Located in the bustling shopping district of Myeong-dong, central Seoul, a newly opened CU convenience store offers a curated selection of popular K-foods -- snacks, drinks and ready-to-eat meals -- primarily aimed at attracting international tourists interested in Korean culture. BGF Retail, the op

Nov. 27, 2024

Paris Baguette launches first franchise store in UK

South Korean bakery giant SPC Group said Tuesday it has opened its first Paris Baguette franchise store in the UK, marking its debut in franchising within the European market. Paris Baguette had previously operated company-owned stores in Europe, including France and the UK. The first franchise store, which is Paris Baguette’s third outlet in the UK, is located in Canary Wharf, a financial business district in east London. The Canary Wharf store occupies a 50-seat space on the first floor

Nov. 26, 2024

Seoul’s department stores dazzle in festive holiday competition

Christmas has arrived early in Seoul’s department stores, where luxury retailers Shinsegae, Lotte, and Hyundai are locked in a competition to outshine one another and attract customers. With the domestic economy still struggling to recover, the festive displays went up even earlier this year, starting on Nov. 1. Shinsegae Department Store in Myeongdong arguably lit the fuse of this holiday decoration competition. Since 2021, the store has forgone outdoor advertisements for big brands durin

Nov. 21, 2024

Supermarkets in central Seoul to change mandatory closure day to Wednesday

The mandatory closing day for large supermarkets in a major tourist district in Seoul will be changed from weekends to weekdays, the industry ministry said Friday, adding to the convenience of its residents and foreign tourists alike. Starting later this month, large supermarkets in Seoul's central district of Jung will close their business on Wednesdays instead of Sundays. The latest decision is expected to add convenience not only for the residents but also the high number of foreign tour

Nov. 15, 2024

Hanwoo Day promotion offers up to 50% off Korean beef

A nationwide promotion of "hanwoo" -- Korean beef -- begins on Wednesday, with discounts of up to 50 percent off regular prices. The promotion will be carried out in 1,948 retail outlets across Korea, including major supermarkets, NongHyup Hanaro Mart and online hanwoo markets. The promotion is led by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and organizations that manage beef production in Korea -- NongHyup Agribusiness Group, Hanwoo Association, and a semi-public promotio

Oct. 30, 2024

Bibimbap price continues to go up: data

The average price of bibimbap rose above 11,000 won ($8.10) in September, despite slowing inflation in food products in recent months, government data showed Monday. According to data from the Korea Consumer Agency, a bowl of bibimbap in Seoul cost 11,038 won on average in September, up slightly from 10,962 won the previous month. The bibimbap price has been on the upward trend since first surpassing the 10,000-won mark in January last year. Bibimbap and samgyetang were the only two dishes tha

Oct. 14, 2024

Kurly joins beauty retail war as new growth driver

Kurly, the South Korean e-commerce company, is ramping up efforts to expand its beauty platform Beauty Kurly as a key pillar of its business alongside its flagship overnight grocery delivery service. As part of this initiative, Kurly hosted the Beauty Kurly Festa 2024, which ran from Thursday to Sun

Oct. 14, 2024

AliExpress Korea chief questioned on product safety at Assembly audit

AliExpress Korea CEO Ray Zhang expressed the company’s commitment to enhancing product safety during a parliamentary audit, where he faced criticism from South Korean lawmakers for the platform’s failure to stop the sale of hazardous products despite previous pledges to do so. The audit, led by the Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee on Monday, was convened to address growing concerns about unsafe products circulating on Chinese e-commerce platforms. These platforms,

Oct. 8, 2024