Paik Jong-won pitches K-sauce to US distributors

The Born Korea is stepping up efforts to bring its TBK sauces to the US market, with CEO Paik Jong-won pitching the products to major Asian food distributors as the company seeks to expand beyond its restaurant business. Paik held three product presentations and cooking demonstrations for JFC International and Wismettac Asian Foods, exploring potential partnerships in distribution and product development. JFC, an affiliate of Japan's Kikkoman Group, distributes more than 15,000 Japanese and othe

Oct. 27, 2026

KGC highlights red ginseng extract as temperatures drop

KGC is promoting JungKwanJang's flagship red ginseng extract, Hong Sam Jung, as colder weather draws renewed attention to immune health and daily wellness. As temperatures fluctuate and mornings and evenings grow colder, maintaining healthy habits such as adequate sleep, balanced meals and regular exercise becomes increasingly important. Hong Sam Jung, made entirely from domestically grown 6-year-old red ginseng, is one of JungKwanJang's signature products and the star of its red ginseng lineup.

Oct. 27, 2026

Samsung Wallet taps Tencent to expand payments in China

Samsung Electronics is introducing QR code payments in China through Samsung Wallet Money, allowing Korean users to use WeChat Pay without setting up a separate payment service. The company signed a memorandum of understanding with Tencent and Woori Bank at Tencent's headquarters in Shenzhen, China, on Monday. The signing ceremony was attended by Chai Won-cheol, vice president and head of Samsung Electronics' Digital Wallet Team under its Mobile eXperience Business; Daniel Hong, vice president o

Oct. 27, 2026

Shinhan Financial eyes early ROE target as profit climbs

Shinhan Financial Group is on course to achieve its 10 percent return on equity target a year ahead of schedule, after posting double-digit profit growth in the first nine months of 2026. The banking group reported Tuesday that cumulative net profit rose 12.7 percent year-on-year to 5.03 trillion won ($3.8 billion), driven by stronger interest and fee income. Return on equity reached 11.9 percent at the end of September, up about 0.9 percentage point from a year earlier and above the group's 10

Oct. 27, 2026

Stella Artois unveils ‘invisible’ billboard campaign in Seoul

Belgian beer brand Stella Artois has launched an outdoor advertising campaign in Seoul that creates the illusion of transparent digital billboards to promote its new Pure Gold lager, its Korean distributor Oriental Brewery said Tuesday. Instead of conventional graphics, the ads replicate the windows and exterior walls of the buildings behind the screens, making the displays appear to disappear into their surroundings. A large 3D image of Pure Gold stands out against the re-created facades, putti

Oct. 27, 2026

LG Energy Solution eyes 2 GWh ESS supply deal with Israel's Energix

LG Energy Solution said Tuueday it had signed a nonbinding agreement with Israeli renewable energy developer Energix to supply 2 gigawatt-hours of energy storage systems across Europe and North America over the next two years. Under the memorandum of understanding, signed at LG Energy Solution's headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, the company plans to supply 1.5 GWh of ESS capacity in Europe and 0.5 GWh in North America within 24 months. The partners will also explore expanding the total supply volu

Oct. 27, 2026

Anthropic IPO puts Korean tech firms' early bets in spotlight

Anthropic's planned Nasdaq listing could deliver substantial valuation gains to South Korean tech companies that invested in the US artificial intelligence startup, with SK Telecom emerging as a key potential beneficiary. The developer of the Claude AI chatbot filed for an initial public offering with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday, targeting a Nasdaq debut under the ticker "ANT" as early as November. Anthropic is reportedly seeking to raise as much as $100 billion at a valu

Oct. 27, 2026

Foreign tourists get free palace entry, up to 25% off duty-free shopping during Korea Grand Festival

Foreign visitors to Korea can tour the country’s main royal palaces for free and get up to 25 percent off at duty-free shops during the second Korea Grand Festival, which runs from Thursday through Nov. 15, the government said Tuesday. The four main palaces of the Joseon era (1392–1910) — Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung and Changgyeonggung — will be free to enter, along with Jongmyo Shrine and the Joseon royal tombs. K-Heritage stores at the palaces will sell cultural goods at 10 percen

Oct. 27, 2026

Seoul stocks open higher on Wall Street gains, renewed AI optimism

South Korean stocks opened higher Tuesday, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street, as renewed optimism over artificial intelligence and easing oil prices lifted investor sentiment. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 189.18 points, or 3.46 percent, to 5,658.65 as of 9:15 a.m. Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.28 percent, while the S&P 500 advanced 0.7 percent and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.82 percent. Investor sentiment improved after AI startu

Oct. 27, 2026

S. Korea's GDP expands 1% in Q3 on strong exports, investment: BOK

Strong semiconductor-led exports and investment drove South Korea's economy to grow faster than expected by 1 percent in the third quarter from a quarter earlier, putting annual growth of 3.6 percent within reach, central bank data showed Tuesday. The country's real gross domestic product -- a key measure of economic growth -- rose 1 percent in the July-September period from three months earlier, according to advance data from the Bank of Korea. The third-quarter reading marked an increase from

Oct. 27, 2026

Seoul shares dip over 1% ahead of earnings reports, Fed decision

Seoul shares ended lower Monday, tracking losses on Wall Street, as investors remained cautious ahead of third-quarter earnings reports from major chipmakers and the US Federal Reserve's rate decision later this week. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. After opening 0.92 percent lower, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index extended its losses to close down 80.83 points, or 1.46 percent, at 5,469.47. Trade volume was light at 190.46 million shares worth 12.01 trillion won ($9.08

Oct. 26, 2026

Hyundai Motor scales back US production shift after union talks

Hyundai Motor and its labor union agreed to reduce planned US production relocation to 74,000 units from its Ulsan plant to secure domestic employment, resolving monthslong negotiations over facility reconstruction. According to media reports Monday, Hyundai’s management and its union signed an agreement outlined by the employment stability committee, mapping out volume transfer and workforce relocation tied to the reconstruction of Ulsan plant one and line two of plant four. A primary focus of

Oct. 26, 2026

Inside Henkel's Korean factory making adhesives for AI chips

SONGDO, Incheon — Inside a tightly controlled factory in Songdo, German chemicals giant Henkel is producing a critical but often overlooked ingredient in AI chips: semiconductor adhesives. Workers in cleanroom suits operate mixing equipment under strict temperature and humidity controls. Some rooms glow yellow, with ultraviolet light filtered out to prevent unwanted chemical reactions. The materials produced here help hold chips together, protect delicate connections and dissipate heat — increas

Oct. 26, 2026

Deutsch Motors' profit rises 25% on strong BYD sales

South Korean auto dealer Deutsch Motors reported a 25.4 percent rise in operating profit for the first nine months of 2026, buoyed by growing sales of Chinese electric vehicles from BYD and improved performance across its subsidiaries, the company said Monday. Consolidated operating profit climbed to 35.1 billion won ($26.5 million) from 28 billion won a year earlier, while revenue rose 6.8 percent to 2.04 trillion won. Net profit more than tripled to 3.58 billion won, according to preliminary e

Oct. 26, 2026

Samsung's Hong Ra-hee honored for decades of philanthropy

Hong Ra-hee, honorary director of the Leeum Museum of Art and widow of the late Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee, was awarded the Dongbaek Medal of the Order of Civil Merit on Monday for more than four decades of philanthropy spanning arts, health care and social welfare. The Dongbaek Medal is the third-highest of five grades of the Order of Civil Merit, a government honor recognizing contributions to public welfare and national development. Hong previously received a gold-level humanitarian a

Oct. 26, 2026