HiteJinro launches sour candy-flavored soju

South Korean liquor maker HiteJinro has released a new low-alcohol sour candy-flavored soju. The latest addition is a collaboration with Korean confectionery company Orion’s popular sour candy Aisher. Similar to the snack, the flavor has been described as “super sour.” The Aisher soju marks the fourth in the liquor maker’s fruity flavored soju series, following grapefruit, green grape and plum favors. The company said the new flavor reflects a recent trend among young

Nov. 1, 2020

Gmarket Global Shop to launch ‘K-products’ campaign “Mega G”

E-commerce retailer eBay Korea‘s online Korean goods shopping site Gmarket Global store will launch a sales campaign for a wide range of South Korean products including Korean food, Korean cosmetics and K-pop items starting Sunday, according to the firm. The campaign will continue until Oct. 12 in connection with eBay Korea’s Big Smile Day shopping event, which will see the prices of some of South Korean products on the platform slashed by up to 70 percent. Some of the latest album

Oct. 29, 2020

SPC Group opens hanok-inspired Baskin Robbins store in Seoul

SPC Group said Thursday it has opened a new Baskin Robbins outlet, designed in the traditional Korean style Hanok building. Located in Jongno, central Seoul, the Baskin Robbins Samcheong Madang is Baskin Robins’ 10th concept store, inspired by the idea of harmonizing the traditional and the modern, the group explained. The ice cream parlor has been constructed using traditional tiles, wooden pillars and with a surrounding fence to give it the look of a traditional hanok building, the

Oct. 29, 2020

Coupang claims facts distorted over death of contract worker

Coupang, an e-commerce giant, issued a statement Tuesday claiming that facts surrounding the death of a contract worker were being distorted. Denying claims that the short-term worker had died of overwork, Coupang said it will take strong actions against those who spread distortions. On Oct. 12, the short-term contract worker, who worked at Coupang’s Daegu Logistics Center, was found dead after returning home at around 6 a.m. Over this, there have been claims that the worker died of ov

Oct. 27, 2020

Hanjin Express to stop night delivery service after courier’s death

Logistics firm Hanjin Express said Monday it would stop nighttime delivery shifts starting November, after one of its couriers died apparently from overwork. It is the first time a local logistic company has abolished night shifts. To prevent overwork and control the workload, Hanjin said it will increase both the number of delivery vehicles and delivery workers during holiday periods and times when there is more demand. “As delivery packages are concentrated on Tuesdays and Wednesda

Oct. 26, 2020

Nongshim releases first new “kkang” snack in 47 years

South Korean food maker Nongshim said Monday it has released a new corn-flavored snack, called “Oksusu kkang.” It marks the first new addition to the company’s signature “kkang” series in 47 years after “Goguma kkang,” its beloved sweet potato flavored snack. Taking the shape of a corn on the cob, the new crackers have been described as sweet and nutty with a crunchy texture. Nongshim said that the “kkang” crackers have stood the test of t

Oct. 26, 2020

Audio equipment tops overseas online shopping list for electronics

Audio equipment has topped the overseas online shopping list among South Korean shoppers who recently purchased electronics. In tandem with such a rise, the number of complaints over the shopping experience has grown, a survey showed Friday. The Korea Consumer Agency said that its survey revealed audio equipment such as wireless earphones, headphones and speakers was the most popular electronics category to be ordered online from another country. PCs and PC peripherals came second. The survey

Oct. 23, 2020

LG Household & Health Care delivers largest Q3 revenue of W2.7tr

Consumer goods company LG Household & Health Care posted 2.7 trillion won ($2.38 billion) in quarterly revenue, its best-ever earnings for the third-quarter period. While its revenue was up 5.4 percent compared to the same time last year, the company also posted a net profit of 231.7 billion won, up 6.7 percent from a year ago and an operating profit of 327.6 billion won, up 5.1 percent, according to its regulatory filing Thursday. Despite uncertainties stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic,

Oct. 22, 2020

McDonald’s Korea starts cooking with sunflower oil

McDonald’s Korea said Thursday it has replaced all the oil used in cooking its food with sunflower oil, a first in the quick service restaurant industry. The burger chain said it introduced sunflower oil to all of its burger outlets, as it is a healthier ingredient that is lower in trans fats than the vegetable oils the company was using before. The move comes as part of the plan the company announced earlier this month to promote sustainable growth for society and the environment. Sunf

Oct. 22, 2020

Nongshim opens application for startup fostering program Nongshim Techup+

Nongshim, a South Korean food company, said Thursday it kicked off its annual fostering program to select and support food tech startups dubbed Nongshim Techup+. This year’s theme is “new lifestyle in the post-COVID-19 era,” and Nongshim is looking for food tech startups that present creative products or services in areas such as non-contact business, healthcare and all other economic activities done at home, the company explained. Nongshim said it will evaluate applicants

Oct. 22, 2020

Online sales of CheongKwanJang rise globally amid pandemic

Korea Ginseng Corp. said on Thursday that global sales of its red ginseng products have increased amid growing interest in strengthening the immune system following the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the company, CheongKwanJang, its red ginseng brand, saw online sales increase 41 percent year-on-year during the first six months this year in China, thanks in part to its online flagship stores on platforms such as Tmall and JD.com. Online sales in the US and Japan also grew after the products b

Oct. 22, 2020

OB releases series of goods to drive up beer sales

Oriental Brewery has released a series of goods for beer brands OB Lager, Stella Artois and Budweiser to drive up sales, as interest in drinking-related items grows amid the current pandemic. The brewing company launched an online store dedicated to goods inspired by its long-running mascot Lala Bear last month, including a glass set, a coaster set and a tube-type ice bucket. Stella, a Belgian beer sold by OB, has released a camphor cutting board that can also be used as a plate, while Budweis

Oct. 20, 2020

‘Kimchi Relish’: Pulmuone reinterprets kimchi for millennials

Pulmuone said on Monday it has launched “Kimchi Relish,” a new type of kimchi that “reinterprets” the spicy Korean side dish, in South Korea and the US. Made with plant-based ingredients including tomatoes and Sriracha sauce, the chopped vegan kimchi comes in two flavors, Mild and Spicy, and is recommended to be had with dishes such as pasta, salads, and tacos. Pulmuone said the new product is expected to appeal to millennial and gen-Z consumers, among which there is a

Oct. 19, 2020

Homeplus partners with E&J Gallo to expand US wine lineup

Homeplus said Friday it had signed a strategic partnership with E&J Gallo, a US-based winery, to introduce a wide range of US wines to the Korean market. According to the hypermarket chain, the two companies held an online joint business plan signing ceremony, to agree on establishing a stable distribution network. Founded in 1933, E&J Gallo stands as one of the biggest wineries in the US, Homeplus said. E&J Gallo currently has 75 affiliate companies and runs 120 brands, expor

Oct. 16, 2020

Ediya Coffee’s delivery revenue jumps nearly sevenfold amid pandemic

South Korean coffeehouse chain Ediya Coffee said Thursday that revenue from its coffee delivery service increased around 660 percent over the last year, compared with a year before. According to data from the company, the number of delivery orders made between last October and September this year stood at 1.1 million, up 612 percent. from the same time last year. Ediya Coffee saw a sharper increase in order volume between April and June this year, during which the company saw a near 1,000 perc

Oct. 15, 2020

Amazon Global Selling Korea to ramp up support for sellers

Amazon Global Selling Korea said on Thursday it is ramping up support to help sellers and businesses branch out into the international market. Speaking at a livestreamed press event, Lee Sung-han, head of the South Korean unit of the e-commerce giant’s export program, praised South Korea’s handling of the pandemic as he unveiled plans to assist businesses in the country. “Despite the pandemic this year, we thank many sellers in South Korea who worked with Amazon to provide hi

Oct. 15, 2020

eBay Korea’s Smart Delivery launches charity campaign

eBay Korea’s next-day delivery service Smart Delivery on Monday launched a charity campaign to fund daily necessities for elderly single households. Part of the proceeds made through the company’s express delivery service will be donated to Miral Welfare Foundation and provide daily necessities kits for some 300 elderly people around the country who are living alone by early November, the firm said Monday. The campaign, which is funded in part through social contribution funds set

Oct. 12, 2020

Nongshim Shin Ramyun Black named among world’s best instant noodles

South Korean food maker Nongshim said Monday its flagship instant noodle Shin Ramyun Black has been chosen as one of the world’s best instant noodle brands by The Travel. Nongshim’s Shin Ramyun Black was listed among the four chosen for the best instant ramen of 2020 lest, released Thursday by The Travel, a global tour site based in Canada. Hailing the noodle as “the top competitor” in the instant noodle world, The Travel chose Shin Ramyun Black as “The best in

Oct. 12, 2020

[Monitor] Online shopping volume breaks record in August

South Korea’s online shopping volume reached 14.38 trillion won ($12.4 billion) in August, the highest since records began in 2001. Mobile shopping volume was 9.32 trillion won, surpassing by far the money spent through online shopping on PCs. Online shopping also accounted for a record breaking 28.6 percent of overall retail sales, up 7.7 percent from the same time last year. While food delivery services and ready-made meals helped drive sales up as people spent more time at home foll

Oct. 8, 2020

Cafe24 sees over 35,000 online stores launched during Q3

Cafe24 said on Wednesday that 35,836 new direct-to-consumer online stores were launched through its e-commerce platform, its highest figure in five years. The latest data means that store launchings during the quarter experienced a near 40 percent year-on-year increase, which comes down to over 10,000 new stores opening each month. September recorded the biggest growth during the quarter with 11,545 new stores joining the platform, a 50.34 percent jump from 3,866 in the same period last year.

Oct. 7, 2020