How K-beauty turned dollar store Daiso into retail giant

Daiso is closing in on 5 trillion won ($3.7 billion) in annual sales as foreign tourists flock to the Korean budget retailer for inexpensive K-beauty products and souvenirs. “My friends who recently visited Korea told me I had to go to Daiso,” said Priya Acharya, a 28-year-old tourist from India, after filling a basket — mostly with beauty products — at a store in Myeongdong, Seoul, on Wednesday. “I like how inexpensive basically everything is,” she said. “I wish I could buy more things, like fa

2026-09-17 14:37:57:00

McDonald's gets spicy with G-Dragon

McDonald’s Korea is taking a flavor inspired by Korea's spicy chili paste gochujang to the wider Asian market Korea with G-Dragon fronting a campaign across 13 countries in the region. The campaign will be rolled out sequentially from Thursday in countries including China, Vietnam and Indonesia. Each market will develop its own menu offerings based on the gochujang-butter sauce based on local tastes and market characteristics. McDonald's Korea has begun its campaign by launching two new chicken

2026-09-17 10:07:44:00

Coupang rejects 100,000 won compensation plan for users affected by data breach

Coupang has rejected a recommendation by Korea’s Consumer Dispute Mediation Commission to compensate the approximately 33.7 million users impacted by the company's personal data breach late last year. According to media reports Wednesday, the e-commerce giant notified the commission in writing last week that it would not accept the mediation recommendation to pay 100,000 won ($73) to each customer. “After carefully reviewing the mediation recommendation, we ultimately determined that it would be

2026-09-16 21:04:43:00

Hyundai Motor unveils sketches of new India-targeted SUV Bayon

Hyundai Motor India on Wednesday provided a sneak peek of its upcoming compact sport utility vehicle Bayon, releasing three sketches. Hyundai Motor India said the sketches showcase the automaker's evolving “Art of Steel” design language, which emphasizes sculpted surfaces, sharp character lines and architectural forms to create a more dynamic appearance. At the front, the Bayon features a sculpted hood, pronounced fenders and Hyundai’s distinctive H-Edge lighting signature. The combination of th

2026-09-16 20:16:24:00

SK hynix denies US production rumors linked to Intel

SK hynix said Wednesday that no decisions have been made regarding potential cooperation with Intel or plans to produce memory chips in the United States, seeking to refute an earlier Reuters report that the two companies were in talks over possible US production. "SK hynix is exploring various options to strengthen its global competitiveness, but no specific plans or arrangements have been finalized at this time," the company said in a statement. The company specifically denied that any decisio

2026-09-16 20:05:48:00

Korea inks $14m export contract with Central Asia

Korea has secured 16 export contracts worth a combined $14 million with the five Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, as the two sides agreed to upgrade their ties in trade, critical minerals and infrastructure. According to the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources on Wednesday, Korea and five Central Asian states stepped up efforts to expand economic cooperation as the presidents from six

2026-09-16 20:05:34:00

Daewoo E&C eyes Turkmenistan expansion with Karakum Canal project

Daewoo Engineering & Construction will cooperate with Turkmenistan to modernize a 250-kilometer section of the Karakum Canal as the Korean builder looks to expand its presence in the latter's various industrial sectors Representatives from the firm and Turkemenistan's State Committee for Water Management signed a memorandum of understanding for the project during the Korea-Turkmenistan Business Forum held at Lotte Hotel Seoul the previous day, Daewoo E&C said Wednesday. The MOU lays the groundwo

2026-09-16 14:24:16:00

Kakao Games buys control of ME2ON for W98b

Kakao Games is acquiring management control of social casino game developer ME2ON for 98 billion won ($72 million), making its first major acquisition under a new ownership structure as it seeks steadier earnings and greater global reach. According to Kakao Games on Tuesday, its board approved the acquisition of a 39.56 percent stake in ME2ON for approximately 98 billion won ($72 million). The deal will make Kakao Games ME2ON0's largest shareholder, securing management control of the company. Th

2026-09-15 17:09:56:00

Coupang forms security panel after massive data breach

Coupang has formed an external information security advisory committee as it seeks to rebuild public trust and overhaul its defenses following last year’s data breach that affected more than 33 million users. According to Coupang on Tuesday, the newly launched committee is intended to provide objective assessments of the company’s internal security policies and help raise safeguards for customer information. Seven external professionals specializing in information security, law, management and i

2026-09-15 14:42:40:00

Former rival Kingnet joins $684m Wemade takeover

Chinese game developer Kingnet Network is investing nearly $300 million to join the consortium set to become Wemade’s largest shareholder, turning a former legal adversary into a strategic partner for expanding the Korean game publisher’s business in China. The move is expected to bring together the two companies — Wemade and Kingnet —that have spent years embroiled in legal disputes over Wemade’s flagship IP of The Legend of Mir, a megahit massively multiplayer online role-playing game, potenti

2026-09-14 14:43:38:00