Articles by Kim Da-sol
Kim Da-sol
ddd@heraldcorp.com-
[Feature] Amid baby bust, firms look overseas for survival
While South Korea has a highly active baby care market with a range of high-quality products, it also suffers from one of the world’s lowest birthrates.South Korea was ranked 219th among 224 countries, with an average woman’s total fertility rate at 1.26 in 2017, the lowest figure among OECD countries, according to CIA’s the World Factbook.The falling birthrate, one of the gravest challenges the government faces, has been visibly hurting baby care businesses here in recent years.After struggling
Industry Feb. 18, 2018
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Lotte chief’s jail term reignites succession battle
A Seoul court’s verdict that put Lotte Chairman Shin Dong-bin behind bars has put the retail giant in disarray, reigniting a succession battle between Shin and his older brother, Shin Dong-joo. The elder Shin demanded his younger brother, who heads Lotte’s operations in Korea and Japan, resign his post as the chairman of Lotte Holdings. The unlisted company holds 99 percent shares in Hotel Lotte, the de facto holding company of the retail giant’s South Korea operation.Dong-joo was the former chi
Industry Feb. 14, 2018
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Court’s judgment unexpected: Lotte Group
Following a Seoul Court’s guilty verdict and simultaneous sentencing of 2 1/2 years in jail to Lotte Chairman Shin Dong-bin for bribery on Tuesday, Lotte Group voiced concerns over its future business plans. Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin (Yonhap)In an official statement, Lotte Group said the outcome was “unexpected” and it was “regretful” about the jail term, and insisted that Shin was innocent.“As soon as we receive the written judgement, the group will discuss with its attorneys for furt
Industry Feb. 13, 2018
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Lotte Duty Free raises commission to attract more Chinese travelers
South Korea’s major duty-free operator Lotte Duty Free has increased the commission for Chinese shuttle traders when they bring in group travelers, in a move to more aggressively entice group travelers from China amid sluggish sales continued from last year’s THAAD row. Lotte Duty Free Worldtower (Lotte Duty Free)According to Lotte Duty Free, the company has raised the commissions doled out to “daigongs” -- individual merchants from China who purchase cosmetics to take them back -- from December
Industry Feb. 13, 2018
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[Feature] How local supermarket became Koreans' new favorite restaurant
With lines amongst industries blurring, an increasing number of supermarkets have transformed themselves into “grocerants” -- a term coined combining grocery and restaurants -- stocking shelves with ready-to-cook foods and offering in-store dining. “It’s beyond just a food stand where people cook for you. Including the quality and freshness of the food, it feels more like a full-service type of restaurant,” said a 31-year-old Hwang Young-ju, who said she enjoys the eateries after a round of groc
Industry Feb. 8, 2018
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[Feature] Local beer makers struggle amid imported beer boom
Cass has long been a household name in Korea -- even to those who do not imbibe. Korea’s No. 1 beer maker Oriental Brewery has been around for over 80 years, but it has only recently been making moves into overseas markets like China.Even for a well-established brand with sales of 1.5 trillion won ($1.4 billion) in 2016, the reason is clear and simple -- local beers aren’t selling so well in Korea. Korea’s beer market had long been dominated by two local power brands: Cass by OB and Hite by Hite
Industry Feb. 7, 2018
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Convenience stores venture into cosmetics territory
Until recently, the only cosmetic products customers could find at convenience stores were miniature skin care products -- typically packaged in travel kits. Major convenience store chains, however, are venturing into what is viewed as drugstore territory, with the launch of affordable and fashion-forward lines of makeup, looking to appeal to millennial consumers.In Korea, beauty products constitute a 300 billion won ($276 million) industry, which increased 20 percent on-year in 2016.And more co
Industry Feb. 6, 2018
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LG’s cordless vacuum beats Dyson on price comparison site
LG Electronics’ cordless vacuum cleaner saw boosted sales on an online price comparison website last month, beating its UK rival home appliance maker Dyson. LG Electronics’ Cordzero A9 (LG)According to local e-commerce platform Enuri.com, LG Electronics’ cordless vacuum cleaners accounted for 45 percent of sales in the sector in January, about 18 percentage points above Dyson’s 27 percent. Until the second quarter of 2017, Dyson topped the list on the price comparison website, accounting for 40
Industry Feb. 4, 2018
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GS Group chairman stresses innovation, competitive power for 2018
GS Group Chairman Heo Chang-soo encouraged its new executive members to become innovative leaders with competitive power for the new business year.During a seven-day program held for new members of the board at Elysian Resort on Jeju Island, Heo participated in a dinner to encourage and communicate with the new executives. GS Group Chairman Heo Chang-soo (GS Group)“As fluctuation issues are expected to persist this year with international oil prices, interest rates and exchange rates, protection
Industry Feb. 4, 2018
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[Herald Interview] Restaurants that sell a story
It’s hard to settle on a restaurant in the bustling Seoul neighborhood of Itaewon, where the dining scene seems to change by the month. The constantly shifting topography of eateries is currently all about mixing and matching different cuisines or being authentically foreign, with eating out becoming more of an exuberant repast rather than a simple meal.In a back alley in Itaewon is Yoo Ji-young’s Korean barbecue restaurant Tongue & Groove Joint. But don’t expect to walk into a typical Korean ba
Industry Feb. 2, 2018
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KT&G sees record high of W1.48tr in overseas sales
South Korean tobacco maker KT&G said Thursday that it saw a record high of 1.48 trillion won ($1.3 billion) of overseas sales last year. KT>he company said it broke its previous record of 941.4 billion won of overseas sales in 2016, measured by sales from exports and overseas corporation. This translates to a record high of 55.4 billion cigarettes sold overseas, an about 13.8 percent increase from 48.7 billion cigarettes in 2016. KT&G first tapped the overseas market in 1988. It took about th
Industry Feb. 1, 2018
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[Herald Interview] Airbus promotes brand new A350-1000 as perfect fit for Seoul
With increasing air traffic, passengers continue to demand spacious and cozy flights, while airlines seek profitable planes. The newest member of Airbus’ leading jetliner, the A350-1000, meets all those requirements and is the “perfect fit” for mega cities like Seoul, according to Airbus. Airbus Marketing Director Francois Obe (Airbus)“Forecasts show about 40 percent of the world’s air traffic will come from Asia in the next 20 years. In that sense, our latest A350 model is the product with the
Industry Jan. 31, 2018
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[Exclusive] Airbus to start delivering A330neo in July: sources
Airbus will make the first delivery of A330neo jetliner -- the latest version of the planemaker’s fuel-efficient version of the A330 -- from its headquarters in Toulouse no later than in July. An official from a Toulouse-based civil aircraft manufacturer told The Korea Herald that the aircraft, a revamped version of the A330 with new Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, is due to enter service in July, after achieving its EASA and FAA Type Certification by the end of June. A330neo (Airbus)It successf
Industry Jan. 30, 2018
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[단독] 에어버스, A330네오 기종 오는 7월 선봬
에어버스가 신형 A330기 ‘A330네오’에 대한 최종점검 등 인증 절차를 상반기 내에 완료하고 오는 7월 구매 항공사들에 공급한다. 사양을 대폭 개선한 이 기종은 경쟁사 보잉 드림라이너의 대항마로 관심을 모으고 있다. 에어버스 관계자에 따르면 지난 10월 시험운항을 성공적으로 마친 A330네오는 현재 막바지 어셈블링 단계에 있다. 이 관계자는 "인증 절차가 6월 말께 마무리될 예정"이라며 "(그로부터) 짧게는 한 달, 길게는 두 달 안에 첫 구매자 TAP포르투갈항공에 배달될 것"이라고 코리아헤럴드에 밝혔다. 에어버스 A330네오 (사진=에어버스 제공)아시아 고객 중에는, 떠오르는 '사통팔달' 말레이시아를 거점으로 하는 에어아시아(AirAsia)가 이 모델 66대를 구입한 것으로 전해졌다. A330네오는 사이즈별로 판매가격이 2억5천500만달러(한화 2천900억원)에서 2억9천100만달러에 달한다. 에어아시아가 무려 17조원가량을 지불했다는 추산이 나온다. 지난 2014년
한국어판 Jan. 30, 2018
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Lotte Liquor’s Kloud beer taps Cambodian market
Lotte Liquor, a unit of Lotte Chilsung Beverage, will start selling Kloud beers in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from February, expanding its sales to Southeast Asia. A Cambodian consumer looks at Kloud beer. (Lotte Liquor)Lotte Liquor said it has delivered over 90,000 cans and bottles of Kloud beer to Phnom Penh’s major retail chains and convenience stores.With its launch in Cambodia, the company said its initial goal is to increase brand awareness with aggressive marketing via television and social m
Industry Jan. 30, 2018
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