Korea’s financial regulator has issued a warning to two local credit card companies -- Hana Card and Lotte Card -- ordering them to improve their customer management system, particularly with regard to money laundering. The agency, meanwhile, uncovered during its regular inspection that Lotte Card did not follow any standard guidelines on evaluating its customers under the category of money laun...

The Export-Import Bank of Korea plans to issue dollar-denominated bonds to raise $3 billion to $4 billion to help finance Korean companies seeking to expand overseas through exports, a person familiar with the situation said. The scale of debt financing through global bonds this year, the person said, will be similar to that of last year when the bank raised about $5 billion. It will likely sel...

Sheraton Grande Walkerhill offers spring packages Sheraton Grande Walkerhill is offering two types of packages for couples and families. The “Blooming Walkerhill” package, which is offered March 1-May 31, includes an overnight stay, breakfast and a voucher for “Tasty Box.” Tasty Box is an eco-friendly concept cafe built with shipping containers. It uses solar power from panels. The cafe offers...

Banyan Tree introduces ‘Taste Odyssey’ dining Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul’s Club Member’s Restaurant is presenting “Taste Odyssey V” from Feb. 26-27. Taste Odyssey is held once a month and this month’s featured ingredient is fresh Byeolgyo cockles. This uniquely Korean dining event will use chamkkomak and pikkomak varieties of these little clams, delivered directly from Yeojaman, the area fam...

‘Very Vary Berry’ at Banyan Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul is launching the “Very Vary Berry” dessert buffet at Chez Blanc, located on the lobby floor, until March 1. The buffet offers 19 different varieties of the hotel’s favorite sweets, Mont St. Clair’s desserts, with a seasonal strawberry flair. The list includes macarons with strawberry ganache, strawberry cream Mont Blancs, choux and éclai...

Ever wondered what it would be like traveling in space? Or diving deep underwater alongside whales and turtles? How about being a hero fighting crime? Ordinary people may not be able to experience these firsthand, but they can indirectly experience them through the emerging technology of virtual reality. Just across from the headquarters of local PC gaming giant NCsoft, the Virtual Reality Play...

Lotte Hotels & Resorts’ new concept lifestyle hotel L7 Myeongdong seeks to promote itself as “hip, fun and trendy,” targeting mostly young female tourists in their 20s and 30s. “We basically want L7 to run as a non-Lotte brand ― a totally new hotel ― and move away from our existing image,” said Hotel Lotte president & CEO Song Yong-deok at a press conference at L7 Myeongdong on Monday ahead of t...

GWANGJU ― If you exit the subway station connected to the Asia Culture Center in Gwangju thinking that the multicultural complex will be similar in scale to the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul, you should think again. Bang added that the ACC would be able to stand out in the region by being an artist-centered multicultural complex. Fully equipped with what artists need to realize their idea...

Lotte Hotel, part of Lotte Group, will open a new lifestyle concept hotel called “L7 Myeongdong” in Seoul on Jan. 12. The L7 will offer stylish facilities, where hotel staff will sport jeans, oxford shirts and slip-on shoes in bright and lively colors in order to appeal to guests as “friendly and caring,” the hotel affiliate said. The hotel, situated in Myeong-dong ― Seoul’s downtown shopping d...

This is the last installment in a three-part series featuring athletes who help people transform their lives. ― Ed. Beauty must be gained through hard work and perseverance, said Jung A-reum, a celebrity lifestyle and fitness trainer and former Miss Korea beauty contest winner. Those in pursuit of it must first learn how sports or regular exercise can help improve their physical and mental beau...

The National Library of Korea is hosting an exhibition of award-winning content, including webtoons, photography and videos, at its digital library until Dec. 23, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Culture and Information Service. KOCIS held two competitions ― “Talk Talk Korea” and “Peace Flag Campaign” ― last May to mark the 70th Liberation Day, to which some 16,...

Controversy over the authenticity of the late artist Chun Kyung-ja’s “Beautiful Woman” has been reignited with family members of the late artist issuing an ultimatum to the state-run National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, which is in possession of the painting. The family’s lawyer added, “This is an unprecedented case that people will never see happen overseas. The museum has wrongfully...

The 52nd Daejong Film Awards on Friday were not quite a star-studded affair as the nominees for top prizes, including Best Actor and Actress, skipped the annual ceremony. Although many nominees who did not attend gave reasons such as scheduling conflicts, others openly boycotted the awards, criticizing the organizing committee for poor management and lack of independence from the government. Th...