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Industry
Turning homes into experiences: Apartmentary makes global push for 'K-interior'
Fixing an industry was never the plan for Apartmentary founder Yoon So-yeon — she just wanted to fix her newlywed home. But in doing so, she has quietly rewritten the rules of Korea’s home remodeling market. In 2013, after purchasing an outdated apartment in Seoul’s Mapo-gu district, Yoon set out to remodel it. Her search for a trustworthy, reasonably priced interior renovation firm quickly turned into disillusionment. “I didn’t like how all the apartments in Korea looked the same. I wanted some
June 23, 2025 - 17:36:24
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Mobility
Deutsch Automobile Group aspires to become total mobility platform
Deutsch Automobile Group, one of the biggest dealers in Korea’s auto import industry, is zeroing in on becoming a total mobility platform company based on customer-oriented data and technology over the next decade. “Going beyond the traditional concept of simply selling cars and doing repair works, my vision is to expand into a total mobility platform that can account for daily life of mobility such as (auto) sharing, subscription, finance, charging and digital experiences,” said Kwon Hyeok-min,
June 16, 2025 - 14:53:05
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Industry
From Kahi to Yless: How KoreaTech CEO is building next wave of K-beauty
When you step into the flagship Yless store nestled in Seoul’s historic Bukchon Hanok Village, you’re greeted not just by cutting-edge skincare, but by the aroma of freshly baked bread, the hum of live music and the warmth of Korean hospitality. It’s a fitting reflection of the brand’s ethos: deeply rooted in tradition, yet boldly innovative. At the forefront is Lee Dong-yeol, founder and CEO of KoreaTech, whose vision is reshaping the K-beauty landscape for a new generation of global consumers.
June 2, 2025 - 14:00:44
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Industry
From mussels to hair: How a KAIST scientist turned polyphenol into a global shampoo hit
It all started with mussels. How do they cling so tightly to rocks underwater without hands? The answer lies in polyphenol — a transparent, adhesive substance they secrete. Inspired by this natural phenomenon, Lee Hae-shin, a leading chemical engineering professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, developed Grabity shampoo — a runaway hit that grips hair the way mussels cling to rocks. Since its launch in April last year, over 1.2 million units have been sold, with sales
May 26, 2025 - 12:42:24
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Industry
Wadiz sets out to export ‘K-funding’ as Asia’s answer to Kickstarter
When Shin Hye-sung left the state-run Korea Development Bank in 2012 to start a crowdfunding platform, he wasn’t chasing unicorns. He was looking out for overlooked potential: early-stage entrepreneurs with good ideas but few backers. That vision became Wadiz, now South Korea’s largest crowdfunding platform, with 6.8 million users and more than 83,000 campaigns raising a combined 1.3 trillion won ($928 million). After more than a decade helping domestic startups raise capital from fans and early
May 19, 2025 - 14:01:33
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Industry
In every trendsetter's make-up bag, now 3CE is taking on world
To grasp the pulse of South Korea’s trend-sensitive beauty scene, few barometers are more telling than 3CE Stylenanda -- a K-beauty brand where the pink-hued palettes reflect Seoul’s ever-evolving youth culture. In an industry that churns out new beauty brands every season, 3CE has endured since its beginnings in 2004, originally starting as a fashion brand before launching its makeup line in 2009. Even after its 2018 acquisition by French cosmetics giant L'Oreal for roughly 600 billion won ($43
May 13, 2025 - 11:20:56
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Industry
From booking beds to building AI: Yanolja Cloud CEO reimagines travel
From helping local travelers book a night’s stay in Korea to developing AI solutions for the travel industry, Yanolja Cloud has emerged as a bold case study in global travel tech transformation. What began in 2007 as a modest accommodation reservation app for youngsters in Korea has since gradually evolved into a concept of a global travel tech powerhouse. At the helm is Yanolja Cloud CEO Kim Jong-yoon, whose vision of vertical AI — not just smart, but travel-smart — is steering the company beyo
May 6, 2025 - 16:28:31
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Industry
Bowls of ambition: Passion Gukbap’s mission to make Korean comfort food global sensation
Chon Kyung-hun, founder and CEO of Passion Gukbap, holds a simple yet powerful vision close to his heart: to make gukbap, a Korean staple dish of rice and soup, a global phenomenon. With more than 300 Passion Gukbap restaurants across the country, he is now preparing to take the brand overseas. “My aim for this year is to serve at the APEC’s VIP dinner, which will be held in Gyeongju, a city steeped in history,” Chon told The Korea Herald at the Passion Gukbap headquarters in southern Seoul, und
April 14, 2025 - 15:20:15
