Convenience store chain CU operator makes foray into Kazakhstan

SEOUL -- BGF Retail, the operator of South Korea's major convenience store franchise CU, has opened its first store in Kazakhstan. The store is in Almaty, the Central Asian country's heart of trade with a population of some 2.1 million. BGF Retail aims to run more than 500 stores across the country by 2029. BGF Retail announced that the first store was launched through a master franchise arrangement with CU Central Asia, the convenience store operator affiliated with Kazak

March 7, 2024

CMG Pharmaceutical to make foray into Vietnamese cosmetics market

SEOUL -- Targeting young Vietnamese consumers, South Korea's CMG Pharmaceutical is set to make a foray into the Vietnamese cosmetics market. The pharmaceutical firm, specializing in skincare products, will collaborate with An Thinh Phat, a Vietnamese distributor of healthcare products, to provide new beauty items starting in May 2024. Demand for South Korean cosmetics products is rapidly growing in Viet Nam. According to data released by the Korea Cosmetics Association, export

March 7, 2024

Naver to build Saudi's intelligent transportation system

SEOUL -- Team Naver, the digital business arm of South Korea’s largest portal site, has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Saudi Public Transport Company (SAPTCO) to build an intelligent transportation system in the Middle East country. Under the agreement, Team Naver will utilize its technologies in cloud, artificial intelligence and digital technologies to build a new transportation system for Saudi Arabia. If this project goes smoothly

March 7, 2024

LS Cable signs preferred bidder contract for Taiwan's offshore windfarm project

SEOUL -- LS Cable & Systems, a major power cable manufacturer in South Korea, has entered into a contract to become the preferred bidder for an offshore wind farm project in Taiwan. The company will collaborate with its Danish and Taiwanese counterparts to supply underwater power cables. The South Korean power cable company announced that it has signed a preferred bidder agreement with Denmark's constructor CIP and Taiwan's offshore wind farm operator Fengmiao to suppl

March 7, 2024

[PHOTO] Top K-pop girl bands highlight Paris Fashion Week

Members of K-pop girl bands received the spotlight at the Paris Fashion Week. The global fashion event, designed to promote luxury brands and promising designers, took place from February 26 to March 5.

March 7, 2024

Samsung regains top position in Southeast Asia's smartphone market

SEOUL -- Samsung Electronics has regained its position as the top player in Southeast Asia's smartphone market, thanks to increased consumer attention towards the company's artificial intelligence-based smartphone features. Boosted by sales of affordable phones, Chinese electronics maker Transsion overtook Samsung to become the leader in late 2023. The South Korean tech giant, renowned for its hi-tech smartphones, is primarily targeting Southeast Asian consumers with its p

March 7, 2024

[OPINION] Europe Security Conference: A Plus for NATO, and Beyond

KENOSHA -- The European Security Conference, held in Munich Germany in February, has highlighted transatlantic cooperation in the face of Russia’s war on Ukraine. Vice Pre

March 6, 2024

Number of accumulated pet insurance contracts increases by 51.7% on-year in 2023

SEOUL -- South Korea witnessed a remarkable surge of over 50 percent in the number of total pet insurance contracts in 2023. This increase can be attributed to the growing recognition of pets as cherished companions or even family members in a country where one out of four households owns a pet During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of pets adopted by new families surged significantly. People sought comfort and companionship from animals as they faced isolation due to strict so

March 6, 2024

Top trade negotiator will head to Washington for talks

SEOUL -- South Korea's trade chief, Jeong In-kyo, plans to visit Washington, D.C. next week for discussions with Katherine Tai, the U.S. trade representative. Jeong, who leads the trade department at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, will use the visit to address various trade concerns between the two countries, including the implementation of their existing free trade agreement (FTA). With the U.S. presidential election looming in November, Jeong plans

March 6, 2024

Action-comedy film 'The Roundup: Punishment' to hit theaters in April

SEOUL -- Action-comedy film "The Roundup: Punishment," directed by Heo Myung-haeng, is about to be released in South Korea. This action film serves as the fourth installment of the detective series that began in 2017 with the hit movie "The Outlaws." Starring Ma Dong-seok, also known by his English name Don Lee, the film depicts the story of a tough detective who tackles an illegal online gambling organization. According to South Korean film production company

March 6, 2024