Korean Air to debut premium economy next month

Korean Air, the country’s flag carrier, announced Tuesday the introduction of a new cabin tier -- Premium Class -- positioned between business and economy class, as part of a fleet-wide cabin interior upgrade to modernize its aircraft and improve the passenger experience. The new 40-seat cabin will debut across 11 retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, with operations on medium-haul routes set to begin in mid-September. The project is a 300 billion won ($216 million) company-wide initiative that

Aug. 5, 2025

Samyang future-proofs ‘swicy’ trend with trademark filing

Samyang Foods, the South Korean food giant behind Buldak Ramen, is staking an early trademark claim on this year’s hottest flavor: a sweet-and-spicy combo known as swicy. According to industry sources Monday, Samyang filed to register “Buldak Swicy” with the Korean Intellectual Property Office last month, followed about a week later by a filing for a colored logo featuring the term. The move signals the company’s bid to capitalize on a flavor trend that has drawn growing attention from global me

Aug. 4, 2025

L’Oreal Korea appoints digital veteran as new CEO

L’Oreal Korea, the local unit of the French beauty giant, announced Monday the appointment of Rodrigo Pizarro as its new CEO, a seasoned executive who has led data-driven initiatives across the group’s global operations. Drawing on more than three decades of global experience within the group, the new CEO aims to lead L’Oreal Korea into its next chapter of growth through strategic, people-focused leadership and digital innovation. “It’s an honor to serve as CEO of L’Oreal Korea in the birthplace

Aug. 4, 2025

Air Zeta debuts as Korea’s no. 2 cargo carrier after Asiana deal

Korea’s sole all-cargo airline, Air Incheon, has officially rebranded under the name Air Zeta, after acquiring Asiana Airlines’ cargo business, becoming the nation's second-largest cargo carrier. In a regulatory filing on Friday, Asiana Airlines announced that it had finalized the 470 billion won ($338 million) deal, nearly two years after receiving board approval in November 2023. Air Incheon was named the preferred bidder for Asiana’s cargo division in June 2024. Asiana’s divestment was a cond

Aug. 3, 2025

Amorepacific glows abroad, sending profit soaring sixfold

Amorepacific Holdings, the parent company of South Korean beauty giant Amorepacific, reported a more than sixfold increase in second-quarter operating profit on the back of robust overseas expansion and solid gains in the domestic market. In a regulatory filing on Friday, the company posted an operating profit of 80.1 billion won ($57.6 million) for the April to June period, up 555.5 percent from 12.2 billion won a year earlier. Consolidated revenue rose 8.9 percent on-year to 1.09 trillion won.

Aug. 3, 2025

Korea draws red line on beef, rice in US trade deal

In a dramatic conclusion to trade negotiations between South Korea and the US, the Korean government announced Thursday that it had secured a tariff cut from the originally proposed 25 percent to 15 percent without yielding to further opening of its agriculture and livestock markets. Months of pressure from Washington centered on demands to lift Korea’s ban on beef from cattle over 30 months old and to expand rice imports. “We have agreed not to further open Korea’s rice and beef markets, given

July 31, 2025

Ramyeon makers vie to acquire suppliers for flavor 'soupremacy'

The fierce rivalry between South Korean instant noodle giants Nongshim and Samyang Foods is flaring up again. This time, it’s over control of a closely guarded flavor secret: the soup base. Samyang Foods, the maker of the global hit Buldak noodle series, was the first to make a move, with a 60 billion won ($43 million) stock purchase deal currently in the works to acquire local sauce maker GnF. The local sauce manufacturer has long supplied powdered seasonings to major food companies, including

July 30, 2025

[Photo News] Smart beauty at your convenience

GS Group's convenience store chain GS25 said Wednesday it has introduced an artificial intelligence-powered beauty kiosk inside select stores as part of a one-stop beauty service offering skin analysis and instant product purchases. With a quick scan of a customer’s facial features and coloring, the AI device recommends personalized makeup, hair and jewelry styles, as well as cosmetics from exclusive in-store brands. The service began its pilot phase in Insa-dong, Seoul, with plans to expand to

July 30, 2025

Celltrion nears US plant deal to go ‘made in USA’

Celltrion Group Chairman and founder Seo Jung-jin said Tuesday that the company is preparing for new US tariffs by moving closer to acquiring a biologics manufacturing facility in the United States -- a move that would give Celltrion greater access to a market Seo framed as “indispensable.” According to a regulatory filing Tuesday, Celltrion has been named the preferred bidder for a large-scale biologics manufacturing facility in the US, a cGMP or "current Good Manufacturing Practice" drug subst

July 29, 2025

[Photo News] 30 years flying to Washington

Korean Air officials, including Seok In-hak (fourth from right), Korean Air’s station manager at Washington Dulles International Airport, and airport authorities pose for a photo during an event marking 30 years of flight service to Washington, held at the airport on Friday. Launched in 1995, the route has been central to diplomacy, business and Korea-US ties. Initially operating via New York, it became a direct service in 1999. Since 2008, Korean Air has been the only South Korean carrier offer

July 28, 2025