Korean Air is set to finalize its long-awaited 1.8 trillion won ($1.4 billion) merger with Asiana Airlines Thursday, marking a significant step toward positioning the airline among the world’s top 10 carriers and solidifying its status as the largest in Northeast Asia. On Wednesday, Korean Air completed payments for Asiana shares to secure a 63.9 percent stake in the smaller rival, putting an end to the four-year-long journey. The merger marks the end of an era in which the nation’s

Industry Dec. 11, 2024

진행자: 김혜연, Chelsea Proctor (643) Comic book cafes: Korea's nostalgic escape for all ages 기사 요약: 온라인 컨텐츠가 넘쳐나는 시대, 여전히 자리를 지키는 '만화 카페' [1] Comic book cafes in Korea hold a cherished spot in many hearts, offering a nostalgic escape to the imaginative simplicity of childhood and a retreat from the stresses of adult life. cherished 소중히 여기다, 아끼다 retreat 후퇴[철수/퇴각]하다 [2] Until the 1990s, before the advent of smartphones, comic book cafes were a haven for teenagers seeking entertainment

Podcast Dec. 9, 2024

South Korea’s tourism and retail sectors face repercussions from the escalating political turmoil, with major economies issuing heightened alerts for travelers following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s short-lived martial law declaration last week. Starting Wednesday, several countries, including the US, the UK, Japan and Australia, have announced travel alerts, advising their citizens to avoid crowded areas and remain vigilant while staying in Korea. The seemingly heightened concerns cont

Industry Dec. 9, 2024

Korea’s two largest labor unions sharply criticized President Yoon Suk Yeol’s Saturday morning public address, demanding his immediate impeachment. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, with some 1.09 million members, released a statement following the address. It declared, “An apology cannot excuse the crime of rebellion,” and called for Yoon’s immediate impeachment and arrest. “The president must face legal consequences for treason, and the National Asse

Politics Dec. 7, 2024

The high school President Yoon Suk Yeol and his key aides graduated from has decided to suspend its uniform requirement to protect students from possible abuse from an angry public. In a letter to students and parents on Thursday, Choongam High School said the decision aims to prevent their students from facing “unfair treatment by certain inconsiderate individuals" on the way to and from school. "We will allow them to wear casual attire (instead of school uniforms) starting Mo

Social Affairs Dec. 7, 2024

Korean Air announced on Friday that it has earned the prestigious Best Airline Onboard Service title at the Global Traveler 2024 GT Tested Reader Survey Awards. The airline's Skypass loyalty program also received recognition, winning the Best Frequent-Flyer Award Redemption category. Additionally, Korean Air ranked highly in several other categories, including second place for Best First-Class Seat Design and third place for Best Airline Cuisine, Best Business-Class Seat Design, Best Flight

Industry Dec. 6, 2024

Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Mi-ryeong on Friday expressed deep regret over her attending a Cabinet meeting convened by President Yoon Suk Yeol Tuesday night to discuss martial law declaration. “If I had known about the agenda, I wouldn’t have attended the meeting. I feel deeply sorry to the public,” Song told reporters after a meeting at the government complex in Sejong. “I was both confused and deeply concerned about (martial law declaration). I

Industry Dec. 6, 2024

Starting Thursday, passengers departing through Incheon International Airport wearing shoes with heels taller than 3.5 centimeters will be required to remove their shoes during the security screening process. Previously, such a rule was only enforced in "suspicious" cases, but the updated regulation now applies it uniformly. The enhanced shoe screening measures are being implemented at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 and apply to all passengers using the cylindrical security scanners. &

Industry Dec. 5, 2024

진행자: 김혜연, Chelsea Proctor (642) At this Starbucks, you need ID: Franchise opens store with view of North Korea 기사 요약: 민간인 출입이 제한된 DMZ 인근에 위치한 스타벅스 김포애기봉생태공원점 [1] South Koreans can now sip their Starbucks while taking in the rarest of views -- the shadowy realm of a forbidden land, North Korea. At a just-opened store, with seating for around 40 patrons, the glass walls frame panoramic vistas of Kaepung-gun and Songaksan in the North Korean city of Kaesong. forbidden 금지된 patron (특정 상점·식당

Podcast Dec. 5, 2024

Multinational companies doing business in Korea were thrown into confusion overnight as President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, a drastic decision that was rescinded just six hours later. Most firms swiftly responded by issuing emergency notices, instructing employees to work remotely, while their headquarters closely monitored the situation by directing their Korean teams to report on the potential ramifications. "We stayed up all night monitoring fluctuating exchanges rates," s

Industry Dec. 4, 2024

Kolmar Korea Vice Chairman Yoon Sang-hyun on Tuesday reaffirmed his company’s dedication to becoming a trusted global partner in the beauty market during a visit by the nation's food and drug safety chief to the company's research complex in Seoul. “We will continue to strengthen our partnerships with independent brands and actively support them to ensure the continuous emergence of K-beauty's iconic brands,” Yoon said, welcoming Minister of Food and Drug Safety

Industry Dec. 3, 2024

Ably Corporation, operator of women’s fashion e-commerce platform Ably, announced on Monday that it has secured its first global capital investment of 100 billion won ($75 million) from China’s Alibaba Group. This marks Alibaba's first stake acquisition in a Korean e-commerce platform, with the group reportedly obtaining some 5 percent of Ably's shares. Ably's valuation has tripled in three years, compared to 900 billion won during its pre-Series C funding round in Jan

Industry Dec. 2, 2024

South Korea's major confectionery companies have decided to raise the prices of their popular chocolate snacks on the back of soaring cacao prices, driven by climate change. Orion announced a 10.6 percent average price increase for 13 products starting Sunday. The price of its popular products like Choco Songyi and Bichobi will rise by as much as 20 percent. Orion also said it would temporarily suspend the supply of its chocolate bar, To You, instead of applying an unavoidable price increas

Industry Dec. 1, 2024

Incheon International Airport unveiled a large-scale art project on Saturday, as part of its fourth-phase expansion completion, transforming Terminal 2 into a vibrant cultural hub. Featuring 18 art pavilions spread across 8,000 square meters, travelers can enjoy a fusion of Korean traditions and art from across the world as they walk through and spend time at the terminal. Some highlights from the permanent exhibition include Chae Byungrok’s "Good Luck & Colorful Wishes" an

Industry Dec. 1, 2024

Korean Air’s 1.8 trillion won ($1.4 billion) merger with its smaller rival Asiana Airlines has secured approval from Europe’s antitrust regulator, bringing Korea’s flag carrier one step closer to becoming the largest airline in Northeast Asia. The European Commission announced on Thursday that it has decided to give the nod to the high-profile merger, 10 months after it granted conditional approval in February when it required Korean Air to further reduce overlapping routes to

Industry Nov. 28, 2024