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Shinsegae overhauls internal controls, creates digital and security units at Starbucks operator
Shinsegae Group reshuffles executives and reorganizes units SCK Company, E-mart among affiliates to get information security centers Shinsegae Group on Friday announced an executive reshuffle alongside a broad organizational restructuring aimed at strengthening internal controls and sharpening the competitiveness of its core businesses. Particularly notable was the creation of new digital and information security units at SCK Company, the operator of Starbucks Korea, which was rattled earlier this year by the "Tank Day" controversy. The reorganization establishes a digital division and an information security center at SCK Company. Starbucks Korea suffered a consumer boycott in May following the Tank Day incident, and an internal investigation found significant gaps in the reporting and review processes behind the promotion. The new units appear designed to tighten internal oversight in response. SCK Company will also merge its existing operations division and operations support division into a single operations unit. The food and beverage development division will be expanded into a category division, absorbing merchandise and goods functions as well. The push to strengthen internal controls and security extended across the group. E-mart and Josun Hotel & Resort elevated their information security divisions to full information security centers, while SSG.com converted its chief information security officer division into an information security center. E-mart24 created new compliance and information security center units. The group's central management strategy office was also reinforced. The E-mart division's planning and strategy headquarters was merged into the management strategy office. The CM team under the management general division was consolidated into a management team and a management diagnosis team, and the audit team was moved under the management support general division, which will now oversee group-wide personnel and audit functions. At E-mart, the core affiliate, a platform division and a public relations division were added under the strategic marketing headquarters. The E-store operations division was split into an SO planning division and an MSV division. SSG.com established a new business general headquarters and converted its existing headquarters structure into a business unit model, transforming the grocery headquarters and the data and infrastructure headquarters into the grocery business unit and the D/I business unit, respectively. The existing finance management and human resources divisions will be merged into a single support division. Shinsegae, the group's department store arm, added a content development division under its merchandise headquarters. Shinsegae International reorganized into a fashion division and a cosmetics division, introducing dedicated management structures for each business. Shinsegae DF created a merchandise headquarters along with MD 1 and 2 divisions and a marketing division. Shinsegae Live Shopping split its existing merchandise 1, 2 and 3 divisions into a lifestyle division and a fashion and beauty division. W Concept Korea broke its marketing division into a content division and a growth strategy division while consolidating its fashion 1 and 2 divisions. Shinsegae Property, which is pursuing new businesses including an AI data center and Starfield Cheongna, will place a mixed-use development division and a development support division under its development headquarters. Shinsegae Engineering & Construction consolidated its Starfield Cheongna-related operations into a single Starfield Cheongna division. Shinsegae Food expanded its B2B sales organization into two divisions and created a new food engineering and logistics division by combining its production and logistics functions.
Kang Seung-yeon Oct. 23, 2026
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Xexymix partners with Thai CP Group retailer to push into Southeast Asia
Secures major Thai retail network as springboard for Southeast Asia Xexymix said Friday it has signed a retail partnership with CP AXTRA, the retail arm of Thailand's largest conglomerate CP Group, marking the start of its full-scale push into the Thai market. The deal gives Xexymix access to a major retail distribution network in Thailand. CP Group, CP AXTRA's parent, operates 14 business divisions spanning food, retail, telecommunications, finance and e-commerce, and posted annual revenue of about 3,320.9 billion baht ($98.1 billion) in 2023, making it a global conglomerate. CP AXTRA runs Makro, Thailand's largest wholesale brand, and the hypermarket chain Lotus's. It is Thailand's biggest retailer by scale, recording consolidated annual sales of about 489.2 billion baht last year, and has built online and offline retail infrastructure across more than 10 countries in Asia, including Thailand. Xexymix will sell its products online through the Lotus's and Makro Pro platforms and offline through Makro stores across Thailand. It plans to launch in 67 stores initially, then expand to Lotus's locations depending on market response. The initial product lineup features key women's activewear items, including the Heba crop top, the Gella Intention Square bra top, the V-UP 3D Plus leggings and the Gella Intention biker shorts — selections made with Thai consumer preferences and the local retail environment in mind. Xexymix plans to use Thailand as a strategic base for its broader Southeast Asian push. Building on the CP AXTRA partnership, the company aims to deepen its presence in Thailand while accelerating expansion into other major markets across the region. "Thailand is one of the key strategic markets for our Southeast Asia expansion," a Xexymix official said. "We will move quickly to grow our touchpoints with local consumers and use Thailand as a hub to further strengthen our global brand competitiveness across Southeast Asia."
Oct. 23, 2026
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Egg prices fall for 4th straight month, but bird flu threat looms again
A tray of 30 eggs averages 6,905 won — down for four consecutive months Farm-gate prices drop as supply improves and inventories build Highly pathogenic avian influenza detected in wild birds, raising industry alarm Egg prices have fallen for four consecutive months as farm inventories build and production recovers. However, the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) for the first time this winter season has put the industry back on edge. According to livestock retail data from the Korea Institute for Animal Products Quality Evaluation, the average consumer price of a tray of 30 XL eggs this month stood at 6,905 won, down 2.5 percent from 7,084 won the previous month and 1.9 percent lower than a year ago. Egg prices peaked at 7,496 won in June before declining through July (7,429 won), August (7,332 won) and September (7,084 won), extending the losing streak to four months. The current level is the lowest since March, when a tray cost 6,843 won. The decline in consumer prices has been driven by falling farm-gate and wholesale prices as supply conditions improved. The average farm-gate price of a tray of XL eggs this month came in at 5,645 won, down 10.3 percent from the previous month, while the wholesale price fell 10.7 percent to 5,984 won — both dropping by more than the consumer price. Inventories at farms are also building. Data from the Korea Rural Economic Institute's Agricultural Outlook Center show that the share of sampled farms holding at least two days' worth of XL egg stock — measured against normal daily shipment volumes — jumped from 8.3 percent in late September to 39.5 percent in mid-October, nearly a fivefold increase. The share of farms holding only half a day's worth of stock fell from 50.0 percent to 17.7 percent over the same period. Days of inventory refers to how many days' worth of normal shipments a farm's current egg stock represents. Farmers' sense of supply and demand has also shifted. The supply-demand intensity index compiled by the institute from sampled farms dropped from +0.5 for XL eggs in late September to -0.8 in mid-October, with a negative reading indicating a perceived oversupply. Large and medium eggs each posted a supply-demand intensity of -0.9 in mid-October. Output is expected to keep rising for now. The Korea Rural Economic Institute projected that the number of laying hens aged six months or older in October would reach about 59.02 million, up 0.7 percent from the same month last year, while average daily egg production would rise 0.6 percent to about 50.31 million eggs. As a result, the institute forecast that the average farm-gate price per 10 XL eggs in late October would fall an additional 50 to 70 won from mid-October levels. The key wildcard is highly pathogenic avian influenza. The government said Tuesday that an H5-type AI virus was detected in wild bird droppings collected at Suncheonman Bay in Suncheon, South Jeolla Province. It is the first confirmed case of highly pathogenic AI in domestic wild birds this winter season. Citing a heightened risk of domestic spread, the government raised the national crisis alert level from "Caution" to "Serious." The detection came as migratory winter birds have been arriving in South Korea since September and reports of highly pathogenic AI in wild birds overseas have been increasing. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the number of highly pathogenic AI cases detected in wild birds abroad from January through August this year reached 2,957 — more than double the 1,432 cases recorded in the same period last year. The elevated egg prices seen throughout this year were themselves a consequence of the highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak last winter. According to the ministry, approximately 11.34 million laying hens were culled during the 2025–2026 winter season, accounting for 13.7 percent of the total laying hen population. The resulting drop in egg production sent prices soaring. The same risk looms this year. If highly pathogenic avian influenza spreads to laying hen farms, culling and other containment measures could push egg prices back up. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said "the risk of highly pathogenic AI breaking out on farms has grown now that it has been confirmed in wild birds," and urged poultry farmers and livestock industry workers to implement strict biosecurity measures.
Oct. 23, 2026
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Shinsegae Group executive appointments
▶ E-mart — CEO designate: Chung Yong-jin (also Shinsegae Group chairman and Shinsegae Property CEO), Kim Hong-geuk (also SSG.com CEO) ▶ Shinsegae International — CEO designate: Kim Deok-ju, Fashion Division CEO (also Shinsegae Tomboy CEO) ▶ Shinsegae Casa — CEO designate: Heo Min-ho (also Shinsegae International Cosmetics Division CEO) ▶ Shinsegae Baseball Club — CEO designate: Ki In-ju (also head of business operations) ▶ E-mart — promoted to senior managing director: Kwak Dae-hwan (produce division), Kim Jeong-min (brand division), Yoo Geun-jong (MSV division), Noh Byeong-gan (No Brand division head); promoted to managing director: Moon Ju-seok (meat and seafood division), Lee Seok-gyu (daily goods division), Park Jong-hwan (overseas sourcing division), Ryu Ye-na (platform division), Choi Jae-sun (sales 3 division), Seo Min-gyo (TR store operations division), Bae Gwang-su (ED B2B business division), Han Jeong-cheol (compliance division) ▶ E-mart24 — promoted to executive managing director: Choi Jin-il (CEO); promoted to managing director: Lee Jung-jae (sales 1 division), Ahn Jong-uk (support division) ▶ Gmarket — promoted to managing director: Son Gyeong-gu (head of technology) ▶ SSG.com — promoted to managing director: Kim Hyeon-seong (grocery division) ▶ Shinsegae I&C Technology — promoted to executive managing director: Yang Yun-ji (CEO); promoted to managing director: Jeong Pil-seung (cloud business division) ▶ W Concept Korea — promoted to senior managing director: Kim Seong-ung (support division) ▶ SCK Company — promoted to managing director: Kang Sang-myeong (compliance division) ▶ Shinsegae Food — promoted to executive managing director: Im Hyeong-seop (CEO); promoted to managing director: Kim Jong-yeong (HR division) ▶ Shinsegae L&B — promoted to managing director: Choi Jun-ho (sales division) ▶ Shinsegae Property — promoted to senior managing director: Han Nam-hui (PM division), Lee Chang-seung (marketing division); promoted to managing director: Cha Hyo-seop (asset management division) ▶ Joseon Hotel & Resort — promoted to managing director: Moon Seong-hui (brand business division), Han Byeong-jik (support division); promoted to specialist executive: Son Jong-won (head chef of Itanik Garden and La Maison Secrète) ▶ Shinsegae Engineering & Construction — promoted to senior managing director: Song Hui-dong (construction headquarters head and construction 1 division head); promoted to managing director: Jeon Yeong-jun (support division) ▶ PKRH / PAV — promoted to managing director: Jeong Hyeok-jin (head of PK Retail Holdings Inc. and Pacific Alliance Ventures Holdings Inc.) ▶ AG Global Holdings — promoted to managing director: Ahn In-hwan (CFO of AG Global Holdings Inc.) ▶ Shinsegae — promoted to executive vice president: Kim Nak-hyeon (Centum City store manager); promoted to executive managing director: Lee Seong-hwan (sales strategy division and online promotion team), Lee Seung-u (development division); promoted to senior managing director: Lee Yong-hwan (Art&Science store manager), Lee Eun-yeong (cosmetics and accessories division), Baek Ji-won (brand design division and department store visual strategy task force); promoted to managing director: Jeong Hun-cheol (MD strategy division), Ahn Sang-u (finance division), Bae Jun-seok (South City store manager), Moon In-ho (Gimhae store manager), Park Mi-ran (Shinsegae Namsan operations division) ▶ Shinsegae DF — promoted to managing director: Lee Ju-han (sales division), Seo Yeong-guk (marketing division) ▶ Shinsegae Simon — promoted to managing director: Do Hyeon-cheol (leasing division) ▶ Shinsegae Central — promoted to executive managing director: Kim Dae-ho (support headquarters head); promoted to managing director: Gwon Jae-yeong (business development division) ▶ Shinsegae Live Shopping — promoted to executive managing director: Kang Seong-jun (sales headquarters head); promoted to senior managing director: Park Jin-eung (lifestyle division); promoted to managing director: Seon Hyeon-u (fashion and beauty division) ▶ Shinsegae Casa — promoted to executive managing director: Choi Gyeong-won (Jaju design division and Shinsegae International fashion directing division) ◇ Department store division, planning and strategy headquarters — promoted to managing director: Yeon Ji-hun (management audit division) ◇ Management strategy office — promoted to managing director: Gong Jae-hun (PR team head), Song Su-yong (management support team head)
Oct. 23, 2026
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Chung Yong-jin returns as E-mart CEO as Shinsegae reshuffles top leadership
Shinsegae Group announces regular executive reshuffle Chairman Chung Yong-jin drives bold changes, elevates younger leaders Kim Hong-geuk named new E-mart co-CEO Shinsegae Group on Friday named Chairman Chung Yong-jin as a registered director of E-mart and reshuffled the top leadership of major affiliates including E-mart, SSG.com and Shinsegae Caasa. The move reaffirmed Chung's commitment to hands-on management. The department store division led by Shinsegae Co. Chairman Chung Yu-kyung, by contrast, kept its chief executives in place and focused on organizational stability while promoting younger executives. Chung Yong-jin tightens grip on management while balancing stability and change According to the regular executive reshuffle Shinsegae Group announced Friday, Chung will return to E-mart's board of directors and serve concurrently as representative director of both E-mart and Shinsegae Property. His formal appointment as E-mart CEO is subject to shareholder approval at a future general meeting. Chung plans to establish a co-CEO structure at E-mart and Shinsegae Property, personally steering the group's mid- to long-term strategy and cascading its vision across affiliates. The group is pushing to evolve beyond its core retail business into a comprehensive lifestyle, content and entertainment conglomerate, making Chung's direct leadership critical. It is already pursuing partnerships in AI with Reflection AI, in real estate development with Aman Group, and in content with Skydance. "Chairman Chung has determined that he must exercise direct leadership to drive the group's transformation during this era of industrial upheaval centered on AI," Shinsegae Group said. E-mart, Shinsegae Caasa, Shinsegae International and the Shinsegae baseball club will all see their CEOs replaced. Kim Hong-geuk, the outgoing CEO of Shinsegae Caasa, has been named E-mart's new co-CEO. Kim has earned wide internal respect for his risk management acumen. Heo Min-ho, a specialist in specialty retail, has been brought in as the new CEO of Shinsegae Caasa. Shinsegae International will be split into separate fashion and cosmetics divisions, each with its own dedicated management — Kim Deok-ju, the current Shinsegae International CEO, will head the fashion side, while Heo will concurrently oversee cosmetics. Ki In-ju, CEO of SMPMC, has been named to lead the Shinsegae baseball club as it prepares for the opening of the Cheongna dome stadium. The group's management strategy office, which serves as its control tower, will be filled with new faces. Choi Taek-won, the outgoing SSG.com CEO, has been appointed head of management support, overseeing personnel and audit functions across the group. Park Seung-hak, head of leisure operations at Josun Hotel & Resorts, has been named head of external affairs, responsible for public relations and government relations. Jeon Sang-jin, executive vice president and head of management at the strategy office, was retained. Shinsegae Group described the reshuffle as a measure that balances stability and change. The 36 newly promoted executives represent the largest such class in the group's history. Executives in their 40s were actively elevated, with that age group now accounting for 18 percent of all group executives, also a record high. Shinsegae said it plans to follow up the reshuffle with rolling personnel moves to place the right people in the right roles, continuing its organizational overhaul and embedding an innovation culture throughout the group. Post-separation work accelerates as E-mart and SSG.com seek synergies Work on the formal separation of the two business divisions has also picked up pace. The E-mart division led by Chung Yong-jin established an independent management structure when it was spun off from Shinsegae Co. in 2011. In 2024, the group officially announced plans to pursue a full separation of the E-mart and Shinsegae divisions, and last year Honorary Chairwoman Lee Myung-hee transferred her stakes in both divisions to Chung Yong-jin and Chung Yu-kyung, respectively. The remaining task is to unwind the cross-shareholdings in affiliates jointly held by both divisions. SSG.com, a prime example, is scheduled to undergo a spin-off in December, splitting into a surviving entity focused on grocery delivery and a newly established company called Shinsegae Mall centered on fashion and beauty. E-mart spent 827.5 billion won ($625 million) in August to acquire the stake held by financial investors, lifting its ownership to 65.1 percent against Shinsegae's 34.9 percent. However, under the Fair Trade Act, a family-member separation requires cross-held stakes in unlisted affiliates to be reduced below a certain threshold, meaning further unwinding is still needed. In this reshuffle, Shinsegae Group named Kim Hong-geuk — E-mart's incoming co-CEO — to also head SSG.com. The plan is to strengthen online and offline competitiveness simultaneously and unlock synergies between E-mart and SSG.com in earnest. Shinsegae Co. opts for stability, retaining key affiliate chiefs The Shinsegae Co. division led by Chung Yu-kyung took a comparatively quiet approach to the reshuffle. Park Ju-hyung, CEO of Shinsegae Co., Lee Seok-gu, CEO of Shinsegae DF, and Kim Young-seop, CEO of Shinsegae Simon, were all retained. Kim Nak-hyeon, store manager of Shinsegae Department Store's Centum City branch — which has posted annual sales exceeding 2 trillion won for three consecutive years — was promoted to executive vice president. The strategy appears to prioritize securing a solid earnings base through organizational stability rather than management turnover, given that earnings at the department store and other key affiliates improved sharply following last year's personnel overhaul. Shinsegae Co.'s consolidated operating profit surged 75.5 percent year-on-year in the first half of this year to a record 365 billion won. Shinsegae International and Shinsegae DF both returned to profitability.
Oct. 23, 2026
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Kanu Barista expands from home cafes to offices with new products and pop-ups
Dongsuh Foods announced Thursday that it is diversifying the products and marketing of its premium capsule coffee brand Kanu Barista (KANU BARISTA). Kanu Barista is a capsule coffee brand launched in 2023. Each dedicated capsule contains 9.5 grams of coffee beans — 1.7 times more than a standard espresso capsule. The capsule coffee machines feature a Dual Nozzle Bypass system, which extracts espresso and water through separate nozzles, along with a dedicated iced-coffee button. The lineup includes the Kanu Barista Urban, Kanu Barista Breeze and Kanu Barista Pebble. In July, the company launched the Kanu Barista Oasis, designed for milk-based drinks such as cafe latte and cappuccino. The machine supports milk-recipe functions, with reduced preheating time and improved consecutive-use performance. The capsule range spans 18 varieties across light, medium and dark roast strengths, including decaffeinated and single-origin options. This year, the company added two new capsules for iced drinks: Kanu Lively Breeze and Kanu Infinite Peak. Experiential programs and marketing efforts have continued alongside the product expansion. The company ran a tailor-shop-concept pop-up space called "Kanu Capsule Tailor in Bukchon" in the Bukchon neighborhood of Jongno-gu, Seoul, and opened a "Switch to Kanu" pop-up store at Starfield Hanam. "Kanu Barista is a premium capsule brand that lets consumers enjoy cafe-quality Americanos and a wide variety of coffee drinks," a Dongsuh Foods official said. "We will continue to expand the lineup to offer an even broader range of choices."
Oct. 23, 2026
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Musinsa, Coach launch pop-up at Seoul Forest with shopping, experiences and events
'Live Your Story' campaign runs through Nov. 7, featuring Coach exclusives and limited editions Musinsa has teamed up with Coach to open a fall campaign pop-up, "Live Your Story," at Musinsa Space Seoul Forest in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, running through Nov. 7. The pop-up was organized to mark the launch of Coach's fall campaign. All products at the store can be purchased by scanning QR codes linked to the Musinsa Store. Inside the store, visitors can enjoy listening booths featuring six type-based playlists, a story wall where they can record their own narratives, and an engraving station where custom messages can be stamped onto bag hang tags. A Polaroid-based photo ID card service and a stamp postcard activity are also available. Products on sale include the pop-up-exclusive Lana Shoulder Bag 23 in maple and three styles of the Reed Tote Bag available only through Musinsa. Also on offer are five special-edition Tabby bags, the Ticket Charm collection, the Brooklyn Shoulder Bag 26, the Chelsea Shoulder Bag 26 and the Terry collection. On-site perks are also available. Visitors who collect all three stamps will receive cotton candy, while customers who sign up for a Musinsa Store membership or like the Coach brand shop will receive a set of three pin badges. Customers who make a purchase will be eligible for a leather hang tag engraving service, and those who post a photo of their pop-up visit on Instagram will have the chance to create a photo ID card. A "Coach Bicycle Guerrilla Event" will also take place on the streets of Seongsu-dong. On five days — Oct. 24, Oct. 25, Oct. 31, Nov. 1 and Nov. 7 — Coach crew members will ride bicycles through the Yeonmujang-gil area and around Seoul Forest from noon to 5 p.m. They will hand out QR code balloons linked to the Coach brand shop on the Musinsa Store and run a Polaroid photo event along the route. "We designed the experience so customers can encounter Coach at every step — from Yeonmujang-gil in Seongsu-dong to the Seoul Forest pop-up and through to online purchasing," a Musinsa official said. "By connecting offline experiences to platform purchases, we aim to expand Coach's touchpoints with Gen Z customers."
Oct. 23, 2026
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Nongshim opens Shin Ramyun booth at Musinsa's Osaka pop-up to promote K-spice
Nongshim said it will run a Shin Ramyun brand booth at "Musinsa Osaka Pop-up Store 2026," held at VS in Umeda, Osaka, from Friday through Nov. 8. The company has set up a tasting booth at the venue, where visitors can try Shin Ramyun Toomba cooked using the instant ramyun cooker widely known in Korea as the "Han River ramyun" machine. Visitors who complete a survey after tasting will receive a pack of Shin Ramyun Rosé, and additional Shin Ramyun merchandise will be given away by lottery. "Visitors can experience Korean fashion and food in one place," a Nongshim official said. "We will convey the appeal of the Shin Ramyun brand in a more multidimensional way." Nongshim launched Shin Ramyun Toomba in Japan in April last year. The product became the first Korean ramyun to appear on Nikkei Trendy's "Best 30 Hit Products of 2025" list. Cumulative sales of Shin Ramyun Toomba in Japan have reached about 20 million units, according to the company. Meanwhile, "Musinsa Osaka Pop-up Store 2026" is an event introducing the latest Korean fashion and beauty trends to Japanese consumers. Musinsa has been holding regular offline pop-ups in Japan since 2023. This edition features 71 fashion and beauty brands showcasing about 3,400 products.
Oct. 23, 2026
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Hyundai Green Food opens pop-up store at Pangyo to help local food businesses expand
Hyundai Green Food, a comprehensive food company under the Hyundai Department Store Group, said it will run a "Hip Store" pop-up at Hyundai Department Store's Pangyo branch through Thursday, in partnership with the Seongnam Commercial District Revitalization Foundation. Hip Store is a mutual-growth initiative that Hyundai Green Food and the Seongnam Commercial District Revitalization Foundation have operated since last year. The program centers on helping local food brands with distinctive offerings expand their retail reach, and also provides a range of business consulting services. Six vendors are taking part in the pop-up, including Sunchang Tteokbokki, a 30-year-old establishment ranked among Seongnam's top three tteokbokki restaurants; The Malang, which specializes in rice-based desserts; and Sunseol, which sells unconventional rice cakes such as pizza seolgi and soft tofu baekseolgi. Hyundai Green Food will share practical know-how on running an offline store and marketing with vendors that have no prior department store experience. The company also plans to offer consulting on food safety and legal compliance. "We will expand cooperation with small and midsize local food businesses, drawing on Hyundai Green Food's retail infrastructure and food business expertise," said Park Shin-young, executive director of food planning at Hyundai Green Food.
Oct. 23, 2026
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Mountia to sponsor 3rd Boram Group Cup national park golf tournament
Mountia announced it will sponsor the 3rd Boram Group Cup National Park Golf Tournament, set for Nov. 7 in Hwasun, South Jeolla Province. The event is co-hosted by the Korea Park Golf Federation and Boram Group and is open to park golf enthusiasts from across the country. Mountia will provide award prizes from its park golf line, including the Maize Down Vest and Cane Down Vest. The brand will also operate a promotional booth at the venue, featuring a display zone showcasing its park golf line products alongside an event zone. Meanwhile, Mountia has been expanding dedicated park golf sections and visual displays in its stores since last year, rolling out a park golf collection. "The park golf collection combines functionality and style, making it comfortable and fashionable to wear not only on the course but also across a variety of lifestyles," a company official said.
Oct. 23, 2026
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BBQ delivers chicken to retired officers on Police Day
Genesis BBQ Group said it visited the Anseong Veterans Police Association hall in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, on Wednesday and carried out its "Visiting Chicken Relay" program for about 30 retired police officers. BBQ, together with the Anseong Ayang branch family, delivered chicken sets consisting of Golden Olive Chicken, cheese balls and Lemon Boy. The Anseong Veterans Police Association continues to support community safety and order after retirement, focusing on crime prevention activities such as patrols and volunteer work. The "Visiting Chicken Relay" is a corporate social responsibility initiative in which BBQ visits people in need or those deserving of appreciation and delivers chicken based on submitted stories. Separately, BBQ also runs a "Chicken University Good Donation" program, through which chicken prepared by students during the Chicken University curriculum is donated to local communities. "We wanted to express our gratitude to those who dedicated themselves to public safety and continue to serve their communities even after retirement," a BBQ official said. "We will keep reaching out to neighbors across our communities who need our support and encouragement."
Oct. 23, 2026
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Dunst names NMIXX's Sullyoon as global ambassador
Brand expands reach to Seongsu-dong, Guangzhou and Hangzhou with free-spirited icon Dunst, a contemporary fashion brand under LF subsidiary Citydots, announced Friday that it has named Sullyoon of K-pop group NMIXX as its global ambassador. The brand plans to release seasonal campaign content with Sullyoon, beginning with a campaign titled "GOOD GIRL, STRANGE ROOM" — set against a surreal backdrop blending childhood memories and imagination. Sullyoon wears key pieces from Dunst's 2026 winter collection, including coats, knitwear and padded jackets. She attended Dunst's debut Seoul Fashion Week runway show in September and also visited the brand's flagship store in Seongsu-dong. Dunst currently works with more than 100 retail partners across roughly 30 countries, including the United States, Europe, Japan and China. It has recently expanded into Finland and Indonesia and is now taking orders for its spring/summer 2027 season. Following a pop-up store in Guangzhou, China, the brand will open another in Hangzhou for six months starting in November. It is also pursuing a physical retail presence in Japan. Domestically, Dunst made its Seoul Fashion Week debut in September, staging the brand's first-ever runway show. It opened a three-story flagship store in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, and launched a large pop-up store in Jamsil, Seoul, in October. "Sullyoon is an artist who embodies both elegance and free-spiritedness — someone who can create strong synergy with the sensibility Dunst pursues," a brand official said. "Together with Sullyoon, we will bring Dunst's identity and style to a wider global audience."
Oct. 23, 2026
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GS25 launches 980-won nut snacks to strengthen value private-brand lineup
GS25 announced Friday that it has launched three new nut snack products under its private brand Yours. The three varieties — a mixed nut blend, roasted almonds and roasted cashews — are each priced at 980 won. The products were developed as part of the convenience store chain's strategy to strengthen the competitiveness of its private-brand lineup. GS25 currently carries about 1,300 exclusive products centered on its two flagship private brands, Yours and Real Price. The share of private-brand products in total sales has grown steadily, from 27.3 percent in 2022 to 28.0 percent in 2023, 29.1 percent in 2024 and 30.0 percent in 2025. The Real Price brand is expanding its range around refrigerated ready-to-eat foods and ingredients such as milk, eggs, chicken breast and tofu. Yours plans to strengthen its lineup with a focus on everyday favorites including ice cups, coffee, tea and other beverages. "As prolonged inflation continues, more consumers are seeking products that offer good value for money," said Jo Yeon-gyeong, a merchandise director on GS25's processed food team. "We will develop a wide range of products so customers can enjoy quality items at affordable prices."
Oct. 23, 2026
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KT Alpha's Giftishow launches industry-first integrated points gift voucher
Recipients can choose brands and products freely, spending only what they need KT Alpha's mobile coupon service Giftishow announced Friday that it has launched what it describes as the industry's first "integrated points gift voucher," allowing recipients to use a single voucher across multiple brands and products in increments as needed. The integrated points gift voucher works by converting a received voucher into points, which can then be spent on any brand or product within the corresponding category. Conventional mobile gift vouchers required users to redeem them at designated outlets or in fixed denominations. For example, a recipient of a 50,000-won ($38) "coffee and beverage points voucher" can convert it into 50,000 points and use them to buy drinks from participating brands such as A Twosome Place and Mega MGC Coffee at any time. Points are deducted with each purchase, and any remaining balance can be applied to other products within the validity period. The service covers five categories: coffee and beverages, chicken and pizza, lifestyle and shopping, marts and department stores, and online shopping. Each category offers around 10 popular products from participating brands. Voucher denominations range from 5,000 won to 100,000 won across 11 tiers. The product is sold through Giftishow Biz, a bulk mobile voucher dispatch service for corporate clients, as well as through corporate sales channels. Companies can use the vouchers for employee welfare programs, customer appreciation gifts, event prizes, and marketing and promotional campaigns. To mark the launch, Giftishow is offering discounts of up to 12 percent on Giftishow Biz purchases through Nov. 30. "We designed this so that recipients can choose the products they want based on their own tastes and needs, and use them in whatever amounts they require," said Lee Jeong-ho, head of KT Alpha's G-Commerce business division.
Oct. 23, 2026
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Lotte Mart holds Vietnam product fair at Seoul Station store, offering discounts on coffee and pho
Lotte Mart announced Friday it is running the "2026 Vietnam Product Fair" at its Zettaplex Seoul Station store through Wednesday, offering discounts on Vietnamese food products including coffee and pho. The event covers more than 100 Vietnamese products with a range of purchase benefits. Five varieties of Vifon Vietnamese rice noodles and Chinshu Fostory rice noodles are discounted 10 percent, while five varieties of G7 Coffee and Mango 100% mango chips are available on a buy-one-get-one basis. Fresh Vietnamese produce — including dragon fruit, bananas and shrimp — is also on offer at reduced prices. The fair was organized to broaden consumer access to Vietnamese food and strengthen retail cooperation between the two countries. Officials from Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Vietnamese Embassy in Korea visited the Zettaplex Seoul Station store on Thursday to review how the products were being displayed and sold. Lotte Mart has operated 17 stores in Vietnam since opening its first location in Ho Chi Minh City's Nam Sai Gon district in 2008. The company returned to profitability in 2022 and has sustained operating profit growth since, opening two new stores in emerging growth areas this year as part of its ongoing expansion. "The retail network we have built across both Korea and Vietnam is a differentiated strength of Lotte Mart," said Yoon Byung-su, head of Lotte Mart & Super's overseas business division. "We plan to continue working with local partners to offer a wide range of food experiences."
Oct. 23, 2026
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Chung Yong-jin set to return as E-mart CEO amid Shinsegae split
Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin is expected to return as E-mart's CEO in the conglomerate's regular executive reshuffle on Friday. The personnel changes are also expected to establish an independent management structure in line with the planned separation of the E-mart and department store units. The most closely watched item in the Shinsegae executive appointments, due out Friday morning, is Chung's return as a registered director of E-mart. In June, Chung said he intended to take responsibility before the board and shareholders as CEO of both E-mart and Shinsegae Property after stepping in to manage the fallout from the Starbucks "Tank Day" incident. E-mart is expected to designate Chung as a co-representative director in this round of appointments, with his formal election to follow at next year's shareholder meeting. At Shinsegae Property, he already took office as CEO in June and has been leading major new ventures including an AI data center project and Starfield Cheongna. The group's central management strategy office is also drawing attention. Shinsegae Group announced in April that it would reorganize the office to focus on identifying future growth engines and driving innovation. However, the head of the office position has remained vacant since Im Young-rok was relieved of his concurrent roles as head of the management strategy office and CEO of Shinsegae Property. While a significant number of executives born in the 1960s are expected to be replaced in the E-mart unit, the department store unit led by Shinsegae Co. Chairman Chung Yu-kyung is expected to see relatively quiet personnel changes. Park Ju-hyung, CEO of Shinsegae Co., is widely expected to be retained, as the department store business has been performing well and securing a stable foundation for key projects is considered a priority.
Oct. 23, 2026
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Samsung Welstory to introduce caffeine-free alternative coffee brand at company cafes
Samsung Welstory will introduce SANS, an alternative coffee brand, at more than 100 company cafes it operates across South Korea. According to Samsung Welstory, SANS replicates the taste and aroma of coffee using a blend of 12 natural ingredients — including chicory root and jujube seeds — instead of coffee beans. Samsung Welstory has sold decaffeinated coffee at its in-house cafes since October 2023. The company decided to bring in the alternative coffee brand to give caffeine-averse customers an additional option, taking into account that even decaffeinated coffee can retain trace amounts of caffeine. Samsung Welstory developed a powder product called "SANS Blend Stick" together with SANS specifically for use in its company cafes. The cafes will offer seven drinks on a permanent basis using it, including a "SANS Americano" and an oat cream latte. SANS has been expanding its customer reach since last year by running pop-up stores at venues including Sweet Park, the dessert specialty hall at Shinsegae Department Store's Gangnam branch. "We plan to expand the rollout of alternative coffee, focusing on company cafes of clients in urban office districts with a high proportion of young working professionals," a Samsung Welstory official said.
Oct. 23, 2026
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GS Retail wins retail innovation award at Asia-Pacific industry conference
GS Retail announced Thursday that it won the grand prize in the retail innovation category at the 2026 Federation of Asia-Pacific Retailers Associations (FAPRA) Awards. The awards were presented at the 22nd Asia-Pacific Retailers Convention, held from Oct. 7 to Oct. 10 in Tokyo, Japan. The convention draws some 4,000 participants from 18 countries across the Asia-Pacific region and recognizes member companies that have contributed to retail innovation and industry development. GS Retail was recognized for building an online-to-offline (O4O) ecosystem connecting its digital and physical retail channels and for using AI to improve customer experience and business operations. Its overseas expansion and corporate social responsibility efforts were also cited as factors in the selection. The company has built an O4O retail ecosystem linking its Woori Dongne GS app to more than 18,600 stores nationwide, including GS25 and GS The Fresh outlets. The app offers services such as quick commerce, Wine25 Plus, a personal refrigerator management feature and pre-order sales. Overseas, GS25 operates in Vietnam and Mongolia, with a combined 740 stores across the two markets. GS Shop, the company's home shopping arm, has revamped its mobile app into an "AI lifestyle commerce" platform using generative AI. The app analyzes customers' purchase history, shopping cart activity, search queries and browsing behavior in real time, automatically tailoring more than 50 percent of the screen to individual interests, with AI selecting more than 80 percent of the products displayed. GS The Fresh, the company's supermarket chain, is restructuring around a franchise-centered business model. With 609 stores, it holds the top position in its segment, with franchised outlets accounting for more than 81 percent of locations. The chain has also refined its "chain operation" system, which standardizes product assortments and provides franchisees with headquarters support for shelf arrangement and ordering. "It is deeply meaningful that the innovative capabilities and competitiveness we have built in the domestic retail industry have been recognized on the global stage," a GS Retail official said. "We will continue to present new possibilities in retail through O4O and AI-driven innovation."
Oct. 22, 2026
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Dongsuh Foods volunteers at single-parent facility, donates custom care kits
Dongsuh Foods said it visited Aeranwon, a childbirth and single-parent family welfare facility in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on Wednesday to carry out a volunteer activity for single mothers, pregnant women and infants. Employees cleaned the facility and assembled custom care kits for mothers and young children. Each employee chose one item to make: a mobile, a focus book paired with an attachment doll, or a red bean heat pack for new mothers. The finished items were then presented to the mothers and children at the facility. Dongsuh Foods runs monthly employee volunteer activities alongside an in-house donation platform and a matching grant program.
Oct. 22, 2026
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Eland Welfare Foundation signs MOU with LifeHope to support families in crisis
Partnership links LifeHope's 17 regional chapters and 170-plus church network with SOS Wigo program The Eland Welfare Foundation signed an MOU with LifeHope Christian Suicide Prevention Center at the organization's office in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on Wednesday. Eland Welfare Foundation CEO Jung Young-il and LifeHope head Cho Seong-don attended the signing ceremony. The agreement aims to identify families facing compounding hardships — including financial difficulties — among high-risk suicide groups and suicide-bereaved families, and to connect them with emergency aid and sustained care. At its core, the MOU links LifeHope's network of 17 regional chapters and more than 170 churches nationwide with the Eland Welfare Foundation's crisis family support program, SOS Wigo. SOS Wigo identifies and supports families in crisis who fall outside the reach of the social welfare system. The two organizations plan to operate a collaborative framework spanning identification, emergency support and ongoing care. LifeHope's regional chapters will identify families in need and submit support applications through SOS Wigo. The Eland Welfare Foundation will review each case under its existing crisis family support framework and provide emergency assistance. After that initial aid, each LifeHope chapter will work alongside local church communities to provide continued care to those families. "Through community partnerships, we will proactively reach families who have fallen through the cracks of the welfare system and ensure that SOS Wigo's emergency support leads to a genuine recovery of daily life," Jung said.
Oct. 22, 2026
- 1Hyundai Mobis to develop robot semiconductors for Atlas humanoid
- 2Anpanman rolls out to all CJ Olive Young stores with limited-edition collabs from 30-plus brands
- 3Korean woman's mugshot goes viral in US after DUI arrest in Georgia
- 4Theater actor Kim Hyun-i asks public to stop sharing her photos after mix-up with late stunt performer of same name
- 5‘Blockchain won’t replace banks — integration is the key‘: Bankfrick
- 6Paper straws more harmful than plastic? Study finds 6 times higher cancer risk, double the acidification
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WORLD
US warns of punishment for anyone enabling Iran's Strait of Hormuz toll scheme
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INDUSTRY
Toyota union puts productivity first; Hyundai Motor union demands bigger share of profits
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FINANCE
National Growth Fund to invest $531M in FuriosaAI, which rebuffed Meta's $800M takeover bid
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INDUSTRY
Korea Shipowners' Association holds amateur baduk tournament for Maritime Day
