Shinsegae Duty Free launches AI shopping service on KakaoTalk, a first in the industry

Shinsegae Duty Free tool added to 'ChatGPT for Kakao' No separate app or login required — accessible directly in KakaoTalk Conversational queries yield personalized travel product recommendations Shinsegae Duty Free announced Friday that it has become the first duty-free retailer in South Korea to open a dedicated service on Kakao Tools, a feature within KakaoTalk's ChatGPT for Kakao platform. Kakao Tools connects various brands and external services to ChatGPT for Kakao inside KakaoTalk, allowing users to access information and functions through conversational interaction. The Shinsegae Duty Free tool offers a range of duty-free shopping information, including product recommendations tailored to a user's travel destination, popular items and sales rankings, ongoing promotions, and branch locations and operating hours. Tapping a product card takes users directly to the Shinsegae Duty Free website, where they can complete a purchase immediately. Getting started is straightforward. Users can add Shinsegae Duty Free through Kakao Tools by accessing "ChatGPT" at the top of the KakaoTalk chat tab — no separate app download or login required. Shinsegae Duty Free said it plans to expand the range of information and features available through Kakao Tools to further enhance its AI-driven duty-free shopping experience. "We will continue to expand services that make the duty-free shopping journey — from product discovery to information lookup — more convenient by leveraging AI technology," a company official said.

Sept. 11, 2026

CU franchisees, staff donate to Dokdo advocacy group

BGF Retail announced Friday that the CU Dokdo Love Expedition — composed of its employees and CU franchisees — held the "2026 Dokdo Love Support Event." The event is part of a sponsorship initiative BGF Retail has maintained since 2012. This year, CU franchisees and staff again joined as members of the expedition and delivered a donation to the Dokdo Love Movement Headquarters. The funds will support domestic and international campaigns to raise awareness of Dokdo's history and projects aimed at strengthening the islets' presence. "We will continue activities that allow people to show their interest in Dokdo and their love of country in everyday life," said Son Ji-wook, head of BGF Retail's mutual-growth cooperation division.

Sept. 11, 2026

Nongshim brings Shin Ramyun to Toronto International Film Festival

Nongshim has become a regular presence on the film festival circuit. After participating in the Jeonju International Film Festival at home, the company is now taking its Shin Ramyun brand to the Toronto International Film Festival. Starting Thursday, the festival's opening day, Nongshim will operate a Shin Ramyun street-food booth at TIFF Festival Street, held along King and John streets in Toronto. The company will also run a "Make Your Own Shin Ramyun Cup" program, where participants can customize their bowl by choosing their own noodles, soup base and a variety of toppings. All proceeds from the program will be donated to a local Toronto food bank. "We will continue to expand brand experiences across diverse areas so that consumers around the world can enjoy Shin Ramyun even more closely," a Nongshim official said.

Sept. 11, 2026

Sulwhasoo makes formal push into Japan with Isetan Shinjuku pop-up

Brand aims to introduce 60-year ginseng research heritage, expand customer touchpoints Sulwhasoo, a luxury beauty brand operated by Amorepacific, announced Friday it is entering the Japanese market. The brand currently operates more than 600 stores across 15 countries. This year marks the 60th anniversary of its ABC Ginseng Cream — the world's first cosmetics product to incorporate ginseng — and the brand chose the occasion to launch in Japan. Sulwhasoo held a pop-up at the Japanese beauty platform @cosme in May and hosted a brand launch event last month. It also ran a content and sampling program in collaboration with Japanese beauty magazine Biteki Grand. From Saturday through Oct. 13, the brand will operate a pop-up store on the first floor of the main building at Isetan Shinjuku — its first official pop-up at a Japanese department store. The activation centers on two signature products, the Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream and the Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Serum, to highlight the brand's ginseng research heritage. Visitors can try the products, receive hand massages and access the brand's Jihambo gift-wrapping service. Sulwhasoo is also available through major online and offline channels in Japan, including Isetan Beauty Online, Qoo10, Amazon Japan and @cosme Shopping. "We will continue to expand our touchpoints with Japanese customers through diverse online and offline channels and differentiated brand experiences," a Sulwhasoo official said.

Sept. 11, 2026

Hongcheon River water, bottles reused 7 times: The nature behind Hite Jinro's Terra beer

From Hongcheon River water to fermentation and aging, 4 million bottles a day Quality checks for foreign matter and volume even at 1,000 bottles a minute Empty bottles reused 5-7 times, waste heat recovered in eco-friendly process "We draw water that determines the taste of beer from the Hongcheon River, then use it as brewing water after special treatment and filtration processes," said Kim Tae-hwan, head of Hite Jinro's quality control team. At Hite Jinro's Gangwon Province factory in Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Province, visited on Sept. 10, a vast river came into view just before entering the plant grounds — the Hongcheon River, the foundation of Terra and Kelly beers. The Gangwon factory, the largest of its kind in the country, draws water from this river to produce an average of 4 million bottles of beer per day. The taste of Terra and Kelly, it turns out, comes from nature itself. From raw material selection to recycling, the process is eco-friendly from start to finish. The inside of the factory was spotless. Stepping into the mashing room revealed rows of brew kettles and mash tanks lined up side by side. Here, water, malt and hops are mixed to create wort. Malt is boiled with water to extract sugars, then hops are added to enhance aroma and bitterness. The resulting wort moves on to the next stage: filtration. What stood out in the filtration room was the "double mixing prevention valve," pricey equipment that costs more than 50 million won ($37,400) apiece. The double-locking valve prevents different liquids used in the production process — such as raw materials and washing water — from mixing. Filtration takes place in three stages. The final stage, a micro filter, allows only particles one 2-millionth the width of a human hair to pass through. Once filtered, the beer moves to fermentation. Massive fermentation tanks stretched out in endless rows, too large to take in at a glance even when looking up. The Gangwon factory has 108 storage tanks. Each holds 600,000 liters — enough for one person to drink 10 bottles a day for 330 years. Fermentation and storage take at least 20 days, more than five times longer than the typical four-day storage period for European beers. The factory maintains this extended storage period to achieve optimal flavor. The finished beer is then bottled in the packaging building. Green Terra and brown Kelly bottles moved along the conveyor belt without pause, filling the space with the clinking sound of glass bottles knocking together. Bottling speed reaches about 1,000 bottles per minute, too fast to track with the eye. Despite the pace, quality checks remain rigorous. Inspection machines scan bottles in real time as they pass along the conveyor belt, catching foreign matter or insufficient volume. The defect rate stands at just four bottles per 1 million. The packaging building handles not only bottling but also the process of preparing empty bottles for reuse. Collected empty bottles are first sorted to prevent mixing with competitors' products. Damaged or unusable bottles are filtered out. The remaining bottles undergo about 35 minutes of washing and sterilization in a high-temperature, high-pressure special washer, which removes labels and foreign substances before the bottles return to the production line. Depending on the bottle, they are reused about five to seven times. Bottles are not the only thing recycled — energy generated during manufacturing is reused as well. The Gangwon factory is the first in the country to adopt a "heat recovery system," an energy-saving approach that captures and reuses heat energy that would otherwise be wasted during production. Workers were hard to find on the factory floor, as most production processes have been automated. Rather than having staff stationed throughout the production line, the entire process is monitored around the clock from a control room. During the visit, three employees in the control room watched monitors, tracking the movement of the production line. "Beer is most affected by outside light and temperature," said Kim, the quality control team head. "Since the taste can vary depending on distribution and storage conditions, we consider quality control to be the most important factor."

Sept. 11, 2026

Inner beauty market evolves beyond skin care to gut health and 'multi-care'

'Inside out' trend takes hold as consumers seek health from within Gut health, sleep and blood sugar functions diversify ingredient lineup KGC leads inner beauty market with 'Innergetic' brand South Korea's functional inner beauty market is expanding as the "inside out" trend — improving skin and overall health from within the body — takes hold among consumers. KGC, in particular, is leading the shift toward "multi-care" inner beauty products as it repositions itself as a total wellness company. The domestic inner beauty market, valued at 500 billion won ($374 million) in 2019, is estimated to have surpassed 2 trillion won last year, according to Shinhan Investment Corp. and other sources cited Friday. The trend has also fueled K-wellness consumption among foreign visitors to Korea, with CJ Olive Young's annual sales to foreign customers topping 1 trillion won for the first time this year. The ingredients and product types have also changed. Functional inner beauty foods featuring collagen, hyaluronic acid and probiotics have emerged, moving beyond simple vitamins, as consumers increasingly seek efficient, all-in-one solutions for multiple health concerns. The first major trend running through the recent inner beauty market is metabolism and sleep health care, as demand grows for stabilizing bodily rhythms rather than just improving appearance. Amorepacific's Vital Beautie launched "Good Sleep GABA 365," which uses "L-glutamic acid fermented GABA powder," an ingredient individually recognized by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for improving sleep quality. Another emerging trend is demand for internal "cleansing," reflecting a desire to flush out bodily waste and restore overall balance. A notable example is the "olive shot" cleanse — a mix of olive oil and lemon juice consumed on an empty stomach in the morning — which has become popular, particularly among people in their 20s and 30s. Amid this gut health-centered multi-care trend, KGC's moves stand out. The company, repositioning itself as a total wellness brand, has introduced its inner care brand Innergetic, which offers health solutions spanning both inner and outer beauty based on the antioxidant properties of red ginseng. KGC's recently launched Innergetic Antioxidant & Cleanse contains indigestible maltodextrin as its main ingredient, which can help support gut health and manage post-meal blood sugar levels. Its companion product, Innergetic Antioxidant & Collagen, uses low-molecular-weight collagen peptide GT as its core ingredient, which the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has recognized for dual functionality in skin moisture and health. Both products come in a chewable jelly stick form that can be consumed without water, adding to their convenience. "Inner beauty has firmly established itself as part of a daily wellness routine," a KGC official said. "Through our new Innergetic products, which maximize both convenience and functionality to address gut health, blood sugar and skin all at once, we aim to set a new standard in the global K-wellness market."

Sept. 11, 2026

Paris Baguette rolls out catering box service for group orders

Available at 50 stores nationwide; orders required 4 days in advance Paris Baguette said Friday it will run a pilot "catering box service" tailored to group orders from schools and companies at 50 stores nationwide. The company will offer the service through franchise stores located in areas with a high concentration of companies, schools and institutions. In Seoul, participating districts include Gangnam-gu, Seocho-gu, Jung-gu and Jongno-gu. The menu consists of "share boxes" meant to be enjoyed by a group, priced from 27,000 won ($20) to 50,000 won, and "single boxes" for individual customers priced at 12,000 won. The "sandwich share box" (20 pieces) contains five kinds of best-selling sandwiches, including Caesar chicken and ham and egg. There is also a "combo share box," which combines two kinds of salad (eight servings) with three kinds of sandwiches (12 pieces), and a "salad share box" (20 cups) featuring salads served in cup form. The "bread share box" (20 pieces) includes four items such as walnut-almond cream cheese bread and sweet-and-salty sausage bread, while the "dessert share box" (31 pieces) is made up of macarons, cheese tarts and Dubai Chewy Cookies. The "single box" comes with two kinds of sandwiches — green egg mix and ham cheese — along with a salad and dessert. Orders can be placed in-store, by phone or through the Happy Order app, and must be made at least four days before the desired pickup date. Customers can choose either store pickup or delivery. A Paris Baguette official said, "We plan to gauge demand through this trial run and expand the service accordingly."

Sept. 11, 2026

Chosun Hotels & Resorts obtains information security certification

Chosun Hotels & Resorts said it obtained the Information Security Management System certification from the Korea Internet & Security Agency on Aug. 19. The ISMS certification evaluates whether a company has established and operates an information security management system along with technical and administrative protective measures. The certification is valid for three years, from Aug. 19, 2026, to Aug. 18, 2029. The certification covers the company's proprietary hotel brands Grand Josun Busan and Grand Josun Jeju, its restaurants Homurang, Mott 32 Seoul, Hogyeongjeon and Jaju Table, its golf courses Jayu Country Club and Trinity Club, and its leisure facilities Aquafield, Concorde and TGX. The company's official online store, Josun Taste & Style, is also included in the scope of the certification. "We will continue to upgrade our information security management system so that customers can use our services with greater peace of mind," a Chosun Hotels & Resorts official said.

Sept. 11, 2026

Lotteria, Seoul police launch school commute safety campaign

Joint 'good driving' campaign held with police at Seoul's Gonghang Elementary School Lotteria said Thursday that it carried out a school commute traffic safety campaign with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency to protect children on their way to school. The campaign is part of a memorandum of understanding on children's traffic safety that Lotteria and the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency signed in June. About 70 people took part in the event, held along the school commute route to Gonghang Elementary School in Seoul. Participants included officials from Lotte GRS, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's deputy commissioner for community safety, the chief of the Seoul Gangseo Police Station and representatives from related organizations. Lotteria produced and distributed "yellow cards" designed to make child pedestrians more visible to drivers. Alongside the police, the company also promoted its "good driving" campaign. The campaign covers pedestrian safety rules and bans on signal violations and illegal parking in school zones, as well as the need for drivers to stop before crosswalks. The company plans to distribute 31,000 of the yellow cards, which carry the slogan "Please stop, children crossing," to younger elementary school students across Seoul in phases. Lotteria and the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency are also running the traffic safety campaign on Lotteats, the company's integrated ordering app, and on kiosk screens at its stores across Seoul. A Lotte GRS official said, "We will continue to take the lead in establishing a culture of child safety by making use of Lotteria's various online and offline platforms."

Sept. 11, 2026

Shinsegae Department Store holds golf fair through Sept. 20

Shinsegae Department Store said it will hold a golf fair at all its stores through Sept. 20. The company has expanded the event's inventory by 30 percent compared with its spring golf event. Popular brands are taking part, including the department store's own directly operated golf shop as well as J.Lindeberg and Nike Golf. Through Sept. 22, shoppers can find a 55th-anniversary limited-edition product from the premium golf brand Majesty at the connecting bridge on the 7th floor of the Gangnam branch — a world-first unveiling. The fair also features interactive content. Customers who use an affiliated card to purchase 500,000 won ($374) or more in golf brand products during the event period can enter a drawing for lessons with professional golfers Ko Jin-young and Im Jin-han. Meanwhile, demand for golf is picking back up as the summer heat eases. From Aug. 24 to Sept. 6, Shinsegae Department Store's golf equipment sales rose 40.9 percent from the same period last year.

Sept. 11, 2026

Lotte Mart, Lotte Super teach elderly residents to use self-service kiosks

Lotte Mart and Lotte Super said Friday that they held a digital device training session for elderly residents from vulnerable households ahead of chuseok, the Korean harvest holiday, teaching them how to use self-service kiosks and mobile applications. The session took place Thursday at the Munjeong Senior Welfare Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul, drawing 80 elderly residents from vulnerable households in the area. Lotte Mart and Lotte Super also handed out three types of meal kits from their private brand Onul Joeun -- yukgaejang, seaweed soup and beef bone broth. The training covered how to purchase products using self-service kiosks, as well as how to shop online, earn loyalty points and check receipts through mobile apps. Participants also visited the Lotte Mart Songpa branch, where they practiced buying products using the kiosks actually in use at the store. "We will continue our corporate social responsibility efforts to provide practical support for underserved members of local communities," said Kim Beom-chang, head of the HR innovation division at Lotte Mart and Lotte Super.

Sept. 11, 2026

Seven-Eleven backs food aid for vulnerable groups, expands donation project

Seven-Eleven said Friday it signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korea National Council on Social Welfare to support food aid for vulnerable groups and expand a donation project that provides food to those in need at no cost. The project, run by the Korea National Council on Social Welfare under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, provides food to vulnerable groups and connects them with welfare services to help close gaps in the social safety net. Seven-Eleven is using its nationwide store network to spread the word about the project. Since Sept. 1, the company has been promoting the project through point-of-sale terminals and digital signage at all of its stores so that those in need can easily find the information. To mark World Food Day on Oct. 16, the company will donate about 10,000 units of local farm produce to donation sites participating in the project nationwide. "We will continue to cooperate so we can provide real help to our neighbors, and keep up social contribution activities that let us grow together with local communities," said Kim Mi-so, senior ESG manager at Seven-Eleven's communication team.

Sept. 11, 2026

Helinox Wear opens first flagship store in Dosan, touts light design, limited items

Store to serve as gateway for gauging overseas tourist reception Flagship-exclusive collection unveiled Permanent China store to open in December as global push accelerates A building near Dosan Park in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, now wraps its facade in a transparent, multilayered film shell filled with air. It is the Seoul flagship store of Helinox Wear, the apparel brand run by Kolon Industries' FnC division. Helinox Wear has opened its first flagship store in the Dosan Park commercial district. Since launching the brand in October last year, the company had opened five stores in department stores and shopping malls in major commercial districts including Gangnam and Jamsil. It has now established a large-scale base where customers can experience the brand directly. The strategy is to make the Dosan district a key base, expand its offline presence and draw in more overseas tourists. The store spans six floors in total, from the basement level to a rooftop on the fifth floor. The total floor area is about 960 square meters. Each floor features a different mix of products and spatial design. The core theme of the space is "lightness," visible from the storefront itself. Instead of heavy, rigid conventional building materials such as beams and pipes, the design uses light structures built from lines, planes and air — reflecting Helinox's own technology philosophy of maximizing efficiency with minimal materials throughout the space. On the basement floor, Helinox's outdoor gear is displayed alongside Helinox Wear apparel. The first floor houses key products, a large installation and a media wall. The second floor uses a tunnel-like structure that connects products and space. The third floor features a cafe and terrace with a convertible bench system, creating a place to linger and interact rather than simply browse products. The fourth floor is a private lounge, and the fifth floor is the rooftop. The products themselves emphasize lightness as a key strength. The Eclipse Pack Down Jacket is a prime example — weighing just 320 grams in a large size, making it ultra-lightweight. It won the Best of the Best award at the 2026 Red Dot Design Award. The flagship store's opening will showcase the jacket's full color lineup. Limited editions are also available. A new product, the Spectra Eclipse Pack Down Jacket, applies a titanium-coated lining with water-repellent, windproof and heat-reflective properties to the Eclipse Pack Down Jacket, and will be sold in limited quantities exclusively at the Seoul flagship store. The store also offers an exclusive collection inspired by Seoul, including T-shirts, a grocery bag, a camp cap, a bandana and a key chain. Helinox Wear plans to use the flagship store as a base to draw in overseas tourists as well. On Xiaohongshu, China's largest lifestyle platform, Helinox's account has drawn strong engagement for its Helinox Wear campaign videos and news of the Seoul store opening. As of early September, its followers surpassed 60,000. In fact, foreign tourists account for more than 25 percent of visitors at the Helinox Wear store in Starfield COEX Mall. Based on this, the company plans to use the Seoul flagship store as a base to further expand the inflow of overseas tourists. The brand is also stepping up its global push in the second half of the year. In October, it will enter Shanghai, China, with a pop-up store to gauge local reception and lay the groundwork for expanding its distribution network. It will then open a permanent store there in December. "It will serve as a key base for absorbing not only domestic customers but also a global fandom, and a powerful springboard for the China launch pop-up and the global expansion roadmap continuing through the second half of this year," a Helinox Wear official said.

Sept. 11, 2026

Mega MGC Coffee construction spotted in New York, sparks online buzz [Unboxing]

Near New York landmark Flatiron Building Hong Kong's first store opens next month; Japan entry also in the works Saturated domestic market drives franchises overseas Mega MGC Coffee, South Korea's top low-price coffee franchise, is entering New York. The company is expanding its overseas business to the United States, Japan and Hong Kong, following earlier moves into Mongolia and Cambodia. Industry sources said Thursday that images of Mega MGC Coffee's construction site in Manhattan, New York, have been circulating on TikTok, Instagram and other social media platforms. The company is preparing to open a store there. A sign on the site's exterior wall reads, "Flatiron Store Coming Soon." The store's location is near the Flatiron Building, one of New York's iconic architectural landmarks. The area is a key New York commercial district crowded with tourists and young foot traffic. It is home to Madison Square Park, Shake Shack, the Lego Store and the Harry Potter store. Paris Baguette and Tous Les Jours — K-bakery brands that entered the US market earlier — also operate stores nearby. The store is likely to follow a strategy similar to its domestic operations. It is expected to target young local consumers with a large-portion, low-price takeout model and trendy menu items that quickly reflect K-food and K-dessert trends. Given the brand's frequent collaborations with popular artists, marketing aimed at K-pop fans is also expected. However, MGC Global, which operates Mega MGC Coffee, said, "The New York expansion has not been confirmed. We are actively considering overseas expansion, but we cannot disclose specific countries or timelines." Mega MGC Coffee, which leads the industry with nearly 4,500 domestic stores, began its overseas push in 2024 with its first store in Mongolia. The number of stores in Mongolia has since grown to eight. This year, the company entered Cambodia through a master franchise agreement and plans to open five stores there by the end of the year. Additional expansion plans are also taking shape. The company is reportedly set to open a store in Hong Kong's Central district in October. It is also pursuing entry into Japan, having laid the groundwork last year by establishing a local subsidiary, Mega MGC Japan. The saturated domestic coffee market is cited as a key reason Mega MGC Coffee is looking abroad. The number of coffee shops in South Korea has surpassed 100,000, meaning roughly one in seven restaurants is a cafe. Rising cost burdens and a slowdown in consumer spending have also played a role. Rival Compose Coffee has already entered Singapore and Taiwan. The Venti is pushing into the US market after expanding to Canada, Vietnam and Jordan. Paik's Coffee, currently operating in Japan and the Philippines, is exploring entry into Taiwan, China and the US next year. Twosome Place is also reportedly set to open a store in Alexandria, Virginia, near Washington, D.C., in October.

Sept. 10, 2026

New 'K-beauty playground' rises in Hongdae, packing in emerging brands and even a pharmacy [Photo report]

Musinsa Beauty opens its first standalone store in Hongdae Partners with Onnuri Pharmacy to launch 'pharmacy beauty' concept More than 70% of products come from indie brands as a 'discovery channel' 'Sales pitches were tough': taking on CJ Olive Young and Daiso "We wanted to create a space where customers could enjoy themselves while experiencing a variety of things," said Kim Yeon-jin, head of Musinsa Beauty's offline team. A new "K-beauty playground" has opened in Seoul's Hongdae. Musinsa Beauty Hongdae, where indie brands make up 70 percent of products in major categories, opens officially on Friday. It is Musinsa's second offline store after the Musinsa Seongsu megastore, and its first standalone store. Musinsa Beauty Hongdae serves as a "discovery channel" that seeks out new brands and products and connects them with consumers. Spanning 1,262 square meters from the basement floor to the third floor above ground, the store carries about 12,000 products from about 870 brands. The basement floor houses an entire "Beauty Onnuri Pharmacy," staffed by resident pharmacists. The company aims to introduce next-generation products that will carry forward the K-beauty boom in Hongdae, a district crowded with young domestic consumers and foreign tourists visiting Korea. Kim, who led the project, said at a media tour on Thursday, "Our keyword is 'Next Beauty' — we hope indie brands that will lead the cosmetics industry can grow through Musinsa's online and offline platforms." She added, "We also hope this can become a space where foreign visitors to Korea discover K-beauty brands they did not know before." An entire pharmacy inside: 'pharmacy beauty' goes beyond derma beauty The pharmacy on the basement floor is the core of "pharmacy beauty," a concept Musinsa Beauty Hongdae is introducing for the first time. In the 176-square-meter store, about 2,000 products from 270 brands are sold. Unlike typical pharmacies, more than 90 percent of the shelf space is devoted to beauty products. Two or more pharmacists are always on hand to offer customized advice, from acne care to hair and scalp treatments. Musinsa worked with Onnuri Pharmacy from the product-lineup planning stage. Onnuri Pharmacy operates as a separate business, run independently of Musinsa. The collaboration goes a step further than typical beauty specialty stores that merely sell dermatology-linked products. Musinsa signed a partnership agreement with Onnuri Pharmacy in August. "As with any regular pharmacy, we also offer prescription dispensing and medication counseling based on prescriptions issued by hospitals and clinics," a Musinsa representative said. Musinsa Beauty introduced the pharmacy beauty concept with the characteristics of the Hongdae commercial district in mind. According to Musinsa's own data, 67 percent of foot traffic in the Hongdae area comes from foreigners, twice the share of domestic visitors at 33 percent. More than half of domestic foot traffic is female, making Hongdae a key commercial district where both the 20s-and-30s generation and global customers converge at the same time. 'Next Beauty': indie and emerging brands fill 70% of the lineup On the first floor, where beauty and fragrance products are sold, emerging brands rarely seen at other offline platforms stand out. C-beauty brands drawing recent attention, Into You and AZTK, made their domestic debut through Musinsa Beauty Hongdae. French niche perfume brand Etat Libre d'Orange and domestic niche perfume brand Selvatigo also opened exclusive corners there. The store also carries a range of makeup products in dark, unconventional colors that are hard to find elsewhere in the domestic market. Of the about 10,000 products from about 600 beauty brands sold in the store, 70 percent come from indie brands. The store also features a "brand highlighting zone" that spotlights new brands — a space curated to showcase brands drawing attention in global markets but lacking an offline presence in Korea. "We focused on products like color cosmetics and perfumes that Musinsa's core customers, who have a strong sense of individuality, need to express themselves," Kim said. The second floor brings together skincare, hair, body and dental care products in one place. Unlike the basement floor, where customers can get expert consultations from pharmacists, the second floor is a space where customers browse and choose products themselves based on their skin concerns. The store also set up a "Musinsa Beauty Ranking Zone" based on Musinsa Beauty's actual sales data, selecting the top seven best-selling products by category every three months. Seongsu, Jeju stores planned within the year, taking on CJ Olive Young and Daiso The focus on indie and emerging brands also helps Musinsa overcome its late-comer status in the beauty platform market. South Korea's beauty platform market is already led by CJ Olive Young, which operates about 1,300 stores nationwide, and now includes Daiso, which runs about 1,600 stores. Near Musinsa Beauty Hongdae alone, there are six CJ Olive Young stores and two Daiso stores. "For brands, the biggest concern before joining a new channel is their existing sales partners," Kim said. "Sales pitches (to get brands into Musinsa Beauty) were really tough." She added, "To get brands to choose Musinsa, we focused on giving them opportunities and spaces where they could do their own branding directly." Musinsa Beauty plans to expand the project based on its brand-incubation capabilities linking online and offline channels, its competitiveness in cross-referring customers between fashion and beauty, and the expertise gained through pharmacy beauty. The company aims to actively connect its 16.4 million Musinsa members, built mainly around fashion, as potential customers for Musinsa Beauty. Musinsa Beauty will open its second standalone store in Seongsu in November and plans to open a combined store with Musinsa Kicks in Jeju by the end of the year. The company will also expand the categories and countries where its private-label products are sold. "Many indie brands have already experienced growth through their partnership with Musinsa," Kim said. "This will be an opportunity to show off brands in an even more distinctive way."

Sept. 10, 2026

Rom-com looks this fall? 'Mature woman look' channels Han Yoo-joo, Yoo Hee-jin

After Y2K and cutesy looks, the 'mature woman look' rises Women in their 20s and 30s embrace grown-up chic; ROEM jacket sales jump 132% The lively, bold Y2K mood that recently dominated fashion trends is fading, giving way to a refined, so-called "mature woman look" built on polished materials and calm tones. Across the market, shoppers are increasingly seeking sophisticated pieces versatile enough for the office, exhibition visits and other outings. According to the fashion industry on Thursday, women in their 20s and 30s have been embracing the "mature woman look." The style is defined by clean silhouettes, deep, understated color and natural feminine touches. Rather than chasing youthful trends such as the lively Y2K or cutesy look, these shoppers are gravitating toward a mature mood that clearly reflects personal taste. Amid this shift, drama characters from two decades ago are being rediscovered. Notable examples include Han Yoo-joo, played by Chae Jung-an, from the 2007 drama series "Coffee Prince." Another is Yoo Hee-jin, played by Jung Ryeo-won, from the 2005 drama series "My Name Is Kim Sam-soon." Han Yoo-joo's effortlessly polished styling has recently gone viral on social media, dubbed "Han Yoo-joo core." The "mature woman look" builds on basic pieces — shirts, blouses and jackets — by adding longer silhouettes and subdued colors. The same shift favors quality fabric, fit and color over bold logos and ornamentation. E-Land World's romantic womenswear brand ROEM has benefited significantly from the trend. In the week of Aug. 31 to Sept. 6, jacket sales jumped 132 percent from the same period a year earlier, while blouse sales rose 30 percent. The "scoop-neck collarless jacket," a signature piece from ROEM's 2026 fall/winter lineup, topped the brand's sales chart in the first week of September. Demand was strong enough that ROEM reordered stock just four days after launch. The digital ad return on ad spend for the piece reached about 1,900 percent over the same period. The "midi tweed jacket," a steady seller every season, has also performed well. It pairs easily with H-line long skirts and jeans, making it a versatile choice for work, exhibition visits and dates. Meanwhile, interest in the "mature woman look" is also borne out by actual purchase data. Fashion platform W Concept analyzed transaction data over five days from Aug. 23 to Aug. 28, following the Cheoseo, or "End of Heat," solar term. Fall apparel transactions rose 30 percent from the previous week. By category, knitwear (85 percent), mid-heels (40 percent), tote bags (35 percent) and outerwear (20 percent) were the most popular. Deep tones such as red, burgundy and plum stood out as point colors.

Sept. 10, 2026

'Not here? I'll go elsewhere'... Department stores, malls catch 'Oldamu fever' [Unboxing]

Lotte's Cheongnyangni annex to add 'Oldamu' brands Malls, outlets compete fiercely to host Oldamu trio Sales top department stores... tourists fuel growth CJ Olive Young, Daiso and Musinsa — collectively nicknamed "Oldamu" — are increasingly opening stores inside department stores and shopping malls. Once seen as rivals to conventional retailers, the trio has become a coveted tenant for offline retail channels thanks to its strong ability to draw crowds. According to industry sources Thursday, Lotte Department Store plans to open a new annex near its existing Cheongnyangni branch in the second half of the year, effectively expanding the main building into a complex shopping mall. The annex will occupy the first basement floor through the fourth above-ground floor of a nearby residential-commercial complex, operating separately from the existing store inside Cheongnyangni Station. Reflecting the area's large youth population, the annex will house brands such as Chagee, the Chinese milk tea brand; hot pot chain Haidilao; and Vips, operated by CJ Foodville. The Oldamu trio — CJ Olive Young, Daiso and Musinsa — will also open stores in the new annex. Olive Young will run a 528-square-meter store there and introduce its hands-on beauty care service, Skin Scan. Daiso will open a large store of about 1,650 square meters. Musinsa will relocate and expand the store it currently operates in the main building into the new annex. Major offline retail channels now tout the presence of Oldamu brands as a competitive edge. Starfield Village Unjeong, operated by Shinsegae Property, expanded in April and highlighted having secured all three Oldamu brands as a key marketing point. Other complex malls and outlets — including Starfield Market Ilsan, Starfield Goyang, Starfield Suwon, Shinsegae Siheung Premium Outlet and Lotte Mall Eunpyeong — have also brought in Oldamu. That is because Oldamu's clout now overshadows established retail channels. According to DART, the combined sales of the three companies last year reached 11.86 trillion won ($8.86 billion), up 18.5 percent from the previous year. In 2023, their combined sales surpassed those of South Korea's three major department store operators for the first time. Foreign tourist demand has also fueled Oldamu's growth. As of August, 33 percent of Olive Young's offline sales came from purchases by foreign customers. Daiso's overseas card payment volume across all its stores rose about 100 percent between January and July compared with the same period last year. At Musinsa Standard stores in areas popular with tourists — such as Myeong-dong, Hongdae and Seongsu-dong — foreign customers accounted for about half of sales. Established major retailers are hoping to capitalize on the foot traffic Oldamu generates. The three brands, meanwhile, benefit from the crowd-drawing power of large shopping malls — a win-win, according to industry analysts. "Bringing in Oldamu brands, which have a strong ability to draw customers, gives malls a chance to boost related purchases as well," an industry official said. "Hosting all of these brands is now seen as a key competitive advantage for shopping malls."

Sept. 10, 2026

Lotte holds 2026 design strategy meeting, to develop AI design studio

Lotte said Thursday it held the "2026 Lotte Design Strategy Meeting" at Lotte World Tower in Jamsil, Seoul, to review its brand identity and design strategy. About 50 people attended the meeting, now in its third year, including Chairman Shin Dong-bin, the CEO and department heads of Lotte Holdings, and the heads of major group affiliates. This year's meeting was held under the theme "Imagine the Unimagined." Ahead of the group's 60th anniversary next year, attendees discussed ways to build a design process that would carry forward and develop Lotte's brand philosophy. The process is meant to guide the group going forward, the company said. The meeting also addressed strategies to combine the group's brand values with AI technology to lead design innovation. Lotte plans to develop the "Lotte AI Design Studio," an internal design platform that would incorporate the group's management, brand and design philosophy into the AI generation and verification process. The venue also featured an exhibition spotlighting the brands and businesses that have represented Lotte Group since its founding. A booth also introduced cases of product development process innovation that quickly translated customer-focused ideas into concrete results. A creative board made up of Lotte's young designers also unveiled the "Rotylory robot's Lotte World guide service" and an augmented reality-based navigation service, both AI projects.

Sept. 10, 2026

Lotte Department Store to launch Descente's MoveSport brand

Lotte Department Store said Thursday it will become the first retailer to introduce MoveSport, a sub-brand of Descente. Lotte Department Store recently signed an MOU with Descente Korea to become the first retailer to introduce the global sports brand MoveSport. Under the agreement, the department store will debut MoveSport at its Changwon branch on Sept. 29. It plans to expand the brand step by step, rolling it out at about 10 stores in total by the first half of next year. MoveSport, Descente's sub-brand, is a comprehensive sports brand offering a wide range of products built around lifestyle sports such as racket sports (badminton and table tennis), volleyball, handball and running. While applying Descente's technology and materials, the brand aims for reasonable pricing. Its lineup spans apparel, gear and footwear, including T-shirts and down jackets as well as bags, hats and indoor shoes. Stores will be designed under the concept of "Court to street," creating spaces where sports and daily life blend naturally.

Sept. 10, 2026

CJ CheilJedang's Hetbahn rice lights up Times Square billboards

Global online, offline campaign runs through late November Teaser video tops 20 million views in three weeks CJ CheilJedang announced Thursday that it is running a global online and offline campaign, "Sticks To Anything," to promote its Hetbahn white rice in the United States. The campaign's ads ran on outdoor billboards in New York's Times Square, Broadway and downtown Los Angeles from Aug. 31 to Sept. 6. Hetbahn white rice is sold in the US under the name "bibigo Sticky White Rice." The product sold more than 100 million units in North America last year alone. The campaign plays on the word "Sticky" in the US product name, delivering a double meaning -- the rice's sticky texture and the idea that it "sticks" well with, or pairs well with, any dish. A teaser video released on bibigo USA's official Instagram and TikTok accounts on Aug. 19 topped 20 million cumulative views within three weeks of its release. Google searches related to the product have more than tripled since the campaign began. The campaign will run in two phases through late November. Five videos released Tuesday (local time) show the white rice paired with Korean dishes such as samgyeopsal, bibimbap, tofu kimchi and japchae. Videos set for release on Oct. 6 will feature the rice alongside American dishes such as steak, burrito bowls and mac and cheese. CJ CheilJedang plans to roll out additional content in phases, including collaborations with Korean American football player Kyler Murray and influencer Brooke Monk. A CJ CheilJedang official said, "We will continue to strengthen our position as a leading global K-food brand through differentiated marketing activities tailored to local consumers' lifestyles and trends."

Sept. 10, 2026