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BBQ Resumes Expansion in China Amid Rising K-Food Popularity BBQ, which had scaled back its operations in China following the THAAD deployment, is now making a comeback. After signing master franchise agreements with partners in major Chinese cities last year, the company has reopened over 50 stores this year, signaling a renewed focus on expanding its local business. According to industry sources, Genesis BBQ has resumed operations at more than 50 locations in China this year. This follows the signing of master franchise agreements in key cities such as Beijing, Qingdao, Jinan, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Wuhan, Xi'an, and Chengdu last year. A master franchise allows local companies to invest and operate while the headquarters provides the brand and operational expertise. This approach is favored by global franchise companies due to its lower initial investment and faster store expansion compared to direct ownership. BBQ entered the Chinese market in 2003 and once operated over 400 locations. However, business contracted after the THAAD deployment in 2016 strained relations between China and South Korea, leading to the closure of most stores. The recent push to expand in China is attributed to changes in the local market environment. The growing influence of K-dramas and K-pop has increased interest in Korean food, and conditions for foreign restaurant franchises have improved. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, South Korea's agricultural exports to China rose by more than 15% in the first four months of this year compared to the same period last year. BBQ is also enhancing its local marketing efforts, having selected popular actor Lee Min-ho as its advertising model across China. The company aims to secure 1,000 stores in China in the long term. If successful, this could accelerate BBQ's global expansion, which currently includes over 800 overseas locations in 57 countries. A BBQ representative stated, "China is known for its rapid brand expansion once established. While we need to monitor the situation, we are seeing positive trends. It is one of the markets we have high expectations for, alongside the U.S." BBQ is not alone in its renewed efforts in the Chinese market. Kyochon Chicken signed a master franchise agreement with a local restaurant company in Jilin Province last September and is also expanding its presence. As of the first quarter of this year, Kyochon Chicken operates 18 stores in China. However, the experiences from the THAAD incident remain a potential risk for businesses entering the Chinese market. An industry insider noted, "China is a market that is difficult for domestic companies to abandon due to its size, but we must always be aware that political and diplomatic factors can rapidly change the business environment."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-18 03:52:00
BBQ Resumes Expansion in China Amid Rising K-Food Popularity BBQ, which had scaled back its operations in China following the THAAD missile defense system controversy, is now making a comeback. After signing master franchise agreements with partners in major Chinese cities last year, the company has reopened over 50 locations this year as part of its expansion efforts. As of June 17, Genesis BBQ has resumed operations at more than 50 locations in China. This follows the signing of master franchise agreements in key cities such as Beijing, Qingdao, Jinan, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Wuhan, Xi'an, and Chengdu last year. A master franchise allows local companies to invest and operate while the headquarters provides brand and operational expertise. This model is favored by global franchise companies due to its lower initial investment and faster store expansion compared to direct ownership. BBQ entered the Chinese market in 2003 and once operated over 400 locations. However, business contracted after the THAAD deployment in 2016 strained relations between China and South Korea, leading to the closure of most stores. The recent push to expand in China is attributed to changes in the local market environment. The growing influence of Korean content, such as K-dramas and K-pop, has increased interest in Korean food, improving conditions for restaurant franchises. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, South Korea's agricultural and food exports to China rose by over 15% in the first four months of this year compared to the same period last year. BBQ is also enhancing its local marketing efforts, having appointed popular actor Lee Min-ho as its advertising model across China in January. The company aims to secure 1,000 stores in China in the long term. If successful, this could boost BBQ's international expansion, which currently includes over 800 overseas locations in 57 countries. A BBQ representative stated, "China is characterized by rapid brand expansion once established. While we need to monitor the situation, we are seeing positive trends. It is one of the markets we have high expectations for, alongside the United States." BBQ is not alone in its renewed focus on the Chinese market. Kyochon Chicken also signed a master franchise agreement with a restaurant company in Jilin Province last September and is expanding its local operations. As of the first quarter of this year, Kyochon Chicken has 18 stores in China. However, the experiences from the THAAD controversy remain a potential risk for businesses entering the Chinese market. An industry insider noted, "China is a market that domestic companies find hard to give up due to its size, but we must always be aware that political and diplomatic factors can rapidly change the business environment."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-18 03:52:00
BBQ Reopens in China Amid Rising K-Food Popularity BBQ, which had scaled back its operations in China following the THAAD missile defense system controversy, is making a comeback. After signing master franchise agreements with partners in major Chinese cities last year, the company has reopened over 50 locations this year, signaling an expansion of its local business. According to industry sources on June 17, Genesis BBQ has resumed operations at more than 50 locations in China this year. This follows the signing of master franchise agreements in key cities such as Beijing, Qingdao, Jinan, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Wuhan, Xi'an, and Chengdu last year. A master franchise allows local companies to invest and operate while the headquarters provides the brand and operational expertise. This model is favored by global franchise companies due to its lower initial investment and faster store expansion compared to direct ownership. BBQ entered the Chinese market in 2003 and once operated over 400 locations. However, following the deployment of THAAD in 2016, relations between China and South Korea soured, leading to a significant reduction in business and the closure of most stores. The recent push to expand in China is attributed to changes in the local market environment. The growing influence of Korean cultural content, such as K-dramas and K-pop, has increased interest in Korean food, and conditions for restaurant franchises have improved. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, South Korea's agricultural exports to China rose by over 15% in the first four months of this year compared to the same period last year. BBQ is also enhancing its local marketing efforts, having selected popular actor Lee Min-ho as its advertising model across China. The company aims to secure 1,000 locations in China in the long term. If successful, this could accelerate BBQ's international expansion, which currently includes over 800 overseas locations across 57 countries. A BBQ representative stated, "China has a characteristic where once a brand establishes itself, it spreads quickly. While we need to observe the situation, there are positive trends emerging. It is one of the markets we are most optimistic about, alongside the United States." BBQ is not alone in its renewed focus on the Chinese market. Kyochon Chicken also signed a master franchise agreement with a restaurant company in Jilin Province last September and has begun expanding its local operations, with 18 Kyochon Chicken locations currently in China as of the first quarter of this year. However, the experiences from the THAAD controversy remain a potential risk for entering the Chinese market. An industry insider noted, "China is a market that domestic companies find hard to give up due to its scale, but we must always keep in mind that the business environment can change rapidly due to political and diplomatic factors."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-18 03:52:00
New Policy Think Tank Launched to Shape Seoul's Education Vision A new policy think tank, consisting of 180 members, has officially launched to outline the next four years of Jeong Geun-sik's administration in Seoul's education sector. Jeong, the Superintendent of Seoul, described the committee as an 'open governance' body that will gather voices from the field and the community, marking the beginning of a significant overhaul of his campaign promises. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education held the inaugural meeting of the second Jeong Geun-sik Campaign Promise Committee, titled 'Learning is Happiness Seoul Education Committee,' on June 17 at 1:30 p.m. in the conference room of the new office in Yongsan-gu. This committee will focus on developing a concrete vision for Seoul's education. The committee has two main tasks: establishing the direction for Seoul's education and translating Superintendent Jeong's promises into actionable policy plans. It will operate intensively for 44 days, concluding on July 30. Kim Jae-hyung, a former Supreme Court Justice and current professor at Seoul National University's Law School, has been appointed as the chair of the committee, while Ham Young-ki, the former head of the Education Policy Bureau at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, will serve as vice-chair. The organization is structured with a steering committee (12 members), an advisory committee (19 members), specialized committees (21 divisions), and special committees (3), totaling 180 members. The 21 specialized committees will focus on implementing Jeong's five key promises. Major tasks include completing constitutionally guaranteed free education, restoring mental health and educational communities, effectively utilizing artificial intelligence, strengthening learning safety nets, and establishing a 'Reading Seoul' ecosystem that connects schools, neighborhoods, and the city. After attending a session at the Seoul City Council, Superintendent Jeong emphasized the importance of the committee's 'openness' and 'communication with the field' in his remarks. He stated, "I hope that not only the committee's composition is open, but also that the voices of citizens and everyone who hopes for the advancement of education in our country are fully reflected in the committee." He further noted, "This committee is not led by a single superintendent; it is a starting point for establishing 'joint planning, joint implementation, and joint evaluation' through sufficient discussion. I urge you to work hard to ensure that the proposed tasks lead to substantial changes in Seoul's education rather than showcasing individual capabilities." Recently elected as the 11th president of the National Association of Education Superintendents of Korea, Jeong expressed his hope that the Seoul committee will operate most effectively among the committees launched in 16 cities and provinces across the country. Kim Jae-hyung, the newly appointed chair, articulated an educational philosophy grounded in constitutional principles. He referenced Article 31 of the South Korean Constitution, stating, "Education, like housing, healthcare, and care, is not a matter of charity but a matter of rights, and basic education must be prioritized among those rights." He added, "To fulfill the public education mandate, including guaranteeing basic academic skills regardless of one's family background, I will approach each promise from the perspective of whether the rights of students, parents, and teachers are genuinely realized, committing to thorough verification of the promises in accordance with constitutional mandates." Moving forward, the committee will enhance the quality of its promise implementation plans through focused deliberations and discussions in each division. The final results of their activities will be compiled into a white paper and transparently disclosed to the public within 30 days after the committee's conclusion.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-18 03:44:00
180-member Policy Think Tank Launched to Shape Future of Seoul Education A new 180-member policy think tank has officially launched to outline the next four years of Seoul's education under Superintendent Jeong Geun-sik. Jeong emphasized that this committee is not a unilateral decision-making body but an open governance structure designed to gather input from the community and stakeholders, marking the beginning of a significant reform in educational promises. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education held the inaugural meeting of the "Learning is Happy Seoul Education Committee" on June 17 at 1:30 p.m. in the conference room of the new office in Yongsan-gu, kicking off efforts to develop a concrete vision for Seoul's education. The committee will focus on two main tasks: establishing a direction for Seoul's education and translating Superintendent Jeong's promises into actionable policies. It will operate intensively for 44 days, concluding on July 30. Kim Jae-hyung, a former Supreme Court Justice and current professor at Seoul National University’s Law School, has been appointed as the chair of the committee, with Ham Young-ki, former head of the Education Policy Division at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, serving as vice chair. The committee is structured with a steering committee (12 members), an advisory committee (19 members), specialized committees (21 subcommittees), and special committees (3), totaling 180 members. The 21 specialized subcommittees will focus on implementing Jeong's five key promises, which include: completing constitutionally guaranteed free education, promoting mental health and community recovery, effectively utilizing artificial intelligence, strengthening learning safety nets, and establishing a "Reading Seoul" ecosystem connecting schools, communities, and cities. After attending a session at the Seoul City Council, Superintendent Jeong joined the inaugural meeting and emphasized the importance of the committee's openness and communication with the community. He stated, "I hope that not only the committee's composition is open, but also that the voices of citizens and everyone who wishes for the advancement of education in our country are fully reflected in the committee's work." He added, "This committee is not driven by a single individual but is a starting point for establishing 'joint planning, joint implementation, and joint evaluation' through thorough discussions. I urge everyone to work together to ensure that the proposed tasks lead to substantial changes in Seoul's education." Recently elected as the 11th president of the National Association of Education Superintendents of Korea, Jeong expressed his hope that the Seoul committee would operate more effectively than those in other regions. Chairman Kim Jae-hyung articulated an education philosophy rooted in constitutional principles, highlighting the importance of education as a right rather than a privilege. He referenced Article 31 of the South Korean Constitution, stating, "Education is not a matter of charity but a fundamental right, and basic education must be prioritized as essential to human life, just like housing, healthcare, and caregiving." He further committed to ensuring that the promises made are approached from the perspective of whether they genuinely uphold the rights of students, parents, and teachers, pledging thorough verification of the commitments in accordance with constitutional mandates. The committee plans to enhance the quality of its implementation plans through focused discussions in each subcommittee, with the final results to be compiled into a white paper and transparently shared with the public within 30 days after the committee's activities conclude.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-18 03:44:00
180-Member Policy Think Tank Launched for 'Jeong Geun-sik 2nd Term' Education Initiatives A 180-member policy think tank has officially launched to outline the next four years of Jeong Geun-sik's tenure as Seoul Superintendent of Education. Jeong described the committee as an 'open governance' body that will gather input from the community and stakeholders, marking the beginning of a significant overhaul of his educational promises. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced the inauguration of the 'Learning is Happiness Seoul Education Committee' on June 17 at 1:30 PM in the conference room of the new building in Huam-dong, Yongsan District. The committee will begin work on developing a concrete blueprint for Seoul's education. The committee's two main tasks are to establish the vision and indicators for Seoul education and to create a detailed implementation roadmap for Jeong's promises. The committee will operate intensively for 44 days, concluding on July 30. Kim Jae-hyung, a former Supreme Court Justice and current professor at Seoul National University's School of Law, has been appointed as the chair of the committee, with Ham Young-ki, former head of the Education Policy Division at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, serving as vice-chair. The organization is structured with a steering committee (12 members), an advisory committee (19 members), specialized committees (21 divisions), and special committees (3), totaling 180 members. The specialized committees will focus on realizing Jeong's five key promises, which include: completing constitutionally guaranteed free education, promoting mental health and restoring educational communities, effectively utilizing artificial intelligence (AI), strengthening learning safety nets and basic academic skills, and building a 'Reading Seoul' ecosystem connecting schools, communities, and the city. After attending a session at the Seoul City Council, Superintendent Jeong emphasized the importance of the committee's openness and communication with the community in his remarks. He stated, "I hope that not only the committee's composition is open but also that the voices of citizens and everyone wishing for the advancement of education in our country are fully reflected in the committee's work." He added, "This committee is not just led by the superintendent alone but is a starting point for establishing 'joint planning, joint execution, and joint evaluation' through thorough discussions. I urge everyone to work together to ensure that the proposed tasks lead to substantial changes in Seoul's education system." Recently elected as the 11th president of the National Association of Education Superintendents of Korea, Jeong expressed his hope that the Seoul committee would operate more effectively than those in the other 16 cities and provinces. Chairman Kim Jae-hyung articulated an educational vision grounded in constitutional principles, highlighting the importance of basic education. He stated, "Education, like housing, healthcare, and care services, is not a privilege but a right that must be prioritized, especially basic education." He further committed to ensuring that public education fulfills its responsibilities, including guaranteeing basic academic skills regardless of a child's background, and pledged to rigorously verify the implementation of each promise from a rights-based perspective. The committee plans to enhance the quality of its promise implementation plans through focused discussions and deliberations in each division. The final results of their activities will be compiled into a white paper and made transparently available to the public within 30 days after the committee's conclusion.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-18 03:44:00
Messi, Mbappe, and Haaland Shine in World Cup Scoring Race World football's top scorers showcased their talents in the opening matches of the 2026 FIFA North America World Cup, igniting a fierce competition for the Golden Boot. Argentina's Lionel Messi achieved the tournament's first hat trick, while Kylian Mbappe of France and Erling Haaland of Norway each scored twice to secure decisive victories for their teams. On June 17, local time, Messi scored three goals in Argentina's 3-0 win over Algeria at Kansas City Stadium in Missouri. He opened the scoring in the 17th minute and added two more goals in the 60th and 76th minutes. This performance marked a significant milestone in Messi's career, as it was his 200th international match. With this hat trick, he now has 16 World Cup goals, tying the all-time record held by Miroslav Klose of Germany. Additionally, Messi became the first player to appear in six consecutive World Cup tournaments. Messi also set a new record for the oldest player to score a hat trick in World Cup history at 38 years and 357 days, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo's previous record set in 2018 at the age of 33. He now holds the record for the most all-time World Cup goal contributions (goals plus assists), with 24 points (16 goals and 8 assists), overtaking the previous record of 22 set by Brazilian legend Pelé. Mbappe, the top scorer of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, also made history on June 17 at New Jersey Stadium in New York/New Jersey, scoring two goals in France's 3-1 win over Senegal. He netted the opening goal in the 66th minute with an assist from Michael Olise and sealed the victory with a powerful long-range shot in stoppage time. With these goals, Mbappe reached 58 career international goals and 14 World Cup goals, breaking both the records for France's all-time leading scorer previously held by Olivier Giroud (57 goals) and the most World Cup goals by a French player held by Just Fontaine (13 goals). Making his World Cup debut, Haaland also proved his worth in Norway's first match of the tournament. On June 17, he scored the opening and final goals in a 4-1 victory over Iraq at Boston Stadium in Massachusetts, netting his first goal in the 29th minute and his second in the 43rd minute. Haaland, a three-time Premier League top scorer, showcased his exceptional physical ability and goal-scoring prowess on the World Cup stage. Norway's victory marked their first win in the World Cup finals in 28 years since the 1998 tournament in France. With both Norway and France securing their first wins, Norway currently leads Group I based on goal difference, with France in second place. The two goal scorers, Haaland and Mbappe, will face off in a highly anticipated match on June 27 at Boston Stadium.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-18 03:36:00
Messi, Mbappe, and Haaland Shine in World Cup Scoring Race World football's top scorers kicked off a fierce race for the Golden Boot in the group stage of the 2026 FIFA North America World Cup. Lionel Messi of Argentina achieved the tournament's first hat trick, while Kylian Mbappe of France and Erling Haaland of Norway each scored twice to lead their teams to decisive victories. Messi scored three goals in Argentina's 3-0 win over Algeria in their Group J opener at Kansas City Stadium on June 17. He netted the first goal in the 17th minute and added two more in the second half, at the 60th and 76th minutes. This performance marked Messi's 200th international match. With his three goals, he now has a total of 16 goals in World Cup history, tying the all-time record held by Miroslav Klose of Germany. Additionally, he became the first player to appear in six consecutive World Cup tournaments. Messi also set a new record for the oldest player to score a hat trick in World Cup history, achieving this feat at 38 years and 357 days old. The previous record was held by Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored a hat trick at the age of 33 during the group stage of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Messi now holds the record for the most all-time World Cup goal contributions (goals plus assists), surpassing Pele's previous record of 22 with a total of 24 (16 goals and 8 assists). Mbappe, the top scorer of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, also made history on June 17 at New York/New Jersey Stadium, scoring two goals in France's 3-1 win over Senegal. He opened the scoring in the 66th minute with an assist from Michael Olise and sealed the victory with a powerful long-range shot in stoppage time. With these goals, Mbappe reached 58 career international goals and 14 World Cup goals, breaking both Olivier Giroud's record for the most goals by a French national team player (57) and Just Fontaine's record for the most World Cup goals by a French player (13) in a single match. Haaland, making his World Cup debut, also showcased his talent in Norway's 4-1 victory over Iraq in their group stage match at Boston Stadium on June 17. He scored the opening goal in the 29th minute and added another in the 43rd minute. Haaland, a three-time Premier League top scorer, demonstrated his exceptional physical ability and goal-scoring prowess on the World Cup stage. Norway's victory marked their first World Cup win in 28 years since the 1998 France tournament. With both Norway and France securing their first wins, Norway leads Group I on goal difference, with France in second place. The two star strikers, Haaland and Mbappe, will face off in a highly anticipated match on June 27 at Boston Stadium.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-18 03:36:00
Messi, Mbappe, and Haaland Shine in World Cup Scoring Race World football's top scorers showcased their talents in the opening matches of the 2026 FIFA North America World Cup, igniting a fierce race for the Golden Boot. Argentina's Lionel Messi, known as the "God of Football," achieved the tournament's first hat trick, while France's Kylian Mbappe and Norway's Erling Haaland each scored twice to lead their teams to victory. On June 17, Messi scored three goals in Argentina's 3-0 win over Algeria at Kansas City, Missouri. He opened the scoring in the 17th minute and added two more goals in the second half, at the 60th and 76th minutes. This match marked Messi's 200th international appearance, and with his three goals, he now has 16 World Cup goals, tying the all-time record held by Miroslav Klose of Germany. Additionally, he became the first player to appear in six consecutive World Cups. Messi also set a new record for the oldest player to score a hat trick in World Cup history at 38 years and 357 days, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo's previous record from the 2018 World Cup. With his performance, Messi now holds the record for the most all-time World Cup goal contributions (goals plus assists) with 24 points (16 goals, 8 assists), breaking the previous record of 22 set by Brazilian legend Pelé. Mbappe, the top scorer of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, also made history on June 17, scoring two goals in France's 3-1 win over Senegal at New York/New Jersey Stadium. He netted the opening goal in the 66th minute with an assist from Michael Olise and sealed the victory with a powerful long-range shot in stoppage time. With these goals, Mbappe reached 58 career international goals and 14 World Cup goals, breaking both Olivier Giroud's record for most goals by a French national team player and Just Fontaine's record for most World Cup goals by a French player. Haaland, making his World Cup debut, also shone on June 17, scoring two goals in Norway's 4-1 victory over Iraq at Boston Stadium. He scored the opening goal in the 29th minute and added a second goal in the 43rd minute. Haaland, a three-time Premier League top scorer, demonstrated his remarkable physical ability and goal-scoring prowess on the World Cup stage. Norway's victory marked their return to the World Cup finals for the first time since 1998, thanks to Haaland's performance. With both Norway and France securing their first wins, Norway leads Group I on goal difference, with France in second place. Haaland and Mbappe are set to face off in a highly anticipated match on June 27 at Boston Stadium.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-18 03:36:00
Kakao Resumes Wage Negotiations Ahead of Upcoming Strike Kakao and its labor union have resumed wage negotiations ahead of a planned strike on June 29, raising hopes for a resolution before the deadline. According to the IT industry on June 17, negotiations between Kakao and the Kakao branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions have restarted. Meanwhile, four other subsidiaries participating in the strike are coordinating their negotiation schedules. The Kakao union currently represents five entities, including Kakao Pay, Kakao Entertainment, DK Tech, and XL Games, all of which have secured the right to strike. Kakao experienced its first-ever strike on June 10, and the union has announced plans for an additional strike on June 29. The resumption of negotiations has led to speculation about a possible agreement before the upcoming strike. The Kakao union is demanding measures to alleviate job insecurity stemming from subsidiary sales, spin-offs, and restructuring, as well as the establishment of a joint negotiation system. They are also requesting a performance bonus of approximately 10 million won, which represents about 13-14% of the company’s operating profit, along with an additional 5 million won in restricted stock units (RSUs). However, Kakao has indicated that accommodating all of the union's demands may be challenging given the current business environment. A Kakao representative stated, "Since the strike, both sides have been in continuous dialogue, and negotiations are currently being conducted in good faith."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-18 03:28:00