S. Korean defense industry secures $42 mln export deal from Middle East through online counseling

SEOUL -- South Korean companies secured an export deal worth about $42 million through online business counseling before presenting their solutions at a major defense exhibition in the Middle East. After the online consultation, the domestic firms took part in the defense event in Saudi Arabia, with more than 700 exhibitors from over 45 nations. According to KOTRA, a state-run trade promotion agency, 15 South Korean companies advised 24 Middle Eastern buyers ahead of the "Wor

February 12, 2024

Eastern cities push to popularize hydrogen vehicles through subsidies for some 30 cars

SEOUL -- Donghae City and Gangneung City, two of South Korea's picturesque seaside locales situated along the East Coast, are set to entice consumers to invest in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles through substantial subsidies. Each hydrogen vehicle will be eligible for a generous subsidy of about 34.5 million won ($25,881). In 2019, former South Korean President Moon Jae-in introduced a new energy roadmap aimed at fostering the country's "hydrogen economy," with the o

February 11, 2024

Online apparel shopping mall operator to make foray into offline department stores and shopping complexes

SEOUL -- Musinsa, a leading South Korean online apparel store operator, has announced its expansion into offline retail as part of its strategic growth plans. The move aims to position the company for increased competition in the fashion industry, particularly against other affordable clothing brands, including sub-labels operated by major clothing companies. Established in 2003 as a small online fashion community, Musinsa has since evolved into a popular online shopping mall, gai

February 11, 2024

S. Korea adopts culinary robot for instant noodles Ramyeon on highway rest stop

SEOUL -- South Korea's expressway operator has adopted a robot chef that can cook the country's iconic instant noodles known as Ramyeon at an expressway rest stop. The culinary robot, designed to reduce the burden of human workers and to provide the standardized taste, consistently stirs the noodles while they boil and places them into a bowl afterward. Ramyeon, featured in many South Korean movies including the Oscar-winning film "Parasite," is one of the main d

February 10, 2024

Exports of S. Korea's aircraft surpass $1 billion for first time in 2023

SEOUL -- Exports of South Korean aircraft soared 320.5 percent year-on-year to a record high of some $1 billion in 2023, state data showed. This marks the highest export figure since the development of the Buhwal, the first homemade aircraft crafted during the Korean War in 1953. According to data provided by the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) on February 10, South Korea's aircraft exports in 2023 totaled $1,010,000,000. Out of this sum, exports to Poland reached

February 10, 2024

70% of smartphone users used mobility service apps at least once: survey data

SEOUL -- A recent survey conducted by a smartphone app analyst firm unveiled that approximately 70% of South Korean smartphone users have utilized a mobility service app at least once. Mobility services, initially introduced in the country around a decade ago, are predominantly associated with taxi-hailing or ride-hailing services among South Korean individuals. One of South Korea's most renowned mobility service platforms is Kakao T, offering a comprehensive range of services

February 9, 2024

Ice and snow vehicle equipment become popular in S. Korea due to frequent snow

SEOUL -- As South Korea experiences colder temperatures and more frequent snowfall compared to previous years, data released by major ecommerce platforms indicates a surge in the popularity of ice and snow equipment for vehicles. December 2023 saw the country's largest snowfall on record, with a maximum accumulation of 12.2 centimeters (4.8 inches), followed by continued snowfall throughout January. While main streets in Seoul are typically cleared of snow promptly to prevent it

February 9, 2024

Boy band Enhypen to go on encore tour in US

SEOUL -- Boy band Enhypen will go on an encore tour in April and May in the United States. The seven-member band will interact with fans in five regions starting with Anaheim, California on April 24. This encore tour, titled "FATE PLUS," serves as an extension of the "FATE," a six-month world tour held in 13 cities including Los Angeles and Tokyo. According to Belift Lab, the band's agency, FATE PLUS will also take place in Oakland, Tacoma, Rosemont, and Be

February 8, 2024

Russian envoy commemorates naval battle of Russo-Japanese War

SEOUL -- Russian Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Georgy Zinoviev, led a floral tribute commemorating the 120th anniversary of the Battle of Chemulpo that ended with the sinking of two Russian Navy warships near the western port city of Incheon in 1904. The tribute took place at St. Petersburg Square in Incheon's Chemulpo harbor. "This year marks the 120th anniversary of the heroic battle fought by the cruiser Varyag and the gunboat Koreets against the Imperial Japane

February 8, 2024

Coupang takes top spot in S. Korean customer satisfaction for online shopping

SEOUL -- Coupang, the South Korean counterpart of global retail giant Amazon, took the first spot in a domestic customer satisfaction index for online shopping, beating the country's online shopping giant Naver. The satisfaction index was determined by multiple categories, including service quality, consumer experience, and how well the experience met customers' expectations. A total of five online shopping mall operators were involved. According to a survey of 1,500 South

February 8, 2024