Arnault Seoul tour signals Dior reckoning in split luxury market SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - Just 30 centimeters behind LVMH Chairman Bernard Arnault during his closely watched Seoul tour walked the executive many luxury insiders believed was carrying the real assignment of the trip: Delphine Arnault, tasked with reassessing Christian Dior’s position in one of the world’s most influential — and increasingly polarized — luxury markets. While cameras followed the world’s most powerful luxury executive through Seoul&r May 12, 2026

CJ CheilJedang Q1 profit falls 26% on bio slump SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - CJ CheilJedang, South Korea's largest food maker, reported a 26.0 percent drop in first-quarter operating profit, as a sharp downturn in its bio business overshadowed steady gains overseas from its frozen dumpling franchise. According to regulatory filings released Tuesday, operating profit fell to 148.5 billion won ($100 million) for the three months ended March, while revenue edged up 4.3 percent to 4.03 trillion won, the company said. The figures exclude May 12, 2026

LVMH chair inspects shops in Korea amid weakening sales SEOUL, May 11 (AJP) - Bernard Arnault, chairman and CEO of French luxury titan LVMH, arrived in Seoul on Monday for an intensive inspection of the South Korean market as the world’s largest luxury group faces slowing global momentum and weaker growth in Korea relative to rival luxury houses despite the country’s continued luxury boom. Accompanied by his eldest daughter, Delphine Arnault, CEO of Christian Dior Couture, the LVMH chief’s visit comes at a pivotal mom May 11, 2026

Korean food giants pitch K-cuisine to Japanese fans at KCON 2026 SEOUL, May 11 (AJP) - South Korea's two largest packaged-food exporters turned a K-pop convention in Japan's Chiba into a showcase for Korean cuisine over the weekend, as CJ CheilJedang and Samyang Foods drew long lines at branded experience booths during KCON Japan 2026. The three-day festival, held at Makuhari Messe from May 8 to 10, gave both companies a stage to court Japanese consumers, a market they have flagged as central to their global expansion plans, the companies May 11, 2026

LVMH chief Bernard Arnault to visit Seoul for first time in three years SEOUL, May 09 (AJP) - Bernard Arnault, chairman and CEO of French luxury giant LVMH, is set to arrive in Seoul on Monday for his first visit to South Korea in three years, according to industry sources on Saturday. The visit comes as South Korea continues to solidify its position as a "key strategic market" for global luxury houses. While luxury sales in Europe and Japan have softened amid a global cooling of high-end demand—and Middle Eastern markets have seen a d May 9, 2026

Musinsa's foreign sales hit record high during Northeast Asian 'Golden Holiday' SEOUL, May 09 (AJP) - South Korean fashion platform Musinsa saw its offline sales from foreign tourists reach a record high during the recent "Northeast Asian Golden Holiday," as Japanese and Chinese vacation periods coincided to drive a surge in inbound shopping. According to data released by the company on Friday, sales from foreign customers at 12 of its global-focused stores—including Musinsa Standard and Musinsa Store—rose more than 30 percent between Ap May 9, 2026

How AI is erasing entry-level career path in Korea SEOUL, May 7 (AJP) - Near midnight in Seoul's Gangnam district, the lights inside law offices still burn long after neighboring buildings have gone dark. But for many junior lawyers, the exhaustion no longer comes from endless paperwork alone. Artificial intelligence has sharply shortened the time needed for much of the grunt work that once consumed young associates' nights — document reviews, precedent searches and first-pass drafting. Yet the workload itself has no May 7, 2026

In South Korea, even sleep becomes a public competition SEOUL, May 04 (AJP) - In South Korea, where overwork and sleep deprivation have become almost a national condition, even rest now comes with rules, timers and a scoreboard. At the Han River on Saturday afternoon, 170 contestants arrived armed with plush toys, mosquito-proof determination and creative signs — including one reading, “Don’t wake me up unless you’re a prince” matched in modern-day Sleeping Beauty gown for Seoul’s annual Han River Na May 4, 2026

Seven in 10 older elementary students in Korea use AI SEOUL, May 04 (AJP) - Seven out of 10 South Korean elementary school students in upper grades use generative artificial intelligence tools, surveyed showed Monday, with nearly 15 percent frequenting them to underscore how deeply AI has entered childhood education and daily life in one of the world’s most digitally connected societies. According to a nationwide survey released Monday by the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union, 72.1 percent of fourth- to sixth-grade e May 4, 2026

Asian Culture Calendar SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - South Korea Apr. 8 - May 27 Gyeongbokgung Saenggwabang Apr. 16 - May 31 Moonlight Tour at Changdeokgung Palace May. 2 - 3 Ajou Motor College Festival May. 4 - 5 Seoul Circus Festival May. 5 - 10 Hangang River Festival May. 13 - 24 Suragan Sisik Gonggam May. 16 - 17 Yeon Deung Hoe May. 22 - 25 Hwaseong Boating Festival Japan May. 1 - 6 Harapeko Circus Osaka May. 2 - 3 Nyanko Expo May. 2 - 5 Saku Hot-Air Balloon Festival May. 3 - 4 H May 1, 2026