From K-Pop to K-Ink: Korea prepares to bring tattooing into the open SEOUL, May 15 (AJP) - Since a 1992 Supreme Court ruling effectively restricted tattoo procedures to medical professionals, South Korea’s tattoo industry has operated in a legal gray zone. Under the newly passed Tattooist Act, the country is now building its first national licensing and safety framework for non-medical tattoo practitioners. The law, overseen by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, passed the National Assembly on Sept. 25, 2025 and is scheduled to take effect t May 15, 2026

Teachers' Day in Korea without pride, gratitude and... cake SEOUL, May 15 (AJP) -South Koreans, whose Confucian roots instill deep reverence for educators, have observed Teachers' Day for more than six decades. Yet the tradition endures largely in name, as schoolteachers' authority and morale languish under the weight of compounding regulations and increasingly assertive parenting. The interference extends to the absurd: provincial education offices have issued specific directives on how cakes may be shared on Teachers' Day, le May 15, 2026

Samyang Foods hits record Q1 on Buldak demand SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - Samyang Foods reported its highest-ever quarterly earnings for the first quarter of 2026, lifted by resilient overseas demand for its Buldak instant noodles, expanded production capacity and a favorable exchange rate. The South Korean noodle maker announced Wednesday through regulatory filings that consolidated revenue rose 35 percent from a year earlier to 714.4 billion won ($480.1 million), while operating profit climbed 32 percent to 177.1 billion won. Both May 13, 2026

K-ramyeon makers race overseas as Nongshim eyes 60% global sales SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - South Korea's instant noodle makers are accelerating a pivot abroad as a saturated home market and surging foreign appetite for K-food reshape the industry, with Nongshim unveiling its most aggressive overseas push yet. Nongshim CEO Jo Yong-chul said Tuesday that the company aims to lift overseas sales to more than 60 percent of total revenue and reach 7.3 trillion won ($4.88 billion) in sales by 2030, alongside a 10 percent operating margin. Overseas busin May 13, 2026

GMTCK president emphasizes passion and leadership at Kookmin University lecture SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - Brian McMurray, president of GM Technical Center Korea, delivered a special lecture at Kookmin University on the importance of passion-driven career strategies and leadership in a rapidly changing industrial landscape, the university said Thursday. Speaking to students at the university's academic conference hall on May 7, McMurray addressed the theme of how to grow a career and make a difference. He shared personal insights from his journey as an enginee May 12, 2026

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