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CU sees 185% jump in foreign sales on 'KPop Demon Hunters' buzz
Korean convenience store snacks such as gimbap and instant ramyeon have surged in popularity following megahit Netflix movie "KPop Demon Hunters," with foreign transactions at CU, the nation’s largest convenience store chain, jumping 185 percent. BGF Retail, which operates CU, said Monday that after the global success of "KPop Demon Hunters," foreign customers are increasingly reaching for K-food items featured in the film, including gimbap, ramyeon, chips and gukbap (Korean soup with rice). Acc
Sept. 15, 2025 -
NCSoft to launch Aion 2 in Korea, Taiwan
Korean game developer NCSoft said Friday it will launch its MMORPG Aion 2 -- the follow-up to the first Aion, released in 2008 -- on Nov. 19 in South Korea and Taiwan. Preregistration, which began on Thursday, is available on the official Aion 2 website and on both countries’ major app markets. NCSoft plans to open a character and server name reservation event on Oct. 16. Players will also be able to download the game and create customized characters starting Nov. 16, ahead of the official launc
Sept. 12, 2025 -
Samlip cheesecake debuts at US Costco stores
SPC Samlip said Tuesday its Soft Cheesecake will be stocked at Costco stores in the United States, marking the first time a Korean bakery product has been sold by the American retail giant. The launch accelerates the company’s push of K-desserts into the global market, following the entry of Samlip’s yakgwa, a traditional Korean sweet, last year. Starting in late September, the cheesecake will be sold at some 100 Costco branches on the West Coast, including San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Die
Sept. 9, 2025 -
Amorepacific sets W15tr sales target for next decade
Amorepacific Group, Korea’s leading cosmetics company, highlighted its global ambitions and enhanced beauty portfolio as core drivers of future growth at its 80th anniversary celebration, the company announced Monday. At the ceremony held Thursday at the company’s headquarters in Yongsan, central Seoul, Chair Suh Kyung-bae unveiled Amorepacific’s goal of becoming a top global beauty and wellness company with annual sales of 15 trillion won ($10.76 billion) within the next decade. “Amorepacific h
Sept. 8, 2025 -
Three Chinese robot vacuums found vulnerable to hacking
Amid concerns that robot vacuums can be hacked to spy on users’ homes, a South Korean authority said on Tuesday that three of the four Chinese models it surveyed were found to be vulnerable. The Korea Consumer Agency inspected six robot vacuum models — four Chinese and two Korean products widely sold here — and discovered serious security flaws in three Chinese brands: Narwal, Ecovacs and Dreame. The vulnerabilities could expose users’ homes and personal information to outsiders. The three brand
Sept. 3, 2025 -
Persil outpaces rivals in tough stain removal test
Laundry detergent brand Persil said Tuesday that its Expert Indoor Drying product received the highest rating on blood and ink stain removal test conducted by the Korea Consumer Agency. According to the agency’s recent report, the Persil detergent was the only one among eight brands to receive three stars, the top “excellent” grade, in that category. Blood and ink stains are considered particularly difficult to remove, as protein and pigment components can penetrate deep into fabric. Persil cred
Sept. 2, 2025 -
Caron Bio clears Chinese regulatory hurdle with hair loss shampoo
Caron Bio, a Korean scalp and hair loss care specialist, said Tuesday that its shampoo product has successfully passed all required stages of approval from China’s medical regulator, marking a first for a Korean hair loss product. The C3 Da Balmo Shampoo cleared three core assessments — a toxicity test, a human application test and an ingredient stability evaluation. With the green light from China's National Medical Products Administration, the shampoo is now officially registered as a general
Sept. 2, 2025 -
Ceragem launches Chuseok event with new spinal device
Korean medical appliance-maker Ceragem said Tuesday it will run a Chuseok promotional event through Sept. 30, tied to the launch of its new spinal massage appliances. The new Master V11 features a cabin-style design inspired by first-class airline seats and is equipped with a dual-position traction system that delivers spinal care whether the user is sitting or lying down. As part of the launch event, customers purchasing or subscribing to the appliance will receive complimentary gifts such as a
Sept. 2, 2025 -
Parcel tariffs raise costs for American shoppers buying directly from Korea
A recent policy change in the United States has made Korean products more expensive for American online shoppers. Since Aug. 29, US Customs has scrapped the “de minimis” rule that exempted imported parcels under $800 from tariffs. Now, all small overseas shipments are subject to a 15 percent duty. Korean retailers are already adjusting. Musinsa Global, a popular fashion site, announced Tuesday that it has included customs duties in checkout prices rather than collecting them upon delivery. The c
Sept. 2, 2025 -
Consumer prices rise 1.7% in Aug., slowest pace in 9 months
South Korea's consumer prices grew by less than 2 percent in August, marking the slowest pace of growth in nine months, largely due to a sharp drop in telecommunication fees, data showed Tuesday. Consumer prices, a key gauge of inflation, increased 1.7 percent from a year earlier last month, according to the data from Statistics Korea. Inflation had remained above the Bank of Korea's 2 percent target for four consecutive months through April before slowing to 1.9 percent in May. It then climbed
Sept. 2, 2025 -
Donga Pharm launches wound treatment for children
Donga Pharmaceutical on Thursday launched D-Panseptic Cream, a wound treatment product for children. Available over the counter at pharmacies, the cream can be used for a wide range of injuries, from nail scratches to bruises. Formulated with chlorhexidine hydrochloride and dexpanthenol, the cream not only disinfects wounds, but also helps regenerate damaged skin to prevent aggravation. To ensure safe use for children, the product contains no steroids, antibiotics, colorants or preservatives. Th
Aug. 28, 2025 -
Global matcha wave reaches S. Korea; Starbucks sees 30% jump in sales
When Jennie of the K-pop group Blackpink told viewers on her YouTube channel that she had been swapping her morning coffee for iced matcha, she was reflecting a trend that has been sweeping the world. And now South Korea is catching up. Once a niche import, matcha has become a fixture in cafes, bakeries and even convenience stores. On Instagram, more than 400,000 posts now carry the Korean hashtag for matcha, and major coffee chains are fueling the surge. Starbucks Korea said on Thursday that sa
Aug. 28, 2025 -
Huntrix ramyeon has finally arrived
It's official: Nongshim has released a limited-edition instant cup noodle set in collaboration with Netflix’s animated film "KPop Demon Hunters," capitalizing on the movie’s global popularity and its depiction of Korean food culture. The company said Thursday that it is offering 1,000 sets through its online mall. Preorders begin at 10 a.m. Friday, exclusively through Nongshim's official online store. The special edition products are based on the company’s iconic Shin Ramyun cup noodles. They ha
Aug. 28, 2025 -
Influencer claims $10m win over Buldak noodles that made her sick. Samyang says it never happened
A Canadian influencer has stirred controversy after claiming she developed a stomach ulcer from eating Samyang Foods’ flagship Buldak noodles and won a $10.8 million lawsuit against the company. Samyang Foods flatly denied the allegation, calling it “groundless.” “The claims circulating on social media are completely unfounded. No lawsuit or trial has been filed against Samyang Foods in North America,” the company said in a statement Tuesday. Influencer Javeria Wasim alleged that eating the spic
Aug. 27, 2025 -
Binggrae wins appeal in Melona packaging copycat case
Binggrae has won an appeal in its legal battle against rival Seoju over the packaging of melon-flavored ice cream bars, according to reports Monday. The appellate court ruled that Seoju can no longer manufacture or sell its “Melon Bar” in packaging that closely resembles Binggrae’s signature “Melona.” Any packaging already produced must also be discarded. The case has drawn attention in South Korea’s food industry, where copycat products are common and proving product similarity is notoriously d
Aug. 26, 2025