The Netherlands’ flag carrier KLM Royal Dutch Airlines apologized Friday for banning South Koreans from using a restroom on a plane amid coronavirus concerns.  According to a Korean passenger onboard the KLM 855 flight bound for Incheon from Amsterdam on Monday, a hand-written note that read “cabin crew exclusive restroom” in Korean was posted on the door of a restroom. Koreans made up 135 out of 279 passengers on the plane.  When a passenger asked why the note wa

Two rival internet protocol television (IPTV) operators in South Korea said Friday they have joined hands to develop advanced TV advertisement solutions. KT Corp. and SK Broadband Co. said they agreed to collaborate in the field of addressable TV advertising technologies that can help advertisers to selectively segment TV audiences and send different ads based on viewer data. Under the deal, the two sides will work on standardization of such technologies and develop business models sharing

South Korea's exports of cars nose-dived 28.1 percent on-year in January, extending their slump for the sixth consecutive month due to a strike by Kia Motors Corp. and fewer working days, data showed Friday. South Korean carmakers shipped 150,974 units of cars overseas last month, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. In terms of value, auto exports also fell 22.2 percent over the period to $2.85 billion. The country's outbound shipments of cars have be

The woman who stepped up to make the final acceptance speech when Bong Joon-ho's satire Parasite -- about the gap between rich and poor -- won the Oscar for Best Picture is herself a member of South Korea's wealthiest family. Miky Lee, an heiress turned media mogul, is the executive producer of the first non-English-language film to secure the Academy Awards' top prize in their 92-year history. The film has been praised at home and abroad for its critique of inequality, but Lee is the granddau

South Korea's top security officials agreed Thursday to use the upcoming security forum in Germany to drum up international support for the Korea peace process, Cheong Wa Dae said. In the weekly standing committee meeting of the National Security Council, they discussed a strategy related to participation in the three-day conference to open in Munich on Friday. South Korea will be represented by Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha. She is expected to hold talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompe

Hyundai Merchant Marine, South Korea's biggest shipping company by sales, said Thursday that its net losses narrowed in 2019 from a year earlier due to a rise in sales. Net losses narrowed to 592 billion won ($501 million) in 2019 from 790 billion won a year earlier, the company said in a regulatory filing. Operating losses also narrowed to 304 billion won in 2019 from 558.6 billion won a year ago. Sales rose 5.6 percent on-year to 5.51 trillion won in 2019, the company said. Hyundai Merchant

Korea Aerospace Industries said Thursday its net income more than doubled in 2019 from a year earlier, helped by a local project that replaces aging fighter jets in the Air Force. KAI, the country's sole aircraft manufacturer, reported a net profit of 130 billion won ($109 million) last year, compared with a profit of 55.5 billion won a year ago, the company said in a statement. "On top of the KF-X project, the company delivered eight T-50 TH advanced trainer jets to Thailand in July la

Nexon reported marginal shifts in yearly revenue and operating profit, Thursday, maintaining business as usual thanks to revenue from V4 and cost-saving on overall marketing due to fewer releases last year. In 2019, Nexon earned 2.68 trillion won ($2.26 billion) in revenue and 1.2 trillion won in operating profit, up 4 percent and 3 percent on constant currency from the year before. Nexon is listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange First Section and is included on the Nikkei 300 Index. When adjust

An increasing number of disputes are being reported between consumers and travel agents over trip cancellation fees, as the coronavirus outbreak continues to stifle international travel. The nation’s major travel agencies have been waiving cancellation fees for travel products such as flights, hotels and car rentals involving China, Hong Kong and Macao. However, as the government has further encouraged people to limit their travel to Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Singapo

South Korea’s antitrust watchdog has slapped convenience store chain BGF Retail with a fine of 1.6 billion won ($1.31 million) for violating a subcontracting law, officials said Thursday. The Fair Trade Commission said CU, one of the leading convenience store chains in Korea, was found to have forced subcontractors to pay more than 50 percent of costs for buy-one, get-one-free marketing activities between 2014 and 2016.  During the period, the retail firm set up an operation strat

Air carriers cut more routes amid dwindling customers, activate crisis management system, suggest employees to take unpaid leave

Korea’s local internet behemoth Kakao scored 3.898 trillion won ($3.3 billion) in sales and 20.66 billion won in operating profit in 2019, both of which mark the highest yearly performance by the firm established in 2010. The sales increased by 28 percent from 2018 and operating profit by 183 percent. The company attributed the earnings to new business models taking shape. They include KakaoTalk Biz Board (TalkBoard), a business-to-business service based on KakaoTalk allowing users to

Samsung’s smartphone chief attends Thom Browne event at New York Fashion Week

SEJONG -- South Korea’s food producers are pinning high hopes on the overseas K-food Fair events this year on the back of the growing popularity of local dishes thanks to TV programs and movies. Over the past few years, the annual exhibition has provided local producers -- mostly food processing firms -- with wider opportunities to tap overseas markets, including in Asia, America and Europe. Small and medium-sized enterprises mostly participate in the events, organized by the Ministry o

Lotte Shopping Co., the operator of South Korea's biggest department store and second-biggest discount store chain, said Thursday it will sell 30 percent of its 700 outlets as it strives to improve profitability and meet customer demands. Lotte Shopping plans to sell off 200 of its 700 brick-and-mortar stores, including department stores, discount stores and supermarkets, across the country to shore up its falling profit and strengthen the e-commerce business, the company said in a statement.