Pernod Ricard Korea on Tuesday debuted its premium blended Scotch whisky, The Deacon, in collaboration with Sovereign Brands. The whisky blends peaty Islay and fruity Speyside varieties, offering a smoky yet sweet flavor. "The Deacon captures our innovative style, delivering luxury, uniqueness, complexity and balance, while being easy to enjoy," said Brett Berish, CEO and founder of Sovereign Brands, at a showcase event held in Seoul on Tuesday. (Pernod Ricard Korea)

New CEO at US subsidiary hints at possible expansion on West Coast

LS Electric forged a partnership with Becamex, an industrial development firm in Vietnam, in a bid to enter the booming smart factory solutions market. The companies signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday, outlining ways to advance smart factory businesses in Vietnam’s manufacturing sector to contribute to creating a sustainable industrial ecosystem. LS Electric Chairman Koo Ja-kyun and Becamex Chairman Nguyen Van Hung and other executives attended the signing ceremony held at the

Kia has launched a special edition trunk liner for its EV3, crafted from recycled plastics gathered from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This eco-friendly product, created in partnership with the Dutch nonprofit The Ocean Cleanup, is the first of its kind in the automotive industry. Made from 40 percent marine plastic, the liner features a unique pattern inspired by the nets used to capture plastic debris in turbulent waters. The limited edition accessory will be available in select markets, in

The Korean bakery brand Paris Baguette has opened its 600th overseas store, the newest one in Toronto, Canada, just a year after celebrating its 500th store, the brand's company SPC Group announced Tuesday. This new location marks Paris Baguette’s seventh store in Canada. Paris Baguette has been expanding rapidly over the past year, recently securing agreements to enter new markets in Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Brunei and Laos. By the end of this year, the brand plans to open

Hyosung Group Chairman Cho Hyun-joon met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi on Monday, seeking government support for the chemical, textile and construction conglomerate’s new business ventures in Vietnam. The meeting focused on Hyosung’s ongoing investments and potential expansion into environmentally friendly and high-tech sectors, the group said Tuesday. Hyosung executives, including Vice Chairman Lee Sang-woon, and senior Vietnamese officials were also in a

Singapore-based activist fund Flashlight Capital Partners has offered to acquire Korea Ginseng Corp., an affiliate under South Korea's dominant tobacco company KT&G, at the price of nearly 2 trillion won ($1.47 billion). KT&G called it a “unilateral” offer. Korea Ginseng Corp., under the wings of KT&G, is the company behind the well-recognized red ginseng brand, JungKwanJang. “The acquisition offer was unilaterally released without any discussion with the compa

South Korea should join the global movement to set safer international standards for autonomous driving systems, according to a report released by the state-run Korea Automotive Technology Institute on Monday. Cho Min-wook, senior researcher and author of the report, stated that the International Organization for Standardization and the auto industry are looking to adopt a more comprehensive approach that encompasses safety and security for Level 3 and more advanced self-driving systems. ISO is

With the age of autonomous vehicles just beyond the horizon, software is becoming just as important as the nuts and bolts of an vehicle. Hong Seok-min, the CEO of Fescaro, which provides software solutions for future mobility, said "software-defined operation" is a key term in the automotive industry today and in the future. "Without a doubt, the keyword (in the mobility industry) is the software-defined vehicle. Designs of existing internal combustion vehicles are centered on t

MBK-Young Poong takes lead with additional 5% stake secured

The average price of bibimbap rose above 11,000 won ($8.10) in September, despite slowing inflation in food products in recent months, government data showed Monday. According to data from the Korea Consumer Agency, a bowl of bibimbap in Seoul cost 11,038 won on average in September, up slightly from 10,962 won the previous month. The bibimbap price has been on the upward trend since first surpassing the 10,000-won mark in January last year. Bibimbap and samgyetang were the only two dishes tha

Mercedes-Benz Korea said Monday that its all-electric vehicle EQS 450 4 MATIC has been selected as the official diplomatic car for the Embassy of Germany in the country. Ambassador Georg Schmidt underlined the German embassy’s commitment to continuously upgrading its mobility for sustainability in Korea. In this photo, Schmidt (left) and Mercedes-Benz Korea CEO Mathias Vait pose with the newly appointed EV. (Mercedes-Benz Korea)

Calls grow for more aggressive support, including direct subsidies, to maintain edge in AI chip race

Oktoberfest has arrived at Songnidangil BBQ Village, bringing a taste of Bavaria to the heart of Seoul for the entire month of October. In partnership with German beer Paulaner, the Oktoberfest beer of which is served in Munich's Oktoberfest tents, Korean chicken giant BBQ Chicken is offering a special Bavarian-themed menu and festive atmosphere at its Jamsil branch in southern Seoul. At the heart of the celebration is the Oktoberfest Platter, a feast featuring brathendl (roast chicken), br

South Korean telecom carrier KT is reportedly set to carry out an organizational revamp focused on artificial intelligence while elevating profitability and efficiency, according to industry sources Monday. KT plans to hold a board meeting on Tuesday, with organizational restructuring and personnel relocation likely topping the agenda. The board is expected to approve the establishment of two subsidiaries dedicated to network operation and maintenance, KT OSP and KT P&M, to start operation f