[THE INVESTOR] Lotte Homeshopping racked up 6.2 billion won (US$ 5.3 million) entertainment expenses in 2014 and 2015, data showed on July 6.According to Chaebul.com’s analysis of Lotte Group’s consolidated financial statements for the 2008-2015 period, Lotte Homeshopping spent 13.9 billion won in entertainment expenses during the period. More than half of that was spent since the launch of the Park Geun-hye administration. The figure for 2013 to 2015 came to 8 billion won. Chaebul.com is a webs

[THE INVESTOR] Angry Pizza Hut franchisees have once again sued the company for its unfair practice of collecting marketing and management fees outside of the contract, local news reported on July 5. The 25 owners of Pizza Hut outlets filed a suit with the Seoul Central District Court, demanding the global pizza house’s Korean unit pays back the amount it collected under “admin fee,” totaling around 760 million won (US$ 658,015). The owners claim that the company made them pay an additional 0.55

[THE INVESTOR] Samlip GFS, an affiliate of Korean food giant Samlip General Foods, said on July 5 that its sales have been more than tripled in two years. According to the firm specialized in food distribution and logistics, its revenue surged 315 percent to 553.1 billion won (US$478.7 million) last year from 133 billion won in 2014 when the company was established. Its first-quarter sales grew 35 percent year-on-year to 167 billion won this year. Samlip GFS was spun off from Samlip General Food

[THE INVESTOR] CJ Foodville, a food services company under Korean conglomerate CJ Group, will step up its global expansion led by its bibimbab-themed restaurant Bibigo, bakery Tous Les Jours and Twosome Cafe, the head of the company said Monday. “Our goal is to become a top 10 global food services company, beating McDonald’s and Starbucks,” Jung Moon-mok, CEO of CJ Foodville said at a press conference for the opening of its restaurant complex CJ FoodWorld inside the COEX Mall in southern Seoul. 

[The INVESTOR] South Korea’s leading cosmetics brand Hera opened its first store in China on July 1, its parent company AmorePacific said on July 4. The first store opened at an upscale department store Shin Kong Place in Beijing, with the second one to follow at Hanguang Department Store in the same city on July 28. Hera, which was launched in 1995, has become one of the most popular cosmetics brands in South Korea and other Asian countries, especially in China. Hera’s first store in Beijing /

[THE INVESTOR] A local design firm has publicly accused the Lotte World Mall in Seoul for ripping off its design for their building on July 1. Local design house 2CM claims that the exterior design of the main entrance to the mall’s luxury stores Avenuel bears a close resemblance to their design concept called “Star Collection,” which was also published in a booklet by Architecture@Work, an international trade fair showcasing architectural designs and supplies. Lotte World Mall / The Investor“Th

[THE INVESTOR] Many outdoor gear and apparel brands are closing down their business in response to the sliding domestic sales in the already-saturated outdoor market. Fashion Group Hyungji recently decided to withdraw its outdoor apparel brand Northcape after five years in business. According to industry insiders, Hyungji has already notified its 70 franchise owners across the country. Actress Ha Ji-won and actor Ji Chang-wook model for NorthcapeIn 2011, Hyungji clinched a deal to exclusively se