Customers are getting involved in design, planning, funding and manufacturing products

Savvy shoppers are turning to affordable lines from fast-fashion products to groceries and furniture

For a long time, the needs of consumers have been overshadowed by technological improvements, conspicuous marketing strategies and other factors. Finally, they have returned to the center of business activities.But they are a rather new breed. Amid the global economic slowdown, consumers now opt for pragmatism. They do not opt to be stingy in their spending, but they are ditching spending on impractical things. When they shop, they calculate the cost efficiency of products. They swap “prettiness

Street foods have shed their humble beginnings, and now a veritable feast of international food is available on the streets of Seoul

Trying out diverse types of street food may be tempting, especially for tourists who wish to experience Korea‘s unique food culture. About 8,000 street vendors operate in Seoul, mostly food vendors, attracting visitors with a wide variety of offerings ranging from Korean traditional desserts to hot meals.Most of them, however, are illegal, as occupying streets with unauthorized facilities is officially banned in Korea. Acknowledging the public’s complaints over the overcrowding of the city’s maj

With fresh, young concepts and interesting offerings, food trucks try to establish themselves despite still-developing legal status

With disaster risks, social media and other mounting challenges, the government and businesses should strive for a systematic, across-the-board change to better forecast crisis and improve their readiness, a leading crisis management consultant said Thursday. 　“In crisis management, there are only two sides -- those who are prepared, and those who are not,” said Yu Min-yeong, chief executive and a partner of Acase. 　 Yu Min-yeong (Song Sang-ho/The Korea Herald)“The readiness would determine your

Experts say proactive crisis management strategy is needed

Government relies on kneejerk reactions instead of established systems, professionalism

123rfThousands of stranded travelers sprawled languidly on the frosty floors of the snowbound Jejudo Island airport late last month, awaiting their flights and wrapped in thin blankets or even cardboard boxes with no promise of when they would take off.  　As the record snowfall grounded nearly 90,000 passengers by its third day, dozens of infuriated tourists occupied a local budget carrier desk, decrying its lack of prior notice and mishandling of the situation, also demanding lodging and food.

After spending countless hours in the kitchen or in front of the TV, most families want to spend a day outside having fun together. The most accessible source of entertainment is the movie theater, where you can catch a film that everyone in the family can enjoy. The Korea Herald offers a short guide to the best movies for a family outing.Commanding nearly 70 percent of ticket bookings as of Thursday, Lee Il-hyung’s crime comedy “A Violent Prosecutor” looks set to be the top film during this hol

Virtual reality is a technology that creates the illusion of being fully immerged in the simulated worlds. But the profit potential from the burgeoning industry is becoming less and less of an illusion. Goldman Sachs recently predicted virtual reality, coupled with augmented reality, would become an $80 billion industry by 2025, possibly overtaking the TV market by 2026.“As the technology advances, price points decline, and an entire new marketplace of applications hit the market, we believe vir

Games, entertainment lead VR growth

Hologram concert of G-Dragon in Play K-pop (D'strict)Korea’s record label giants SM Entertainment and YG Entertainment are betting big on hologram technologies to better satisfy their global fans’ needs and create new cash cows. They are hoping virtual reality technology can be a substitute for K-pop stars, who are not able to cater to all the needs of fans globally. The nation’s largest record label, SM Entertainment, took the lead in going virtual. The firm launched a hologram concert of its h

Savoring traditional Korean soju requires five steps, similar to wine tasting. You have to look at the color, smell the aroma, sip and hold it in the mouth for several seconds before letting it slide down the throat and enjoying the slowly spreading scent inside the nose and throat. “A good soju is soft and makes you smile,” said artisan Kim Taek-sang at his brewing studio at Samcheong-ro in Jongno, central Seoul. Kim, who was named Seoul Intangible Cultural Asset No. 8 in 1990, has carried on t