GOOD TO GREAT -- World-renowned barista Paul Bassett (sixth from left) poses with staff members of the newly opened branch of the Paul Bassett coffee chain in Hannam-dong, Seoul, Thursday. The coffee chain and its local partner Maeil Dairies launched a “value management” initiative to raise the bar in specialty coffee chain management in Korea. Paul Bassett　

 KB KICKS OFF INSURANCE BIZ -- KB Financial Group chairman Yoon Jong-kyoo (left) and KB Insurance president Kim Byung-heon celebrate the launch of KB‘s new insurance company Wednesday. The banking group took over LIG Insurance in March this year, in an aim to expand its non-banking business. KB Financial Group

PREPPING FOR SUMMER -- Samsung Electronics service engineers install an outdoor unit of the firm’s Q9000 air conditioner at an apartment in Seoul on Wednesday. Samsung

UPGRADED SERVICE FOR FOREIGNERS -- KB Kookmin Bank signs a partnership agreement with Sea Life Busan Aquarium on Tuesday, in a joint goal to offer customized service to foreign nationals. Participants included Oh Pyung-seob (fourth from left), head of customer service group at KB Kookmin Bank, and Sea Life sales and marketing director Yun Jun-young (third from left). KB Kookmin Bank

SONY SUMMER PROMOTION -- Sony Korea announced Tuesday a summer promotion through August in which the company will dole out gifts to buyers of the firm’s action camera lineups -- FDR-X1000V, HDR-AS200V and HDR-AZ1. The gifts during the event include extra batteries, SD cards and waterproof cases. Sony Korea

SMARTPHONE FILM FESTIVAL -- South Korea’s top telecommunications firm KT has started accepting submissions for the 5th olleh International Smartphone Film Festival, an annual event for films shot with smartphones, from July 1-Aug. 17. The film festival, the biggest of its kind in the world, is slated to kick off on Sept. 9. KT SMARTPHONE FILM FESTIVAL -- Movie director Lee Joon-ik (left) and actress Bae Doo-na, both of whom will be on a judging panel for the fifth olleh International Smartphone

SUMMER PROMOTION -- South Korea’s leading mobile carrier KT said Monday it would start a summerlong membership event through which subscribers can receive up to 30 percent off their purchases at partner restaurants, convenient stores, movie theaters and theme parks. (KT)

Solvay Group CEO Jean-Pierre Clamadieu (left) and the Korean unit head Pyung Suk-koo on Monday vowed to focus on the Korean market as the center of research for high-tech materials, at a news conference to celebrate the group’s 40th anniversary since launching in Korea. (Solvay Korea)

Members of British DJ group Gorgon City talk with a Samsung Electronics staff member during the launch of the company’s new Wireless Audio 360 at London’s Victoria House on Saturday. The audio system, consisting of two speakers, delivers a surround-sound experience through the use of Samsung’s patented ring radiator technology. (Samsung Electronics)

Renault Samsung Motors set up a pop-up store for its compact SUV QM3 near the bustling Gangnam Station in southern Seoul. The store to promote the best-selling vehicle will be open until Friday. (Renault Samsung Motors)

Tech giant Samsung Electronics said Wednesday that sales of the firm’s high-end super-ultrahigh definition TV lineup surpassed 10,000 units in the first three months following its launch in February. (Samsung)