Korean e-commerce giant Coupang is preparing for an initial public offering as early as 2021, according to industry sources on Thursday. Citing anonymous officials, Bloomberg reported that Coupang has begun gearing up for an IPO, starting with tax structuring. Established in 2010 by CEO Kim Bom, Coupang was valued at $9 billion at the end of 2018. Amid rumors that the SoftBank-backed company would go public, Kim said he had mulled the option -- the “most difficult” in his career -- i

President Moon Jae-in visited a special regulation-free district in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, on Thursday to highlight the need for bold action to encourage new industries and revitalize the regional economy. Moon attended an investment ceremony where GS Engineering & Construction and authorities of the province and city signed an agreement for a new battery recycling factory. He also visited a steel mill in the port city operated by the country’s leading steelmaker Posco.Duri

Following Iran’s latest attack against American military bases in Iraq, Korean construction companies operating projects in the Middle East are on high alert, according to industry sources Wednesday.Along with safety concerns, industry officials also worry that the security situation in Iraq and Iran would influence Korean construction companies that sought to secure more orders in the region. South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said it is working with the Mi

Shinsegae Department Store said Tuesday its Gangnam branch recorded annual sales of 2 trillion won ($1.71 billion) in 2019, becoming the first single store to do so in the retail industry in South Korea.According to Shinsegae, its Gangnam branch in Seoul saw annual turnover exceed 1 trillion won in 2010, hitting the milestone just 10 years after it opened.  With the 2019 record, the department store joins the “2-trillion club” to stand shoulder to shoulder with global department

Korean shipbuilders, which secured over a third of new orders placed around the globe last year, are expected to lead the global industry in 2020 as well, especially with the new maritime cap regulating sulfur emissions, according to industry sources on Tuesday.Five prominent Korean shipbuilding companies recorded a combined $26.2 billion in 2019, fulfilling 81 percent of annual targets, industry data showed.Hyundai Heavy Industries won $12 billion in new orders to build 135 ships, achieving som

South Korea’s leading steelmaker Posco will donate 500,000 Australian dollars ($347,000) for Australian bushfire relief via its regional corporation there, the company said Tuesday. According to Posco, the relief fund will be delivered to the Australian Red Cross after the decision passes at its Australian corporate board of directors meeting.  “We wish to help relief of the disastrous bushfire and share the burden with Australians,” Posco Chairman Choi Jeong-woo said. Sin

American classic sport utility vehicle brand Jeep sold 10,251 units in Korea in 2019, joining the “10,000-unit club” here for the first time, the company said Monday. The 10,000-unit mark is a standard that measures whether foreign carmakers have made a safe landing here.According to Jeep, it saw a 35.1 percent increase in annual sales last year from the year prior, bringing it to seventh among foreign carmakers and second among imported SUV brands.  It is the first time for the

Samyang Group Chairman Kim Yoon said in his New Year’s address that the company would overcome challenges and prepare for the future this year. During a New Year’s meeting on Thursday, he also vowed to make bold overseas investments, acknowledging that the group’s assets and business activities are overly focused on the Korean market.  “Both markets at home and abroad will be much more difficult this year,” Kim said, suggesting four strategies for the group&rsq

McDonald’s said Thursday that its coffee brand McCafe has newly launched decaffeinated coffee drinks with the aim of attracting local customers who are sensitive to caffeine and heavy coffee drinkers.According to the company, McCafe will present four decaffeinated coffees -- Americano, McCafe Latte, Cappuccino and Espresso -- to offer a variety of choices for customers seeking to control their daily caffeine intake.The drinks in medium-sized cups cost between 1,000 won ($0.86) and 2,000 wo

With 2020 marking the “Year of the White Mouse,” retailers rolled out mouse-inspired products, luring consumers with limited edition goods and special marketing in celebration of the new year. Based on the Chinese zodiac, the white mouse is the first of the 12 animals and considered the leader of the mice, symbolizing wealth, fortune and prosperity. Due to ambiguity in the Chinese characters, 2020 may also be referred to as the Year of the Metal Rat. According to Starbucks Korea, it

Coupang said Monday it would build a high-tech mega fulfillment center in the Daegu National Industrial Complex, in Daegu. Holding the groundbreaking ceremony, the e-commerce platform said it will invest 320 billion won ($276 million) to build a mega-sized fulfillment center covering 330,000 square meters, that is equivalent to about 45 soccer fields. The construction is expected to be completed in 2021. According to Coupang, the fulfillment center will serve as the key hub in the company&r

Sports beauty company Powerful-X has been recognized for its contributions to the development of the sports industry, winning this year’s Sports Marketing Award given by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as well as the Korean Sports and Olympic Committee. The health care cosmetics company, known for its pain relief cream, won at the fifth annual Sports Marketing Award ceremony for athletes, organizations and companies that contributes to development in the sports industry by the

EBay Korea, which operates South Korea’s leading online retailers Gmarket, Auction and G9, chose “Hyolo” as its keyword for shopping trends in 2020, reflecting the increasing number of shoppers living alone and their desire to live life to the fullest. Hyolo combines the Korean word “holo,” which means “alone” in English, and “YOLO,” the acronym for “You Only Live Once.” EBay Korea forecast that the major consumer segment in 2020

Amorepacific said Monday it will participate for the first time in the Consumer Electronics Show, the world’s largest electronics exhibition, next month.The South Korean cosmetics giant will present the 3D Printing Mask Pack, which won the CES Innovation Award in the 3D printing category, and an LED beauty device, which will be released by its brand Makeon next year.  The 3D Printing Mask Pack is a hydrogel mask pack manufactured using 3D-printing technology to fit the user’s fa

The family feud for the helm of Hanjin Group, the South Korean conglomerate that owns flag carrier Korean Air, appears to be intensifying as the chairman reportedly kicked up a storm at his mother’s house on Christmas.On Sunday, media outlets here reported that group Chairman Cho Won-tae visited the home of his mother, Lee Myung-hee, in the Jongno area of Seoul on Wednesday with his family. There, he reportedly broke a window and items in the house.The incident reportedly occurred because