South Korean food and bakery giant SPC Group said Monday it has appointed Ha Joo-ho, former communications director of Hotel Shilla, as its new communications chief. Ha is a communications veteran who spent most of his career at Samsung companies. The 59-year-old graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in journalism. After joining Samsung Life Insurance in 1989, he served in diverse communications positions at Samsung’s key affiliates, including Samsung Group. He was promote

South Korean telecom operator LG Uplus announced Tuesday that it will launch a live chat customer service platform in foreign languages, including English, Chinese and Vietnamese, to better respond to a recent surge in visitors to Korea. The company said more than 1,000 customer consultations were carried out during the pilot operation period over two months, confirming the increased demand for foreign language services. According to recent immigration data, about 460,000 foreign nationals arriv

South Korean personal mobility startup Swing said Monday that it is starting services for foreign users by diversifying identity verification methods to include passports and international driving licenses. In a recent mobile application upgrade, foreign nationals living or visiting Korea can register for a membership through a simpler identification process to use the company’s mobility services using electric scooters, bicycles, or boards. Currently, the app supports Korean and English,

North Jeolla Province said Sunday it has appointed Lee Kwang-yeon, chairman of Pasifik Korea, a halal certification agency, as a goodwill ambassador for the 25th World Scout Jamboree 2023 SaeManGeum. The SaeManGeum World Scout Jamboree, the world's largest youth camp for youth engagement, will be held this year in Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, from Aug. 1 to 12, where 43,000 youths from 170 countries will flock together. World Scout Jamboree aims to contribute to world peace as a globa

South Korean retail and finance company TGS Group said Thursday it has opened a boutique-style community center in Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul, to introduce young artists and their artworks, and nurture experts in art investment. The new facility comes after TGS launched a new unit, named ArtFin, last month to start an art-related investment business, a burgeoning investment sector. ArtFin comes from the words "art" and "fintech." TGS said it pins high hopes on the recent

South Korea ranked second to last in terms of the percent of women in management positions among 36 countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), according to OECD statistics released Wednesday. The OECD said Korea has reported steady progress in elevating women leaders but still has a long way to go. The percentage of female managers in Korea was 16.3 percent as of 2021, less than half the OECD average of 33.7 percent. Japan with 13.2 percent was the only count

Samsung Electronics said Tuesday its retail store brand Samsung Digital Plaza will be renamed as Samsung Store from Wednesday – the first revamp since the brand was launched in 2000. In addition to some 360 retail stores nationwide, all shops within department stores and large supermarket chains will also carry the new name, the company said. Samsung said the rebranding aims to liven up its corporate image by focusing more on younger brand names such as Galaxy, Bespoke, SmartThings and Lif

South Korean confectionery company SPC Samlip said Monday it has signed an agreement with Siam Makro, an affiliate of Thailand’s largest conglomerate CP Group, to make a foray into the Thai bakery market. This is the first time that the Korean firm has teamed up with a local company for overseas operations. Under the agreement, the two companies will set up a joint venture for both production and distribution of bakery products in Thailand and push for other related projects together. Siam

Korean restaurant chain operator Open Corp. said Friday it has recruited a seasoned sommelier as its new executive director to provide premium F&B services. With Kim Hyup taking office, the firm plans to foster some 300 sommeliers through internal employee training. "The company's goal in 2023 is to provide better service to many customers who enjoy gourmet culture. As a result, we will be reborn as a dining company that delivers satisfaction to customers through the largest sommel

SK Ecoplant announced Wednesday that it has completed construction of its e-waste and waste battery recycling base in Las Vegas, through its overseas subsidiary TES. The 3,700-square-meter IT asset disposition plant in Las Vegas is TES' fourth US base, following others in Seattle, Atlanta and Fredericksburg, Virginia. IT asset disposition mainly refers to the complete destruction of information stored in IT assets, ranging from smartphones to data center equipment. TES is developing ITAD as

South Korean vegan cosmetics brand Siita said Thursday that it has been recognized as one of the first zero waste companies globally by a sustainable fashion and lifestyle platform affiliated with the United Nations. The Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network is an UN-hosted online platform for industry stakeholders, NGOs, and governments to seek collaborations and report progress for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Siita was introduced as one of the model cases that ha

South Korean builder Hyundai Engineering & Construction said Monday that the builder's new rental apartment complex Hillstate DMC Station boasts a convenient location as it is located near the DMC Subway Station and other landmark facilities in the neighborhood. Hillstate DMC Station will consist of two 36-story apartment buildings housing a total of 299 households in Jeungsan-dong, Eunpyeong-gu, northern Seoul. Adding up to its proximity to a subway station, which is considered a key m

Kumho Tire announced Monday that it signed a title sponsorship deal for the Kumho Touring Car Racing World Tour with WSC Group in Lugano, Switzerland, Thursday. The South Korean tire maker plans to supply tires for all the vehicles competing in the 2023 TCR World Tour, an international touring car championship for TCR cars promoted by WSC Group. The Kumho TCR World Tour will be held at locations in Portugal, Belgium, Italy, Hungary, Uruguay, Argentina, Australia and Macao. In particular, the Bel

Woori Financial Group said Friday its sustainable management efforts have won recognition at the 2023 Korea Green and Climate Award hosted by the National Assembly Forum on Climate Change. The award, which marks its 13th anniversary this year, is one of the highest honors given to organizations or individuals that make a meaningful contribution to creating a sustainable society by setting an exemplary case. Under the slogan “Good Finance for the Next,” Woori Financial has set net-zer

Swiss premium knife brand Victorinox said Sunday it has released the Alox Limited Edition 2023, a lime-colored spring edition of its popular Swiss Army Knife. The knife made in Switzerland, also widely known as the MacGyver knife, is a timeless design icon frequently featured in contemporary art. The company introduces an Alox edition knife every year with a different theme. Alox is a transparent coating using aluminum oxide that enhances the durability and strength of the knife. This year&rsquo