Traditional liquor producer Kooksoondang has released a new line of makgeolli flavored with banana, the company announced Thursday.The Rice Makgeolli Banana combines traditional Korean methods of brewing makgeolli together with banana puree, an internationally enjoyed ingredient. The makgeolli contains 4 percent alcohol, and will be priced at approximately 1,700 won per 750 milliliters. Kooksoondang’s Rice Makgeolli Banana (Kooksoondang)Rice Makgeolli Banana will be sold in 11 countries around t

With Samsung Electronics remaining on top, an annual list of Korean brand value showed beauty and content brands picking up momentum in a fast pace.According to global brand consulting firm Interbrand, cosmetics brand AmorePacific, home to the premium brand Sulwhasoo, was the second-fastest growing brand in terms of brand value in 2015. Breaking into the top 10 for the first time, AmorePacific’s brand value grew at 41 percent to reach 2.44 trillion won ($2.1 billion).  The top 50 Korean brands,

Lee Seock-koo, head of Starbucks Korea, has received a presidential medal for the coffee chain’s efforts to provide equal workplace opportunities for people with disabilities, the company said Wednesday.The CEO was given the award at an annual convention to promote employment of the disabled. It was organized by the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the state-run Korea Employment Agency for the Disabled.Starbucks Korea CEO Lee Seock-koo (right) receives a presidential medal from Labor Ministe

The chairman of MPK Group, which runs the Mr. Pizza chain, issued an official apology Monday night on the company‘s website in response to public outcry over his alleged assault of a security guard Saturday night.“It was my mistake. I sincerely apologize to the person who was hurt,” the statement from chairman Jung Woo-hyun reads. “I also apologize for upsetting many others. I take full responsibility for the incident, and regret my actions.”MPK Group chairman Jung Woo-hyun The apology came a da

KOREAN FOOD IN THE AIR - Celine Balmelle, general manager of Air France-KLM in Korea (far right) and chef Kim Youn-young of Korean restaurant Woonsan (center), pose at Woonsan in Yeouido, Seoul on Monday, with the new in-flight Korean food menu to be offered on Air France’s business class between Paris and Seoul. The new Korean menu includes bibimbap, bulgogi, steamed ribs and spicy stewed chicken. (Yonhap)

Korean Air, the country’s largest airline, will begin servicing regular flights to Okinawa from Incheon, the company said Monday.Starting May 5, the airline will add seven regular flights a week to the southern Japanese city. Korean AirThe route will be mainly serviced by the 248-seat Boeing 777-200 plane, which is fitted with the luxury Kosmo Suite and Prestige Sleeper. The flight from Incheon to Okinawa takes approximately 2 1/2 hours.Okinawa is one of Japan’s most popular tourist destinations

The police has summoned the chairman of MPK Group, which runs the Korean pizza chain Mr. Pizza, over an allegation that he assaulted a security personnel for pulling down the shutter of a building where he was having dinner.Investigators at the Seodaemun Police Station said Monday that they have demanded that MPK chairman Jung Woo-hyun appear for questioning by Thursday.  MPK chairman Jung Woo-hyunThe investigators said the chairman was dining at a restaurant owned by his group on Saturday, but

The Korea Ginseng Corp. has released a new health drink for middle-aged women going through menopause, the company said Monday.Called “Hwa Ae Rak Jin,” the drink has been approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for use as a health supplement to alleviate the effects of menopause. Hwa Ae Rak Jin (Korea Ginseng Corp.)　Hwa Ae Rak Jin is made from KGC’s signature six-year red ginseng extract, as well as traditional medicinal ingredients like deer antlers and angelica. The red ginseng used i

Asiana Airlines will be operating a route from Incheon to Yichang in Hubei province, China, for two months, the company said Monday.The route will operate Wednesdays and Saturdays until June 1.“The scenery in Yichang is especially beautiful between spring and summer, and the limited-time route will help us to promote the destination to our customers,” a spokesman for Asiana Airlines told The Korea Herald.According to the airline, the addition of the new route is part of Asiana’s efforts to stren

Korea’s two budget carriers have been slapped with 600 million won ($524,000) in fines for breaching flight safety regulations, the transportation ministry said Friday.The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport imposed the highest financial penalty on Jeju Air Co., owned by mid-sized retailer Aekyung Group, and Jin Air Co., a low budget airline unit of Korean Air Lines Co.An airplane of Jeju Air had to drop to an altitude of 8,000 feet from 18,000 ft on its way to Jejudo Island from Seou

CHINESE SHOPPERS CRUISE TO BUSAN -- Chinese tourists shop at the newly opened Shinsegae Duty Free in Shinsegae Department Store’s Centum City branch in Busan. About 2,100 Chinese tourists arrived in the southern port city on Thursday on the 168,000-ton cruise ship Quantum of the Seas. (Yonhap)

LOTTE’S DUTY-FREE STORE IN GINZA -- Lotte Group chairman Shin Dong-bin (far right) and his family, including his sister and chairwoman of the Lotte Foundation Shin Young-ja (second from left), his daughter-in-law and son Shin Yoo-yeol (second and third from right) pose for the press on Thursday at the opening of Lotte Duty Free Ginza in Tokyo, Japan. Also present are actress Choi Ji-woo (fifth from left), EXO’s D.O. (third from left) and Chen (sixth from left). (Yonhap)

In mid-March, financially ailing coffee chain Caffe Bene secured a $13 million investment from an overseas partner with an interesting name: Hallyu Ventures.The company is a joint operation between Singaporean global food chain Food Empire and the Salim Group from Indonesia. It was named by Food Empire’s executive chairman Tan Wang Cheow himself.　Food Empire executive chairman Tan Wang Cheow speaks to The Korea Herald at the InterContinental Seoul Coex. (Lee Sang-sub/The Korea Herald)The reason

Incheon International Airport and FedEx Corp.’s affiliate Federal Express signed an agreement to open and operate an exclusive FedEx cargo terminal, the airport and the Transport Ministry said Wednesday.According to the airport, the 23,425-square-meter exclusive courier terminal will be built north of the airport and will be completed in 2019 with operations beginning in the second half of that year, the airport said. The terminal will be twice the size of cargo terminals currently being operate

Beer imports to Korea hit a record high in 2015, with a growing number of Korean consumers turning to low alcohol beverages and seeking diversity, data showed Wednesday.According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corporation, Korea imported 170,919 tons of beer worth $141.9 million last year, a 43 percent increase in volume and a 27 percent increase in value of beer imports from the previous year.The most popular imported beer was from Japan, which exported 46,244 tons to Korea in 2015,