Ceragem launches Chuseok event with new spinal device

Korean medical appliance-maker Ceragem said Tuesday it will run a Chuseok promotional event through Sept. 30, tied to the launch of its new spinal massage appliances. The new Master V11 features a cabin-style design inspired by first-class airline seats and is equipped with a dual-position traction system that delivers spinal care whether the user is sitting or lying down. As part of the launch event, customers purchasing or subscribing to the appliance will receive complimentary gifts such as a

Sept. 2, 2025

Parcel tariffs raise costs for American shoppers buying directly from Korea

A recent policy change in the United States has made Korean products more expensive for American online shoppers. Since Aug. 29, US Customs has scrapped the “de minimis” rule that exempted imported parcels under $800 from tariffs. Now, all small overseas shipments are subject to a 15 percent duty. Korean retailers are already adjusting. Musinsa Global, a popular fashion site, announced Tuesday that it has included customs duties in checkout prices rather than collecting them upon delivery. The c

Sept. 2, 2025

Consumer prices rise 1.7% in Aug., slowest pace in 9 months

South Korea's consumer prices grew by less than 2 percent in August, marking the slowest pace of growth in nine months, largely due to a sharp drop in telecommunication fees, data showed Tuesday. Consumer prices, a key gauge of inflation, increased 1.7 percent from a year earlier last month, according to the data from Statistics Korea. Inflation had remained above the Bank of Korea's 2 percent target for four consecutive months through April before slowing to 1.9 percent in May. It then climbed

Sept. 2, 2025

Donga Pharm launches wound treatment for children

Donga Pharmaceutical on Thursday launched D-Panseptic Cream, a wound treatment product for children. Available over the counter at pharmacies, the cream can be used for a wide range of injuries, from nail scratches to bruises. Formulated with chlorhexidine hydrochloride and dexpanthenol, the cream not only disinfects wounds, but also helps regenerate damaged skin to prevent aggravation. To ensure safe use for children, the product contains no steroids, antibiotics, colorants or preservatives. Th

Aug. 28, 2025

Global matcha wave reaches S. Korea; Starbucks sees 30% jump in sales

When Jennie of the K-pop group Blackpink told viewers on her YouTube channel that she had been swapping her morning coffee for iced matcha, she was reflecting a trend that has been sweeping the world. And now South Korea is catching up. Once a niche import, matcha has become a fixture in cafes, bakeries and even convenience stores. On Instagram, more than 400,000 posts now carry the Korean hashtag for matcha, and major coffee chains are fueling the surge. Starbucks Korea said on Thursday that sa

Aug. 28, 2025

Huntrix ramyeon has finally arrived

It's official: Nongshim has released a limited-edition instant cup noodle set in collaboration with Netflix’s animated film "KPop Demon Hunters," capitalizing on the movie’s global popularity and its depiction of Korean food culture. The company said Thursday that it is offering 1,000 sets through its online mall. Preorders begin at 10 a.m. Friday, exclusively through Nongshim's official online store. The special edition products are based on the company’s iconic Shin Ramyun cup noodles. They ha

Aug. 28, 2025

Influencer claims $10m win over Buldak noodles that made her sick. Samyang says it never happened

A Canadian influencer has stirred controversy after claiming she developed a stomach ulcer from eating Samyang Foods’ flagship Buldak noodles and won a $10.8 million lawsuit against the company. Samyang Foods flatly denied the allegation, calling it “groundless.” “The claims circulating on social media are completely unfounded. No lawsuit or trial has been filed against Samyang Foods in North America,” the company said in a statement Tuesday. Influencer Javeria Wasim alleged that eating the spic

Aug. 27, 2025

Binggrae wins appeal in Melona packaging copycat case

Binggrae has won an appeal in its legal battle against rival Seoju over the packaging of melon-flavored ice cream bars, according to reports Monday. The appellate court ruled that Seoju can no longer manufacture or sell its “Melon Bar” in packaging that closely resembles Binggrae’s signature “Melona.” Any packaging already produced must also be discarded. The case has drawn attention in South Korea’s food industry, where copycat products are common and proving product similarity is notoriously d

Aug. 26, 2025

Dongsuh Foods launches summer lineup at Maxim Plant

South Korean food and beverage manufacturer Dongsuh Foods said Friday its flagship store Maxim Plant has launched its summer menu under the theme "Blue in Maxim Plant." Located in Hannam-dong, central Seoul, Maxim Plant is a cultural space that offers specialty coffees that change with the season, along with beverages made using products from instant coffee brand Maxim. Since its opening in April 2018, approximately 1.42 million people have visited the store. Maxim Plant has released a coconut i

Aug. 22, 2025

Toss offers free overseas remittance for foreign residents

Toss, a South Korean fintech app operated by Viva Republica, said Friday it will waive overseas remittance fees for foreign customers residing in Korea until the end of the year. The fee exemptions apply to transfers to the four countries covered by Toss's foreign-customer remittance service: the US, China, Vietnam and Uzbekistan. Accordingly, approximately 1.53 million people, or 64 percent of registered long-term foreign residents, will now be able to transfer money to their home countries for

Aug. 22, 2025

McDonald’s, BTS reunite with new Happy Meal launch next month

McDonald’s is once again teaming up with global pop sensation BTS to roll out a new collaboration in September. According to McDonald’s on Wednesday, the “BTS Happy Meal” will debut on Sept. 3 in 66 countries, including South Korea, the United States, Germany, Brazil and Australia. The Happy Meal is McDonald’s children’s menu set, which includes a hamburger, fries, a drink and a toy. For this collaboration, the toy will be a miniature figurine from BTS’s TinyTan character line, modeled after the

Aug. 20, 2025

Coway offers up to 50% off in Ice Big Festa event

Korean home appliance maker Coway said Tuesday that it is holding a discount event called Ice Big Festa for customers who rent or purchase an ice-dispensing water purifier by Sept. 30. This promotion offers rental fee discounts and special prizes. The event covers all household ice-dispensing water purifiers, including the Icon Ice Water Purifier (Mini, Standard, Original), Ice Water Purifier RO, AIS 3.0 and AIS 3.0 Sparkling. When renting a new product, the rental fee is reduced by up to 50 per

Aug. 19, 2025

Burger chain Lotteria opens 1st US outlet

Lotteria, the burger chain operated by Lotte Group affiliate Lotte GRS Co., said Monday it opened its first outlet in the United States as part of its overseas expansion drive. The outlet began operations in Orange County, California, on Aug. 14 (local time), about two years after Lotte GRS established its US subsidiary, the company said in a press release. "We plan to go beyond Asian markets into the US to introduce Lotteria's taste and value to the American burger market," the company's Chief

Aug. 18, 2025

Foreign shoppers now make up over a quarter of Olive Young’s offline sales

A wave of beauty-shopping tourists is turning CJ Olive Young’s stores into must-visit stops in Korea, pushing overseas shoppers to account for more than a quarter of the retailer’s in-store sales. Between January and May alone, 26.4 percent of Olive Young’s in-store sales came from non-Korean customers, up from the single digits in 2023, the company said Thursday in its second-quarter earnings report. In the same five-month period, 5.96 million foreign visitors made purchases at Olive Young stor

Aug. 15, 2025

Nongshim's Melon Kick to hit North American shelves

Nongshim’s Melon Kick is set to hit the shelves in North America, beginning with 10,000 boxes — worth approximately $1 million — set for release in the United States and Canada. The Korean food and beverage firm said Wednesday that Melon Kick will be distributed throughout the North American market, and the company was actively pushing for entry into major retailers such as Walmart and e-commerce giant Amazon. To better reach consumers there, Melon Kick will feature English packaging and come in

Aug. 6, 2025