What's K-beauty's top firm in Q1? Amorepacific rises as LG H&H falls

The first quarter earnings of South Korea’s top two beauty giants, Amorepacific and LG Household & Health Care, have been largely shaped by their approaches to international market diversification beyond China. In the January–March period, Amorepacific Holdings reported consolidated revenue of 1.16 trillion won ($817 million), up 15.7 percent from a year earlier, with operating profit climbing 55.2 percent on-year to 128.9 billion won. Noticeable in the company’s profit growth was the strong per

May 3, 2025

Daemyung Sono to sell Air Premia stake amid aviation portfolio pivot

Daemyung Sono Group, a South Korean resort and condominium operator, said Friday that its holding company, Sono International, will sell its entire 22 percent stake in Air Premia, dampening speculation that the group intended to merge the hybrid carrier with its other budget airline, T’way Air. The stake, split at 11 percent each between Sono International and private equity firm JC Partners through a joint venture, will be sold to local tire retailer Tire Bank at 1,900 won per share by the end

May 2, 2025

Rise of Korea’s dollar store Daiso explained in 2 minutes

As a place where affordability meets variety, Korean dollar store chain Daiso has ridden a steep growth trajectory over its three decades of history. The store’s value proposition shines even brighter amid soaring inflation, with virtually every category in stock at affordable prices between 1,000 won ($0.70) and 5,000 won -- from everyday essentials to small luxuries that provide a sense of indulgence. Last year, Daiso’s annual revenue nearly reached 4 trillion won, coming in at 3.96 trillion w

April 30, 2025

JD.com brings logistics power to Korea in bid to rival Coupang

As Chinese e-commerce players contend for market share in neighboring South Korea — an apparent hedge against tightening access to the US — JD.com has entered the fray, armed with its own logistics network. JD.com, one of China’s leading e-commerce platforms alongside AliExpress and Temu, sets itself apart with a direct-purchase model in contrast to the open-market approach favored by its peers. Last week, JD Logistics, the supply chain arm of JD.com, opened two self-operated logistics centers i

April 30, 2025

Biotech strategy forum charts path forward amid US policy shifts

Top business executives and industry experts convened Tuesday at the 2025 US Strategy Roundtable for Pharma and Biotech to assess Korea’s biotech standing at a critical juncture of global restructuring led by the US and to share perspectives on navigating the challenges ahead. Aimed at advancing discussions on major shifts in the global biopharmaceutical industry, the one-day session -- held at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry under the theme of securing biotech growth amid shifting po

April 29, 2025

Samsung Biologics boosts contract wins with $513m US deal

Samsung Biologics, the biotech arm of Samsung Group, has secured its second contract manufacturing deal this year, signing a major agreement worth 737.3 billion won ($513 million) with a US-based pharmaceutical company. In a regulatory filing Monday, the company said the new contract with the undisclosed partner will run through the end of 2031. The deal is equivalent to 16.2 percent of Samsung Biologics’ revenue in 2024. This latest win follows Samsung Biologics’ largest-ever contract manufactu

April 28, 2025

B.Grimm's vision: Channeling ‘compassion’ into Korea’s clean energy, social fabric

For B.Grimm Power, the energy arm of Bangkok-based B.Grimm Group — a 147-year-old conglomerate with core businesses spanning health care, energy, industrial systems and real estate — South Korea stands as a beacon of promise. The nation’s rapid development in the energy sector appears all but destined, and perhaps more importantly, it bears testament to B.Grimm’s broader commitment to sustainability and a cleaner future across Asia. At the helm of B.Grimm’s charge into Korea’s energy future is C

April 28, 2025

LX Pantos training center designated as government-backed academy

Korean logistics company LX Pantos announced Sunday that its specialized training center for home appliance installers has been officially designated as an accredited academy operator by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, making it eligible for government support. The designation is part of a state-led initiative, operated by the Labor Ministry and the Human Resources Development Service of Korea, that provides government subsidies to training programs for employees of small and medium-sized

April 27, 2025

From finance to defense: Thailand-Korea forum maps path for collaboration

Thailand’s Deputy Minister of Finance Julapun Amornvivat underscored his country's economic partnership with South Korea at the Ignite Thailand-Korea Business Forum in Seoul on Wednesday, highlighting efforts to leverage the countries’ complementary strengths in a new era of financial cooperation. Serving as a gathering place for exploring economic cooperation across a diverse range of sectors, the two-day event -- held Tuesday and Wednesday at Lotte Hotel Seoul -- was co-hosted by Herald Media

April 24, 2025

KT&G completes Kazakhstan plant to accelerate growth in Eurasia

South Korea's top tobacco company KT&G announced Wednesday that it has completed construction of its new factory in Kazakhstan, a key production hub for the company’s expansion into the Eurasian market. At a completion ceremony held Tuesday at the factory site in Almaty, Kazakhstan -- attended by KT&G CEO Bang Kyung-man, Almaty Gov. Sultangaziev Marat Eleusizovich, and Korean Ambassador to Kazakhstan Cho Tae-ick -- KT&G highlighted the new facility’s role as both a core production base and an ex

April 23, 2025