Free Economic Zones

Economy Korea’s Q1 economic contraction adds to stimulus expectations

South Korea's economy unexpectedly contracted in the first quarter as exports and consumption fell amid a political crisis and fears over the impact...

Central bank BOK stands pat; rate cut likely within 3 months as economic growth slows

The Bank of Korea (BOK) left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 2.75% on Thursday, with Governor Rhee Chang-yong warning that a surge in globa...

Retail Koreans cut spending in March, except on health, education

South Korean consumers exhibited recessionary spending behavior in March, cutting expenditures across nearly all sectors, except healthcare and educ...

Retail Koreans cut spending in March, except on health, education

South Korean consumers exhibited recessionary spending behavior in March, cutting expenditures across nearly all sectors, except healthcare and educ...

E-commerce Luxury fashion platform Balaan files for court receivership amid slump

South Korea’s top luxury goods e-commerce platform Balaan Co. said on Monday it has filed for corporate rehabilitation with a Seoul court as t...

Batteries LG Chem unveils precursor-free cathode material for batteries

LG Chem Ltd. is set to become the first South Korean company to mass-produce precursor-free cathode materials, designed for high- and mid-nickel bat...

Mergers & Acquisitions Meta in talks to acquire Korean fabless chip startup FuriosaAI: Forbes

Meta Platforms Inc., the parent of Facebook and Instagram, is in talks to acquire Seoul-based AI chip startup FurisosaAI Inc. and the discussion cou...

Tech, Media & Telecom South Korea’s alternative data pioneer KED Aicel in full force

South Korea’s leading alternative data service provider Hankyung Aicel Inc. is poised to transform companies' and investors’ business an...

Central bank BOK lowers growth forecasts to bolster rate cut expectations

South Korea’s central bank slashed its economic growth forecasts on Monday, adding to views that the monetary authority will cut interest rate...

Robotics Lotte Duty Free unveils robot bartender in Gimpo Int'l Airport

South Korea's Lotte Duty Free said on Thursday it placed its AI-based robot bartenders in Gimpo International Airport.Lotte Duty Free offers robot...

Private debt Real estate debt outshines corporate credit: Savills IM

Private credit has been among the top picks for alternative investors over the past few years. During the period of high interest rates, corporate l...

Economy Korea’s 2024 exports hit all-time high, driven by chips, shipments to China

South Korea’s exports, the country’s main growth driver, reached an all-time high in 2024, buoyed by strong semiconductor exports and a ...

Business & Politics Korea’s new acting president assures economy resilient, security tight

South Korea’s new Acting President Choi Sang-mok said on Friday he is confident that the country’s economy is resilient and its national...

Retail S.Korean gov't to lift two-bottle limit on duty-free alcohol

South Korean government will lift the number restriction of duty-free alcohol bottles for inbound travelers and halve the patent fees to boost the d...

Automobiles Korea’s commercial vehicle sales tumble on economic slowdown

South Korea’s commercial vehicle sales are plunging on sluggish domestic demand amid a slowdown in Asia’s fourth-largest economy.Local s...

Economy South Korea’s economic system remains resilient: finance minister

The South Korean economy is solid, and the government will take “bold and swift’’ actions if needed to stabilize Asia’s four...

Business & Politics S.Korea's Yoon survives impeachment; economic fundamentals firm

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol survived an impeachment vote against him after an overwhelming majority of governing party lawmakers boycotted ...

Economy Korean economic policy chiefs play down martial law impact

South Korea’s Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok said on Friday that President Yoon Suk Yeol’s failed martial law attempt will have a very l...

Beauty & Cosmetics Shilla Duty Free opens Guerlain Ultimate Boutique at Incheon Airport

South Korea's Shilla Duty Free Shop announced on Tuesday it opened the Guerlain Ultimate Boutique, the first flagship store in a global airport, at ...

Retail Korean duty-free shops post Q3 losses; no signs of recovery

The four major duty-free shop operators in South Korea on Thursday posted operating losses in the third quarter, marking the first quarter in almo...

Economy State-run think tank KDI slashes GDP forecast, urges BOK to cut rates

The Korea Development Institute (KDI), South Korea’s state-run think tank, has slashed its forecasts for the country’s economic growth f...

Economy Korea’s economy sees slower-than-expected rebound in Q3

South Korea’s economy rebounded slower than central bank expectations in the third quarter on sluggish exports, adding to predictions that the...

Korean food Korean food makers set sights on Europe with vegan, sugar-free offerings

PARIS – South Korean food companies such as Pulmuone Corp., Lotte Wellfood Co., Ottogi Corp. and Maeil Dairies Co. are gearing up for their ex...

Retail Lotte Duty Free renews Tokyo Ginza Store

South Korea's Lotte Duty Free reopened its Tokyo Ginza Store in Tokyu Plaza Ginza on Wednesday after a complete renovation. This is the company's ...

Future mobility South Korea to designate Jeju as flying taxi pilot service zone

South Korea will designate its resort island Jeju a test operation zone for flying taxis as part of the country’s national urban air mobility ...

Fiber & Textile Global Sae-A completes spinning mill in Costa Rica

South Korea's Global Sae-A Group said on Monday it had inaugurated a third spinning factory for its yarn-producing subsidiary, Sae-A Spinning, in ...

Shipping & Shipbuilding Hanwha unveils carbon-free gas carrier amid tougher rules

Hanwha Ocean Co., South Korea’s third-largest shipbuilder, has introduced a carbon-free gas carrier to meet the growing demand for eco-friendl...

Retail Duty-free underdog Kyung Bok Kung outshines Lotte, Shilla

Kyung Bok Kung Duty-Free Co., a lesser-known travel retailer, has bucked the trend of South Korea's sluggish duty-free retail industry on a downward...

Retail Shinsegae Duty Free opens premium store at Incheon Airport

South Korea's Shinsegae Duty Free launched a premium store at Incheon International Airport, aiming to counter the decline in downtown duty-free sal...

Retail S.Korean travel retailers face downturn without Chinese big spenders

Before COVID-19 swept the world, South Korea’s top two travel retailers Lotte Duty Free and Shilla Duty Free Shop ascended to the world’...