BTS drops Sony for Universal

BTS drops Sony for Universal

The world’s biggest boy band is joining forces with the world’s largest music company.South Korea’s BTS has agreed to a ...

K-pop copyright trading platform Musicow prepares for IPO

K-pop copyright trading platform Musicow prepares for IPO

Musicow Inc., South Korea's first music copyright trading platform, has embarked on the process to go public on the back of its eye-catching growth ...

DearU: A K-pop fan engagement platform success story

DearU: A K-pop fan engagement platform success story

No company would know better than DearU Inc. that powerful fandom can turn into fast money.The South Korean startup that started as a software devel...

Next K-wave in Asia: Convenience stores

Next K-wave in Asia: Convenience stores

When South Korean major convenience store chain CU opened its first branch in Malaysia on April 1, there was a queue of more than 100 meters to get ...

K-pop fan engagement platform DearU begins process for Nov IPO

K-pop fan engagement platform DearU begins process for Nov IPO

How much will you pay to chat with your favorite K-pop groups such as TWICE every day? A South Korean startup generated 20 billion won ($16.9 millio...

With Hyundai’s Genesis GV60, your face is the key to unlock the door

With Hyundai’s Genesis GV60, your face is the key to unlock the door

If you own Hyundai Motor Co.'s latest premium electric crossover, the GV60, set for roll-out next month, you can just touch the handle and show your...

Time to invest in luxury hotels in Korea: JLL executive

Time to invest in luxury hotels in Korea: JLL executive

The COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly hard on the hotel industry, exposing it as one of the most vulnerable to the crisis amid the global lock...

Lotte Shopping to acquire furniture maker Hanssem with IMM PE

Lotte Shopping to acquire furniture maker Hanssem with IMM PE

Lotte Shopping Co., South Korea’s top department store operator, is set to acquire Hanssem Co. with IMM Private Equity.IMM PE selected Lotte S...

Amazon Global Store shakes up S.Korea’s e-commerce scene

Amazon Global Store shakes up S.Korea’s e-commerce scene

Amazon Global Store posted a stellar first-week performance in South Korea. The service, launched at the end of August on SK Telecom Co.’s onl...

Apple Likely Has More App Store Deals to Make

Apple Likely Has More App Store Deals to Make

As Apple Inc. works to negotiate its way out of its App Store troubles, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: the technology titan mig...

S.Korea curbs in-app payment plans by Google, Apple

S.Korea curbs in-app payment plans by Google, Apple

The South Korean parliament has passed the world's first bill to banGoogle, Apple Inc. and other app store operators from forcing certain payment sc...

Amazon teams up with SK’s 11Street to offer Global Store for Koreans

Amazon teams up with SK’s 11Street to offer Global Store for Koreans

SK Telecom Co.’s e-commerce platform 11Street Co. has teamed up with Amazon, the world’s largest online shopping mall, to offer the US c...

Netmarble’s new Marvel game tops App Store downloads in 117 countries

Netmarble’s new Marvel game tops App Store downloads in 117 countries

South Korean game developer Netmarble Corp.’s Marvel Future Revolution, a new Marvel IP-based open-world action RPG, has topped the list of Ap...

Japan’s Aeon plans to sell off struggling Ministop Korea

Japan’s Aeon plans to sell off struggling Ministop Korea

South Korea’s fifth-largest convenience store chain Ministop Korea Co. is up for sale by its owner, the Aeon Group of Japan. Ministop Korea is...

‘Revenge shopping’ lifts Korean retail giants’ Q2 earnings

‘Revenge shopping’ lifts Korean retail giants’ Q2 earnings

Major department stores in South Korea such as Shinsegae Department Store and Hyundai Department Store Co. have seen their earnings improve signific...

Shinsegae to invest about $900 mn in department stores

Shinsegae to invest about $900 mn in department stores

South Korea's retail giant Shinsegae Group will invest 1 trillion won ($866 million) in local department stores this year to reinforce the busines...

K-pop evolves far beyond Korean nationality and language

K-pop evolves far beyond Korean nationality and language

South Korean music, entertainment and content firms are undergoing a major transformation in their business model. No longer is their discovery of n...

Lessons learned from Blackpink label's M&A flops

Lessons learned from Blackpink label's M&A flops

South Korea-based YG Entertainment Inc., the label behind popular K-pop girl group Blackpink, is pushing to sell off its profitable golf business in...

Korea redefines dining experience with meal kits and delivery food

Korea redefines dining experience with meal kits and delivery food

A good old-fashioned, home-cooked meal is becoming a thing of the past in Korean households, with a wide range of home meal replacements (HMRs) an...

No.1 K-pop goods maker Copan Global eyes digital expansion

No.1 K-pop goods maker Copan Global eyes digital expansion

The world of K-pop is globally known for offering a truly wide selection of merchandise items for fans. While balloons were the only goods used by t...

Malaysia becomes preferred destination for Korea’s convenience chains

Malaysia becomes preferred destination for Korea’s convenience chains

South Korea’s major convenience store chains are rushing to enter the Malaysian market. E-Mart 24, the convenience chain operated by Shinsegae...

DearU strives to catch up with leading K-pop fan platform Weverse

DearU strives to catch up with leading K-pop fan platform Weverse

Imagine getting this text from your favorite K-pop group member: “Hey, what did you eat for lunch? Can’t wait to see you at the concert ...

K-pop fan engagement platform DearU eyes H2 listing

K-pop fan engagement platform DearU eyes H2 listing

South Korea-based fan platform DearU Co. has filed a preliminary application to the Korea Exchange with plans for a trading debut on the country&rsq...

Behind Korea’s bizarre 'open run' race for Chanel bags

Behind Korea’s bizarre 'open run' race for Chanel bags

In South Korea today, running has become an increasing part of everyday life, particularly at a place where you would least expect to see a large gr...

Naver to challenge Amazon with launch of Smart Store platform in Spain

Naver to challenge Amazon with launch of Smart Store platform in Spain

South Korea’s top online portal operator Naver Corp. is taking its online shopping platform Smart Store to Spain to support small merchants in...

K-pop content platforms team up to take lead in community market

K-pop content platforms team up to take lead in community market

Platform operators targeting global K-pop fans are mired in fierce competition as companies team up to vie for the lead in the fan community platfor...

BTS smooths Butter at Billboard Music Awards; scoops up 4 awards

BTS smooths Butter at Billboard Music Awards; scoops up 4 awards

BTS is unstoppable. The K-pop boy band continues to set fresh records -- becoming the first Korean band to scoop up four awards at the 2021 Billboar...

PEFs knocking on door of Korean IPO market for profitable divestment

PEFs knocking on door of Korean IPO market for profitable divestment

South Korean and overseas private equity firms are knocking on the door of the initial public offering market for profitable divestments, riding the...

Entertainment shares to soar in Q2 following BTS, Blackpink comeback

Entertainment shares to soar in Q2 following BTS, Blackpink comeback

South Korean entertainment labels are expected to see their earnings momentum back in full swing in the second quarter as popular K-pop groups such ...

Growing fandom of BTS, other K-pop idols revives album market

Growing fandom of BTS, other K-pop idols revives album market

In the South Korean music industry, the emergence of Soribada, the country’s first peer-to-peer file-sharing service, in 2000 heralded the beg...

Samsung Electro-Mechanics’ plan to build plant in Mexico shelved amid Trump tariffs Fictional K-pop band Saja Boys beat BTS, Blackpink to top US Spotify charts S.Korea’s extra budget approved; IBs lift economic forecast BTS’ Suga, MLB star Chan Ho Park to join Oakland Athletics as shareholders Celltrion secures $730 mn to buy biosimilar unit shares, pursue M&A