The Genesis EQ900Hyundai MotorThere was much hype surrounding the Genesis EQ900, the first flagship sedan under Hyundai Motor Group’s newly launched premium standalone brand, Genesis. The world’s fifth-largest carmaker has put all its efforts in placing the brand on par with or beyond German luxury carmakers such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz. It has invited the press on five occasions to heat up the vibe while providing chauffeured test-drives around Seoul to potential customers. And the market has

Coca-Cola Korea released its annual Santa Claus special edition, featuring Father Christmas’ image on the 250-milliliter glass bottle. The company also launched the Christmas Santa package, with four 190-milliliter bottled colas covered with an illustration of the Santa Claus holding up a cola bottle.  The Santa Claus special edition is 2,000 won ($1.70) a bottle and the Christmas Santa package is 3,980 won. By Bae Ji-sook　(baejisook@heraldcorp.com)

Samsung C&T’s fashion division said six of its brands have started sales at Tmall Global, the online retailer operated by Alibaba.com.The brands on display are 8 Seconds, Bean Poll Accessories, Kuho, Beaker, Juun.J and Ravenova, which are widely popular among Chinese consumers, but do not have a direct retail outlet there. Samsung will hold a brand day promotion at the Juhuansuan, another website managed by Alibaba, introducing more than 600 items there from Dec. 24-25. By Bae Ji-sook　(baejisook

E-commerce operator WeMakePrice will hold a beauty fair Saturday at the company’s headquarters in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul. The “family sale” event will feature cosmetics brand Agatha, Secret Age, Camiane and others sold at a bargain. Famous makeup artist Kim Seon-hee will hold a tutorial session while an auction event pricing luxury brand products from 100 won (8.5 cents) will be held to heat up the mood. All proceeds will go to IOM Migration Research and Training Center. For more informat

The French ice cream brand Amorino on Tuesday said it has officially regularized the operations of its first Korean shop in Garosu-gil in southern Seoul. This will also be the gelato maker’s first Asian store, and the 126th in 14 countries. Amorino is famous for its gelato served in the shape of a rose, alongside other desserts including macaroons, chocolates and cakes. “Korea is a perfect place to test the waters of the Asian dessert market,” said Amorino CEO Christiano Sereni. By Bae Ji-sook　(

The French premium children’s fashion brand Bon Point launched a collaborative project with Adidas, adding giddy colorfulness to the German sportswear maker’s signature sneaker models. The Stan Smith model was reborn with green, blue, yellow and other colorful stripes. The Super Star model comes in suede with blue and white, or blue and yellow stripes. “We hope the shoes will complement a family look,” a Bon Point spokesman said. The sneakers will be on sale at Bon Point stores across the countr

Snack maker Orion started operations of its first potato flake manufacturing plant in China on Tuesday. The plant, situated in Beitun, is the sixth Chinese production plant for the country’s largest confectionary company, and will complete its full construction in 2017.Upon completion, the factory will be capable of producing 20,000 tons of potato flakes to be used in baked or fried potato chips every year, thus supporting Orion in cementing its status as China‘s second-largest confectionary mak

Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn (right) and Hyundai Motor chairman Chung Mong-koo applaud Wednesday at the launch of the Genesis EQ900 in a Seoul hotel. Yonhap　 　With the launch of EQ900, the first model of its newly launched luxury brand Genesis, Hyundai Motor is shifting gears to the luxury car market aiming to shed its image of a value carmaker and prop up falling profitability. “The company developed the premium sedan, targeting the global luxury car market. I believe that the flagship model of

Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer poses at the Aston Martin Kiheung International`s showroom in southern Seoul on Tuesday. Chung Hee-cho/The Korea HeraldAston Martin has been epitomized by the kind of classic, powerful gasoline cars that shout masculinity, representing some of the world’s toughest men on Earth, including James Bond. But now the 102-year-old British supercar-maker aims to reach out to more diverse customers, particularly young, female drivers, with a more diverse lineup. Launched in K

A group of South Korean Catholic bishops said Monday its members plan to visit North Korea this week to discuss ways of promoting cooperation with its North Korean counterpart.The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea said the 17-member delegation, led by Archbishop Kim Hee-joong, will visit North Korea from Tuesday to Friday on the invitation of the North's association on Catholics.It said they plan to discuss how to promote cooperation among Catholics of the two Koreas, including the program c

South and North Korea have unearthed a piece of metal type at an ancient palace in the North's border city of Kaesong as they wrapped up a joint excavation project, a group of historians said Monday.The block of movable metal type was one of about 3,500 relics that have been excavated at the site of Manwoldae, a Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) palace in Kaesong, during the six-month project, according to the group of the two Koreas' historians.South and North Korea kicked off the project on June 1 to

South Korea was No. 1 in development of its information and communications technologies (ICT), a U.N. agency said Monday, relegating Denmark to second place.On its Website, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) said Asia's fourth-largest economy ranked first among 167 countries surveyed. Last year, South Korea lost its top spot to Denmark for the first time since 2010.Iceland came in at third, followed by Britain, Sweden, Luxembourg, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Finland. Hong Kong

Korea’s Fair Trade Commission has launched an investigation into allegations that the scandal-ridden Volkswagen Group misled Korean customers about its vehicles being overly eco-friendly and fuel-efficient, it was revealed Monday. If proved, the German carmaker may face fines of up to 2 percent of its sales in the country, the authorities said. The Korean government last week had slapped a recall order on 125,522 Volkswagen vehicles that are suspected of being equipped with its controversial emi

The death of former President Kim Young-sam (1927-2015) evoked memories of Korea’s rapid industrialization in the ’90s and the business magnates who led the glory. “The late Kim was reportedly the first president who did not take kickbacks from the conglomerates. Through various policies including the Real Name Financial Transactions and Confidentiality, he is recognized for having upgraded the country’s business and economic infrastructure,” a business insider said, paying tribute to the man wh

LOS ANGELES -- Volkswagen America CEO Michael Horn on Wednesday made a public apology over its emissions scandal, but said that full compensation will take time. “We will take the responsibility, but it will take time,” Horn said at the Volkswagen’s press briefing for the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show, explaining that the company is still in talks with the U.S. environment authorities about the case. He said that the first step into the remedies has been taken, successfully. 　“Starting Nov. 9, we h

Peter Schreyer, president and chief design officer of Kia Motor Corporation, introduces the 2017 Elantra during the press briefing for the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show at the L.A. Convention Center on Wednesday. Hyundai Motor CompanyLOS ANGELES -- Hyundai Motor America unveiled the All-New 2017 Elantra during the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show on Wednesday in the carmaker’s push to boost U.S. sales.The car, which debuted in Korea as the Avante AD earlier this year, is expected lead the compact car mar

DK2015, a design festival, kicked off at KINTEX in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province, on Wednesday to discuss industrial design for five days.More than 190 design firms from 13 countries around the world, including China, gathered for the forum that will highlight the artistic world of design and its commercialization, organizers said.“Design is the soft power of the manufacturing industry. It adds great values. We will nurture the design industry, strengthen our competitiveness, and elevate DK festival

Kumho Tire is receiving applications from Vietnamese nationals who have a multicultural family in Korea and want to visit their home country next January as part of the company’s “Korean-Vietnamese Multicultural Family Homecoming” program. Since 2013, the tire maker has supported Vietnamese people who have settled in Korea through international marriage in visiting their home country with children in tow. A total of 43 families have benefited from the program providing return flight tickets and

Artist`s rendering image of the Genesis EQ900Hyundai Motor on Tuesday unveiled the EQ900, the first flagship sedan under its newly launched luxury brand “Genesis.”It is expected to help Korea’s largest carmaker spearhead into the global luxury segment -- a relatively new territory for it -- and comes less than a week after Hyundai Motor Group vice chairman Chung Eui-sun on Nov. 4 declared the launch of the brand to compete against powerhouses such as BMW and Audi. “We declare the launch of new

Shinsegae chairwoman Lee Myung-hee Shinsegae vice chairman Chung Yong-jinShinsegae Group, the country’s second-largest retailer, declared Friday its founder and chairwoman Lee Myung-hee owned 380,000 company shares worth around 80 billion won ($69 million) under borrowed names and that she would convert them to her own name on the day.  The problematic stocks were 258,449 shares of large discount store chain E-mart, 91,296 shares of Shinsegae and 29,938 shares of Shinsegae Food, which were techn