Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Banpo Bridge’s fountains cascading over the Han River, Wellness Seoul 2024 concluded on Sunday evening with performances by an orchestra, popera singers and a guitarist -- all delivering a message of embracing a quality, healthy life through the appreciation of music in everyday life. The highlight of the evening event -- the namesake Wellness Seoul Concert -- was British popera singer Paul Potts, who performed pieces including “Impossible Dr

South Korea's forest agency said Thursday that a research project submitted by its affiliate, the Korea Arboreta and Gardens Institute, aimed at addressing the climate-driven food crisis through crop wild relatives, has been selected for a part of an R&D program promoting cooperation with the European Union. Crop wild relatives, also known as CWRs, are recognized for their ability to adapt to extreme environments and their high genetic diversity, making them crucial for improving future

Lotte Corp., the South Korean holding company of Lotte Group, is strengthening its corporate social responsibility campaigns, placing particular focus on children, women and military personnel. Since 2017, the company has been supporting local community centers dedicated to after-school care for children, creating garret-style shelters equipped with cultural and interactive materials, it said. To date, Lotte Corp. has supported 87 centers nationwide, with plans to expand to areas including Daegu

South Korean e-commerce giant Coupang said Wednesday that it has rebranded its one-day delivery service for premium beauty products as R.LUX, introducing a dedicated app to enhance user experience. Initially launched as Rocket Luxury in July 2023 as part of Coupang’s strategy to expand into the premium beauty market, the service was rebranded as R.LUX to elevate the shopping experience and create a stronger, more distinctive identity, the company said. The platform offers improved featur

Celebrity entrepreneur and chef Paik Jong-won’s yearslong effort to list his food franchise firm Theborn Korea on the country’s main bourse has cleared its first hurdle, yet challenges remain as the fate of the company heavily depends on his fame. Supported by a strong brand lineup and the rising public profile of its CEO Paik, Theborn Korea passed the preliminary review by the Korea Exchange for its initial public offering on Aug. 30, about three months after submitting its applicat

In a world where sleep disorders reportedly affect millions, South Korean startup Munice is offering a unique and science-based solution. Their app, Nightly, specializes in using a specific type of rhythmic sound frequency, called monaural beats, designed to promote relaxation and deep sleep. According to CEO Kwon Seo-hyun, 26, Nightly helps users fall asleep faster and experience deeper rest through brainwave entrainment. The app encourages electrical oscillations of the brain to synchronize wi

Spending quality time for physical and mental well-being has become a mantra for people living in today’s fast-paced world. To promote a healthier and more balanced lifestyle, Herald Media Group, publisher of The Korea Herald, is launching its inaugural Wellness Seoul 2024 with support from the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Wellness Seoul 2024 aims to unite people from all walks of life in a shared celebration of healthier living and overall wellness, welcoming anyone seeking relaxation a

South Korean drug maker Daewoong Pharmaceutical said Monday that more than 88 percent of its patents registered over the past five years in the country have been for new drugs, reflecting the firm’s efforts to enhance its competitiveness in both domestic and global markets through the development of advanced pharmaceuticals. According to data from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Daewoong registered nine domestic patents from 2020 to September 2024. Of these, eight are related to the

South Korean steelmaker Hyundai Steel is seeking to beef up its online sales capabilities through Hcore Store, the company’s e-commerce platform dedicated to steel products for construction, by diversifying offerings and introducing services to enhance customer convenience on the platform. Launched in July 2023, Hcore Store initially focused on promoting Hyundai Steel’s earthquake-resistant building material brand, Hcore. The platform began with core construction materials like rebar

The streets around Seongsu Station in Seongdong-gu, eastern Seoul, have recently become a popular destination for young adults and foreign tourists, especially those interested in fashion and beauty products. The increasing popularity in this area is due to the growing number of fashion brand select shops, along with beauty and drugstores, strategically located along the street to target the rising number of visitors -- creating a virtuous cycle that continues to boost its reputation. On Sept. 1

Samsung Biologics said Wednesday that it is participating in BioProcess International 2024, a global biopharmaceutical conference in Boston, where it has been showcasing new contract development platforms. BioProcess International 2024, which began Monday and runs through Thursday, is an annual event that brings together experts and companies from around the world to share the latest advancements in biopharmaceutical technologies. This year, over 220 companies are exhibiting. Samsung Biologics h

South Korean builder Daewoo Engineering & Construction said Tuesday it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Czech infrastructure company Sudop Praha as part of efforts to strengthen its partnership with local firms in constructing nuclear power plants in the Czech Republic. According to Daewoo E&C, the signing ceremony took place during South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s visit to Doosan Skoda Power -- the Czech subsidiary of Doosan Enerbility, specializing in power gen

Korea International Trade Association Chairman and CEO Yoon Jin-sik visited Brussels this week to convey South Korean companies' concerns regarding upcoming EU environmental regulations to key European Commission and European Parliament representatives. During his visit Monday through Tuesday, Yoon was accompanied by a KITA delegation, comprising executives from member companies, including Meta Biomed, Hanyoung Nux, Exicon and Daejoo Autotech, according to the KITA on Tuesday. In a meeting

South Korean builder Daewoo Engineering & Construction said Monday it donated over 316 million won ($236,000) to the Czech Republic’s Trebic District, as part of its efforts to foster support in the region where a Korean consortium was selected as the preferred bidder for the construction of nuclear power plants. According to Daewoo E&C, the donation will be used to purchase fire trucks for Namest nad Oslavou, a municipality located about 11 kilometers from Dukovany in Trebic Distr

South Korean pharmaceutical giant Yuhan announced Friday it has terminated its collaboration with Janssen Biotech on the development of a next-generation targeted anticancer drug, citing the strong efficacy of its existing treatment, which has reduced the need for further development. According to the company’s regulatory filing, Yuhan and Janssen have amended their research partnership to discontinue the further development of a fourth-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) ty

South Korean oil refiner GS Caltex said Thursday that it has supplied some 5,000 kiloliters of sustainable aviation fuel to Japan’s Narita International Airport, as part of its efforts to expand its carbon reduction business. The fuel was produced by GS Caltex by blending conventional aviation fuel with sustainable aviation fuel provided by Neste, a leading biofuel producer in Finland. The supply deal was facilitated by Japanese trading company Itochu Narita Airport plans to sell the fuel

Hanwha Ocean, a leading Korean shipbuilding and offshore company, announced on Wednesday plans to invest 1.97 trillion won ($1.49 billion) over the next three years to improve safety at its shipyard facilities. "After a thorough review of safety feedback from both internal and external experts, as well as the overall safety conditions at our shipyards, we have determined that a comprehensive overhaul of our current safety management system is needed," said Kim Hee-cheul, CEO of Hanwha

Most South Koreans showed positive sentiments about spending more on Chuseok gifts this year, despite the ongoing inflation and economic challenges, a recent survey found. According to the survey conducted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the nation’s largest business lobby, more than half of respondents, or 56.2 percent, planned to spend a similar amount on Chuseok gifts as they did last year, while 29.1 percent said they would increase their spending. The survey polled 1,00

South Korean food giant Pulmuone said Thursday that it has become the first Korean food company to introduce frozen gimbap into the Chinese market by selling its products at a leading retailer there. Pulmuone’s Tuna Kimbap, sold in packs of three rolls, is now available at Sam's Club, which operates 49 stores in China. A full 136,000 units will be exported to China by September, with plans to export a total of 620,000 units annually, the company said. The product packaging brandishes

South Korean energy and environmental solutions provider SK Ecoplant said Monday that it has secured over $98 million by selling its stake in the American battery recycling firm Ascend Elements, as part of its initiative to restructure its recycling business portfolio. SK Ecoplant had invested over $60.8 million in Ascend Elements since 2022. It sold its entire stake of approximately 9.2 million shares to SKS PE, a Seoul-based private equity firm, according to the company’s regulatory fili