A few years ago, it seemed like nothing could stop Korea’s top toy supplier Sonokong.But alongside a dip in sales, allegations of irregularities and aggressive marketing dented the company’s image.Now back in the black and armed with a partnership with Mattel, the company is trying to replicate its domestic success overseas, but it remains to be seen if its turnaround can gain momentum.The company’s toys -- ubiquitous in Korea -- range from the megahit transformation car-robots

Toyota has strengthened its lineup by launching the all-new RAV4 in South Korea to meet the growing demand for sport utility vehicles. With RAV4, short for Robust Accurate Vehicle 4 Wheel Drive, is Toyota’s first fully changed model in six years and the Japanese carmaker aims to hit a monthly sales target of 3,000 units, officials said during a launch event Thursday.“The all-new RAV4 was developed to offer the joy of driving in any given environment,” said Toyota Korea Presiden

Diageo Korea, the South Korean unit of the liquor maker, said Friday it will offer fully paid family leave for employees from July. This is in line with the headquarters’ global family leave policy, introduced as part of efforts to become a leading employer in the area of gender equality in the workplace and to create a more inclusive corporate culture, according to the company.  Both female and male employees will benefit from paid family leave of up to 26 weeks and four weeks.&

Farming in the densely populated city of Seoul is nothing new. Many urban farmers make use of vacant spaces on top of apartment buildings, schools and public buildings to grow vegetables. Some rent privately owned spaces to start their own green experiments. As of 2017, Seoul had 170 hectares of these farms, about the size of 238 soccer fields combined. In 2011, the figure was 29 hectares. The Seoul Metropolitan Government is a key backer of this growing urban farming trend.Earlier this year, it

Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun has vowed to bring the focus back to customers and stressed that the group’s future success lies on building firm partnerships with global mobility companies. The remarks came during an event by Carlye Group as part of its annual conference, which invites the world’s political and business leaders to share insights. Chung had been invited to share his thoughts and priorities for the world’s fifth-largest automaker.&

Despite government efforts to curb smoking, the tobacco industry here and abroad has been advancing with new innovative products, the latest being US e-cigarette maker Juul Labs that formally launched here Wednesday.Juul claims that that its vape pens will hit the local market Friday, challenging the tobacco market here which has recently been led by heat-not-burn tobacco devices.  It is the American startup’s first Asia-Pacific entry since it was launched in 2017.In the US, Juul acco

Kia Motors, South Korea’s second-largest carmaker in terms of sales, has been pushing forward to successfully enter the Indian market in the latter half of this year.It has been conducting various marketing activities including a large-scale dealer event by inviting them to Korea.The automaker said the event was part of its efforts to raise brand awareness among Indian customers. Local car dealers from India pose for a photo during a Kia Motors’ event in Seoul on March 13. (Kia Motors)Some 120 I

Renault Samsung Motors, the Korean unit of French automaker Renault Group, said its research and development center, Renault Technology Korea, will play a key role in the group’s vehicle design, safety tests and production technology. Located in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Renault Technology Korea was formerly a Samsung Motors research center established in 1997. It was renamed following Renault Group’s acquisition of the Korean carmaker in 2000.  Renault Samsung Motors CEO Dominic Senora speaks

Korea’s second-largest automaker Kia Motors has established a service center dedicated to electric vehicles for the first time in the country, the firm said Sunday. The automaker has set up an EV Workbay at six service centers nationwide, operated by Auto Q. It hopes to enhance the efficiency of EV customers’ vehicle inspection and mechanics’ work convenience. The launch comes in line with the imminent launch of its new EV lineup -- including Niro EV and Soul Booster EV.  Mechanics inspect a veh

Hanhwa Group’s decision to withdraw from the duty-free business from September due to ballooning losses -- some 117 billion won ($100 million) of accumulated operating losses -- has shaken the industry, though many had predicted the closure. “It is not an exaggeration to say that there were more employees than customers at Hanwha’s downtown duty-free store in Yeouido, although many visitors seemed to visit the landmark 63 Building where the store is located. The location was relatively less-visi

California-based Blue Bottle Coffee has opened its first cafe in Korea on Friday, making Korea the second international market for the company. Blue Bottle’s 1,300-square-meter store in Seoul will be located in Seongsu-dong, an area referred to as the “Brooklyn” of Seoul, according to the company. Blue Bottle Coffee Korea (Yonhap)“We tend not to open locations in the most commercial areas and we like to pick a location that has a strong community and reflects our values,” Bryan Meehan, CEO of Bl

Korean Air said Wednesday that it will remove the first-class seats from 27 international routes beginning in June, leaving only two options -- economy and prestige -- on 76 of its 111 routes. The change is seen as a move by the air carrier to increase the efficiency and maximize the profitability of its flight services.  (Korean Air)As of June 1, only 35 routes -- some 30 percent of Korean Air’s international flights -- will offer first-class seats. Currently, the air carrier does not offer a f

CJ Group’s restaurant business unit CJ Foodville has sold its flagship coffeehouse chain A Twosome Place as part of its business restructuring to Hong Kong-based private equity firm Anchor Equity Partners, the firm confirmed Wednesday.The sale involved 45 percent stake held by CJ Foodville in A Twosome Place for 202.5 billion won ($173.3 million). When the deal is finalized, the sell-off will increase the PEF’s share to 85 percent as it already owns a 40 percent stake in the coffee chain.(CJ Foo

Not all automotive designers are typical “car guys” well versed in the history of cars and models on the street.Because Kim Nury, an automotive interior designer at BMW’s Munich headquarters, definitely does not fit that stereotype. “A car is, to me, just one of many designs. I do not have an extensive knowledge about cars or know A to Z about different models -- I do not drive -- but cars are like what I play with as if I’m in a game finding solutions to producing one,” said Kim during an inter

Hera, a luxury beauty brand under Korean cosmetics giant Amorepacific, has launched a limited-edition collection in collaboration with Italian fashion brand Au Jour Le Jour, the firm said Sunday. The collection features an urban-chic concept that reanalyzes the retro trend, according to the company.  Hera X Au Jour Le Jour collection (Amorepacific)It comprises an eye shadow palette, Wonder Pearl Liquid lip gloss, Black Cushion pact, Cell Essence and Rich Curling mascara, packaged in a special bo

Hanjin Group’s holding company Hanjin Kal said Wednesday its board of directors had decided to appoint Korean Air President Cho Won-tae as the group’s new chairman. The appointment of Cho is aimed at minimizing the leadership vacuum in the group and maintaining stable business operations, Hanjin Kal said in a statement, adding there will be no separate inauguration ceremony for Cho. Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Won-tae (Hanjin Group)This comes about two weeks after Cho’s father, former Hanjin Group

Hyundai Motor said Wednesday its first-quarter operating profit came in at 824.9 billion won ($718 million), up 21.1 percent from last year, boosted by sales of its latest sport utility vehicle model Palisade, which hit the market in December. According to the automaker, first-quarter sales increased 6.9 percent to 23.9 trillion won, while net profit jumped 30.4 percent to 953.8 billion won.  Hyundai Motor’s Palisade (Hyundai Motor)Although Hyundai Motor’s global sales decreased 2.7 percent to 1

For a 42-year-old veteran driver surnamed Yim, the QM6 compact sport utility vehicle he has owned since 2017 is his pride. “QM6, without a doubt, is the strongest car from a trustworthy automaker,” said Yim, showing a photo of a car crash scene where his QM6 looks relatively unscathed while a white sedan that it had collided with it has been smashed to pieces. “The car, no matter what, has to be safe and strong. This was the biggest merit of Samsung Motors, known for high quality products. But m

Hyundai Motor and its sister company Kia Motors said Monday they have developed the world’s first mobile tune-up technology for their electric vehicles.According to the automakers, the technology allows a driver to control an electric car’s performance, efficiency and driving comfort by setting the car’s torque, acceleration, deceleration, power generation during braking, speed limit, responsiveness and air conditioning, via mobile devices including smartphones and tablet PCs.  A driver tests Hy

SK Engineering & Construction will modernize an oil refinery in Uzbekistan to enhance the quality of gasoline, diesel and lube oil products there, the firm said Monday.SK E&C clinched a $600 million deal with Uzbekistan’s state-run oil and gas corporation UNG to modernize Bukhara Oil Refinery, located 437 kilometers southwest of the capital city of Tashkent. It is the company’s first project in Uzbekistan.SK E&C President Ahn Jae-hyun (left) shakes hand with Uzbekistan’s UNG Chairman Sidikov B.B