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Ko Dong-hwan

Korea Times Business Reporter

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Companies

Dongwon F&B enters frozen chicken market with Kebasak

Dongwon F&B has entered the frozen chicken market with two products under its new Kebasak brand, using specialized batter technology and a double-frying process to deliver a crispy texture. The products are designed to let consumers enjoy restaurant-quality chicken at home without delivery fees or waiting times. The lineup includes Kebasak Fried Chicken, seasoned with spicy Cajun spices, and Kebasak Chili Mayo Chicken, which combines a pungent chili flavor with savory mayonnaise. Dongwon F&B uses its proprietary Air-Crisp technology, which creates tiny air bubbles in the batter to enhance crispiness and distribute fat evenly. The company said the technique helps maintain consistent quality and prevents the coating from becoming soggy quickly. The chicken is prepared through a double-frying process, with chicken thigh meat coated in batter made from an optimized ratio of flour and water before being fried at low and high temperatures. The method produces a crispy exterior and moist interior. Both products use 100 percent chicken thigh meat to deliver a tender texture and juicy flavor. High

Oct 27, 2026By Ko Dong-hwan
Dongwon F&B enters frozen chicken market with Kebasak
Companies

Korea to allow 5-year pet ownership ban for serious animal abusers

Korea will allow courts to ban people convicted of serious animal abuse from keeping pets for up to five years under an amended Animal Protection Act, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said Monday. The amendment will take effect in October next year. Animals whose owners are indicted for abuse may remain in protective custody until a final judgment is issued. Offenders will also face restrictions on adopting animals from local governments. Owners who violate basic animal care requirements could face fines of up to 1 million won ($760), including for keeping pets on leashes shorter than two meters or failing to provide shelter from extreme temperatures. Failing to retrieve animals from boarding facilities or veterinary clinics will constitute abandonment. Local governments may also take protective custody of animals left unattended following disasters or the death or disappearance of their owners. Pet breeders must renew their licenses every five years, subject to inspections of their facilities and staffing. Pet businesses posing as rescue shelters will face restriction

Oct 26, 2026By Ko Dong-hwan
Korea to allow 5-year pet ownership ban for serious animal abusers
Companies

CJ CheilJedang steams sticky rice for global expansion

JINCHEON, North Chungcheong Province — CJ CheilJedang, which introduced the country’s first microwavable steamed rice bowls under the Hetbahn brand in 1996 and has dominated the market since, is accelerating exports to promote healthier diets for global consumers. Hetbahn now exports to 60 countries, with the United States the largest market. The rice bowls were rebranded as Bibigo and entered the country in 2017. Across the world, Hetbahn last year saw its exports out of overall sales jump to 15 percent from 8 percent in 2021, with an average annual growth of 30 percent during the period. CJ CheilJedang is positioning rice as a “better carbohydrate” compared to bread as part of its global expansion. The company cited global market research agency Mintel, which said 34.6 percent of American consumers who purchase rice see it as a “healthier option” and use it not only for Asian cuisines like fried rice or sushi but also for Western dishes like chicken, steak, burritos or rice bowls. The share of people in the country who ate rice at least once a week rose to 45 per cent las

Oct 25, 2026By Ko Dong-hwan
CJ CheilJedang steams sticky rice for global expansion
Companies

Woojin recognized for job creation, improved working conditions

Woojin Industrial Systems, a Korean manufacturer of railway vehicles and electric buses, said Friday it has been selected for this year’s Ministry of Employment and Labor recognition program honoring companies for creating jobs and improving working conditions. The annual program recognizes 100 private companies and provides administrative and financial incentives to encourage hiring and improve workplace practices. Woojin said investment outside the Seoul metropolitan area helped drive its employment growth. It completed a 47 billion won ($35 million) electric bus factory in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, supporting efforts to recruit about 100 local workers. The proportion of the company’s workforce covered by employment insurance rose to 673 at the end of 2025 from 578 in 2024. Woojin attributed the growth to investment and recruitment partnerships with local universities and vocational high schools. Of its 140 new hires in 2025, 64 were aged 15 to 34. The company said expanded recruitment of women and support for maternity protection measures helped reduce its female employ

Oct 23, 2026By Ko Dong-hwan
Woojin recognized for job creation, improved working conditions
Companies

KEPCO wins UNLEASH award for 2nd straight year

Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) has won the UNLEASH Learning and Development Award for the second consecutive year, becoming the first Korean company to achieve the feat and reaffirming its global competitiveness in human resource development (HRD), the state-run utility said Friday. The award was presented at UNLEASH World 2026, a major human resources development conference, in Paris on Thursday (local time), according to KEPCO. Established in 2016 by the European Association for People Management and U.K.-based HR technology group UNLEASH, the award recognizes excellence in HRD, based on its strategic impact, organizational role and contribution to business performance. The recognition follows KEPCO's consecutive wins at the ATD Awards, organized by the U.S.-based Association for Talent Development, over the past two years, further demonstrating the company's expertise in employee training and talent management. KEPCO said evaluators recognized its alignment of HRD with business strategy, data-driven personalized training and integration of HRD with human resource management (HRM).

Oct 23, 2026By Ko Dong-hwan
KEPCO wins UNLEASH award for 2nd straight year
Companies

Kentucky bourbon master eyes global expansion with Korean bartenders

Jefferson’s Bourbon founder Trey Zoeller was in Seoul last week for a special event in Korea, offering a unique opportunity to introduce his Kentucky-based brand to Korean consumers. It marked the finale of a six-month program involving 40 Korean bartenders who explored the brand and developed their own cocktails using its bourbon. Zoeller, who founded the brand with his father, Chet Zoeller, in 1997, came to Korea to recognize the bartenders whose cocktails for the Camp Jefferson program sold the most and best reflected his vision for the brand. In 2023, Zoeller and his late father were inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame. During the event, he shared insights into the brand with the participating bartenders, explaining how his passion for outdoor adventure helped shape its identity beyond bourbon-making traditions. Zoeller said he was surprised to see his bourbon transformed into a variety of creative cocktails he had never imagined before. “I loved it. There was so much creativity that came through so many different variations of products that I never had. I tasted every

Oct 22, 2026By Ko Dong-hwan
Kentucky bourbon master eyes global expansion with Korean bartenders
Companies

Hyundai Glovis plans Philadelphia port expansion, vehicle terminal operations

Hyundai Glovis plans to extend its dedicated site agreement at the Port of Philadelphia through 2056 and enter the vehicle terminal operations business, expanding its role at the key logistics hub on the east coast of the United States. The Korean company said Monday that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority, known as PhilaPort, and a local developer to cooperate on port expansion and vehicle terminal operations. The agreement includes securing an additional vehicle logistics space and extending the existing site. Hyundai Glovis plans to participate in the vehicle segment of PhilaPort’s broader expansion, securing a dedicated berth for car carriers and adding terminal operations to its existing transport and storage services. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and state and port officials attended the expansion announcement, where Hyundai Glovis was introduced as a major private-sector partner. The event outlined plans for container and vehicle terminals and public-private cooperation. Hyundai Glovis has handled vehicle import and export

Oct 19, 2026By Ko Dong-hwan
Hyundai Glovis plans Philadelphia port expansion, vehicle terminal operations
Companies

Gov't, businesses team up to help retired detection dogs find new homes

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs last week joined Trinity Airways and Sono Pet Clubs & Resorts for a two-day pet adoption program, combining government support for retired detection dogs with private-sector assistance in event planning, accommodation and training. The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency under the ministry provided guidance on adoption procedures and answered prospective owners’ questions. Trinity Airways, formerly T’way Air, organized the program, held Saturday and Sunday, while Sono Pet provided spaces for families and dogs to interact and rest, along with professional training support. Held at Sono Pet’s Vivaldi Park in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, the program brought together three retired quarantine detection dogs and three prospective adoptive families selected through a screening process, according to the agency. The dogs were two English springer spaniels, aged 7 and 9, and a 9-year-old beagle. Activities included running together, treasure hunts and walks, giving participants opportunities to interact with the dogs. A trainer specializing

Oct 19, 2026By Ko Dong-hwan
Gov't, businesses team up to help retired detection dogs find new homes
Companies

Hansae Mobility opens Uzbekistan plant to expand Central Asian business

QUVASOY, Uzbekistan — Hansae Mobility, a Korean automotive parts manufacturer supplying global carmakers, has expanded its overseas production capacity with the completion of a new plant in Quvasoy, in Uzbekistan's Fergana Region. Hansae Yes24 Group's automotive parts subsidiary held a completion ceremony for the plant Tuesday (local time) in a free economic zone in Quvasoy. The facility is operated by Hansae Mobility Turan, an Uzbekistan subsidiary wholly owned by Hansae Mobility. The ceremony was attended by Hansae Mobility CEO and Hansae Vice Chairman Kim Ik-whan, Mirzohid Murodilovich, deputy governor of Fergana Region, and other officials and representatives from Korea and Uzbekistan. The plant is expected to enable Hansae Mobility to supply its products more quickly to clients in Uzbekistan and expand its customer base in neighboring countries across the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Before the plant opened, Hansae Mobility had to export the parts from Korea. The new facility adds to the company's existing manufacturing bases in Daegu, the U.S. state of Michigan and t

Oct 15, 2026By Ko Dong-hwan
Hansae Mobility opens Uzbekistan plant to expand Central Asian business
Companies

How Mediheal is evolving beyond sheet masks

Best known for turning sheet masks into a beauty routine staple, L&P Cosmetic’s Mediheal is building its next stage of growth around a broader portfolio of skin care solutions, ranging from toners to serums, cleansers, creams and sun care products. The expansion reflects Mediheal’s evolution from a mask-focused label into a comprehensive skin care brand designed to address consumers’ needs across every step of their daily routines. Drawing on the recognition it has built through sheet masks, the brand is extending its ingredient expertise and research capabilities into products that can be used before, after and alongside masks. That strategy was on display in Japan in August when Mediheal introduced its new Derma Skin Care Series, featuring toners, serums and serum masks. The series used three ingredients closely associated with the brand: tea tree, madecassoside and polydeoxyribonucleotide, better known as PDRN, an ingredient now gaining attention in the skin care market. The series' launch marked another major transformation for the brand since its entry into Japan with its mas

Oct 15, 2026By Ko Dong-hwan
How Mediheal is evolving beyond sheet masks
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