Korea Times Digital Content Reporter
Kwak Yeon-soo is a digital editor at The Korea Times creating, editing and curating digital content for the newspaper’s website, mobile app and social media. She previously covered a diverse array of cultural, political and business topics.
Models display products which will be offered at ultra-low prices at an E-mart outlet in Seoul, Tuesday. E-mart said it will offer deals including “buy one, get one free” on a wide array of products, ranging from fresh food items to home appliances, starting Jan. 1. / Yonhap
Tetra Pak Korea employees and other participants watch a band's performance at Nanbit Festival, Oct. 24. The multinational food processing and packaging company has been organizing the festival as part of the Orchid Light Festival since 2013 to promote Nanjido's transformation. / Courtesy of Tetra Pak KoreaBy Kwak Yeon-sooTetra Pak Korea recently visited two senior welfare centers in Sangam-dong, western Seoul, to donate soy milk products, the company said Monday.The Korean unit of the multinational food packaging and processing company has also organized a Christmas concert with MCLEE jazz band for senior citizens in the community.The company collaborated with the Salvation Army to enhance the festive atmosphere and raise money to help the underprivileged. Since 2013, it has been working with various nonprofit organizations, including Seoul Energy Dream Park and Seoul Business Agency, to raise awareness on sustainability and social value. In cooperation with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and environmental conservation groups, it has been organizing the annual Orchid Light F
CJ CheilJedang CEO Kang Shin-ho, left, and CJ OliveNetworks CEO Cha In-hyok.By Kwak Yeon-sooCJ Group reshuffled its top management on Monday, including executives at food company CJ CheilJedang and the operator of CJ's health and beauty retailer CJ OliveNetworks.Kang Shin-ho, 58, who served as representative director of the food business division at CJ CheilJedang, was named CEO of the food company.Kang was recognized for accelerating the Korean food boom in global markets. Over the past few years, he has taken the lead to promote the Bibigo brand abroad and introduce home meal replacement (HMR) products locally.Cha In-hyok, 53, who held positions as chief digital and transformation (DT) officer at CJ Group and senior executive adviser at SK Telecom, was named CEO of CJ OliveNetworks and Chief Digital Officer (CDO) of CJ Group.Cha will lead the group's DT strategies and related IT businesses. “The year 2020 is a critical year for us to lay the groundwork for innovative growth and conduct the group's management paradigm shift,” a CJ Group official said.Nineteen senior exec
Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Chairman Park Yong-maan speaks during an interview at the chamber's headquarters in Seoul, Dec. 26. / Courtesy of KCCIBy Kwak Yeon-sooLawmakers and bureaucrats should be held accountable for the struggling Korean economy, according to the head of the nation's largest business association who stresses deregulation is key to revitalizing Asia's fourth-largest economy. In a recent interview with The Korea Times, Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Chairman Park Yong-maan expressed his disappointment with policymakers who Park said have been blocking new industries from advancing mainly for their own political gain.“It's about time we change the old set of rules and institutions, but the Assembly is immersed in winning votes for next year's general election scheduled for April 15,” Park said.“It's frustrating to see economic problems being swept by political issues when startups are crying foul over regulations.”Park has been raising his voice for regulatory reform, visiting the current 20th National Assembly
Korea Federation of Micro Enterprises (KFME) officials and Rep. Choo Hye-sun of the minor Justice Party, fourth from right, protest Delivery Hero's takeover of Baedal Minjok at the National Assembly, Friday. / YonhapBy Kwak Yeon-sooSmall business owners denounced Delivery Hero's (DH) takeover of Baedal Minjok Friday, arguing Korea's largest food delivery app will exercise greater monopolistic power and hurt restaurant owners and other self-employed people.On Friday, the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprises (KFME) held a joint press conference at the National Assembly with Rep. Choo Hye-sun of the minor Justice Party, accusing DH of undermining its smaller rivals.“We strongly oppose DH's acquisition of Woowa Brothers, operator of Baedal Minjok, as it is likely to impose a heavier burden on small businesses and limit consumer choice,” a KFME official said.“If Baedal Minjok raises commissions and advertising fees, we will take collective action that includes boycotting the delivery app.”The KFME also urged the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) to run an in-depth revie
By Kwak Yeon-sooTwo smoked salmon products, sold at Market Kurly and SSG.com, were found to contain listeria, a potentially deadly bacteria / YonhapMarket Kurly and SSG.com are desperate to quell the anger of consumers after the Korea Consumer Agency (KCA) found their packaged smoked salmon to contain listeria bacteria.The companies have discontinued affected products, notifying consumers of ways they can be refunded.The moves came as the KCA warned consumers, Thursday, on the dangers posed by eating smoked salmon contaminated with listeria.After screening 30 refrigerated items, including salted pollack roe and smoked salmon, bought from retailers, the agency said two were found to contain listeria bacteria.Listeria infection is a foodborne bacteria illness disease caused by the listeria monocytogenes bacterium. Today, dairy and vegetable products are frequently the source of contamination.In recent years, outbreaks have been linked to milk, soft cheese, avocado, sausage and salmon.The infection is treatable with antibiotics, but around 20 percent to 30 percent of illness — kno
SPC Group employees pose for a photo with “gift bags” containing food, gloves and insulation for the needy at the company's headquarters in Seoul, Thursday. The food company jointly donated 110 such bags to senior citizens living alone through Yangjae Senior Welfare Center. / Courtesy of SPC Group
Companies slash bonuses, force older employees to retire amid economic downturn By Kwak Yeon-sooChipmakers, refiners and other manufacturers here are slashing year-end bonuses and forcing older employees to retire early as they are struggling with falling profits amid the prolonged economic downturn, according to company officials, Thursday.Samsung Electronics said on Dec. 24 that it paid as much as a 100 percent of base salaries to employees of its semiconductor and household appliances divisions as a year-end bonus, and 50 percent of base salaries to those at its smartphones division.However, the company notified its executives and employees in August that the annual overall performance incentive (OPI) would be halved next year due to falling memory chip prices and slowing smartphone sales.The company's third-quarter operating profit dropped 53 percent from a year earlier, reflecting continued weakness in memory chip demand.SK hynix, the country's second-largest chipmaker, is also set to cut its bonuses next year. Its third-quarter operating profit fell 93 percent from the same per
Models display frozen meal kits of PEACOCK, Shinsegae Group's private home meal replacement (HMR) brand, at an E-mart outlet in Seoul, Thursday. The discount chain said it will offer three types of steak meal kits both online and offline, starting Dec. 26. / Yonhap
Dongwon F&B's new ad features Pengsoo, a giant penguin character who is enjoying wild popularity in Korea. / Courtesy of Dongwon F&BBy Kwak Yeon-sooDongwon F&B will collaborate with Pengsoo, a penguin character with educational TV station EBS who is receiving nationwide popularity, to promote its canned tuna products, the company said Thursday. The food company said it will use the character for TV commercials, collaborative goods and other types of ads for new products. Their collaboration will be featured on Pengsoo's YouTube channel Giant PengTV.The 10-year-old penguin became a hit with millennials following its television and radio appearances, as well as its own YouTube channel which now boasts more than 1.5 million subscribers.Pengsoo, which claims it is originally from the Antarctic, is well-known to be a huge fan of tuna.On YouTube channel, the penguin character is often seen asking producers and even EBS chairman to get some tuna for him as a reward. In September, Pengsoo made a parody video of Dongwon F&B's canned tuna commercial. He also stockpiled of canne