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Kwak Yeon-soo

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.

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Companies

Gov't wastes 700 bil. won on Wolsong-1 reactor

The Wolsong-1 nuclear reactor in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province / Courtesy of KHNPBy Kwak Yeon-sooThe government is facing growing criticism for wasting 700 billion won ($602 million) on the Wolsong-1 nuclear reactor before deciding to shut it down permanently, according to industry officials Wednesday.The decommissioning of the Wolsong-1 reactor follows the shutting down of the Kori-1 plant in 2017.The decommissioning of a series of nuclear reactors comes in line with the Moon Jae-in administration's policy to promote sustainable energy sources and reduce dependence on nuclear power and fossil fuels. One of Moon's election pledges was to increase renewable energy up to 20 percent of total energy sources by 2030, up from the current 7 percent. Korea is also poised to retire 11 out of its 24 reactors by the end of the same year.On Tuesday, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) approved an application by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) to permanently shut down the Wolsong-1 reactor in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. Wolsong-1 started commercial operation in

Dec 25, 2019By Kwak Yeon-soo
Gov't wastes 700 bil. won on Wolsong-1 reactor
Companies

Warmer winter boon for short puffers jackets, iced drinks

Consumers are trying out short puffer jackets at Hyundai Department Store in Seoul, Nov. 10. A growing number of people are buying short parkas over long ones due to warm weather. / Korea Times fileBy Kwak Yeon-sooA warm winter is giving rise to new fashion trends and consumer behaviors as a growing number of people are buying short puffer jackets and iced drinks over long padded coats and hot beverages, according to industry officials Wednesday.Korea is experiencing its warmest December in 12 years. The average temperature forDecember was 1.8 degrees Celsius, up 2.4 degrees Celsius from the same month in 2018, according to data from Korea Meteorological Administration.For the past few years, ultra-long puffer jackets were must-have items here. However, a growing number of consumers are flocking to short puffer and fleece jackets. “I don't like wearing long padded jackets unless it's freezing cold because it hides my outfit underneath,” said Keum Jung-yeon, who lives in Busan. Fleece jackets have also become a hot item this year, in line with the retro design and color tr

Dec 25, 2019By Kwak Yeon-soo
Warmer winter boon for short puffers jackets, iced drinks
Companies

Singing Christmas carols

A group of people wearing Santa costumes perform Christmas carols at Times Square in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, Wednesday. The shopping mall organized an event called “All New Times Square Parade” to celebrate Christmas. / Yonhap

Dec 25, 2019By Kwak Yeon-soo
Singing Christmas carols
Companies

Chefs in spotlight amid HMR fever

GS Retail chefs and food researchers pose for a group photo at the company's food research institute, Dec. 19. / Courtesy of GS RetailBy Kwak Yeon-sooCJ CheilJedang, Pulmuone and other food companies employ professional chefs who aid in the development of a variety of home meal replacement (HMR) dishes that satisfy the growing demand for quick, easy-to-prepare meals, according to company officials Tuesday. An increasing number of single-person households here has been fueling the HMR market.According to data from Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation, the HMR market is expected to exceed 4 trillion won this year from 3.2 trillion won in 2018. It forecast the market will reach 5 trillion won by 2023.“Korea's HMR market is currently in the middle of the expansion phase of four stages of business growth: beginning, expansion, maturation and development,” an analyst at Euromonitor International Korea said.To offer more palatable options, food companies enlist the services of professional chefs.CJ CheilJedang, Korea's largest food company, currently has 13 professi

Dec 24, 2019By Kwak Yeon-soo
Chefs in spotlight amid HMR fever
Companies

Shrimp from Russia

Models promote Russian Spot Shrimp at an E-mart store in Seoul, Tuesday. Russian Spot Shrimp is a must-try food when one visits Vladivostok, the discount chain said. It will sell 20 shrimp at 8,800 won ($7.50) starting Dec. 25 / Yonhap

Dec 24, 2019By Kwak Yeon-soo
Shrimp from Russia
Companies

Hyundai Motor, union clash over WiFi

This photo shows an assembly line at Hyundai Motor's plant in Ulsan. / Korea Times fileBy Kwak Yeon-sooHyundai Motor has banned the use of WiFi during working hours at its Ulsan plant, citing safety and productivity issue for workers, the company said Tuesday. The automaker, which had previously allowed Ulsan Plant workers 24 hours access to WiFi, announced on Dec. 9 it would cut off WiFi network during operations in order to prevent workplace injuries. It promised to provide WiFi during breaks and meal periods, according to Hyundai Motor.However, the move has drawn protests from the labor union. Union workers claimed WiFi installation is part of the collective agreement reached in 2011 and 2016. “What's striking is not the fact that the company restricted the use of WiFi, but that it unilaterally changed the proposal without any prior consultation with workers,” Hyundai's union said in a statement. “We strongly denounce the management's coercive decision.”The labor union boycotted overtime work following a protest rally in front of the Ulsan Plant on Dec. 9.

Dec 24, 2019By Kwak Yeon-soo
Hyundai Motor, union clash over WiFi
Companies

Retailers rush to import foreign food items to boost sales

Models pose with Tokki Soju, the first American handcrafted traditional rice soju, at a Shinsegae Department Store branch in Seoul, Dec. 18. / Courtesy of Shinsegae Department StoreBy Kwak Yeon-sooRetailers have been rushing to import snacks, beverages and other food items from overseas to expand their product lineup and boost sales, according to industry officials Thursday.They are looking for items that can meet the tastes of the social media generation, who are eager to try out new things.The fact that an increasing number of people make direct purchases from foreign countries has also pushed retailers to discover and bring in the “most-trending” items from around the world.According to data from the Korea Customs Service, Korea's direct purchases from foreign countries rose to 2.92 trillion won ($2.5 billion) in 2018, up 30.4 percent from a year earlier, on rising consumer demand for cheaper and higher-quality products.Convenience store chain CU sold the first batch of 10,000 buckets of Maltesers, chocolate imported from Australia, in just 20 hours after it added the

Dec 23, 2019By Kwak Yeon-soo
Retailers rush to import foreign food items to boost sales
Companies

Sibling feud erupts over control of Korean Air

Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Won-tae, left, and former Korean Air Executive Vice President Cho Hyun-ah / Korea Times fileBy Kwak Yeon-sooCho Hyun-ah, former Korean Air executive vice president, accused her younger brother Monday of not leading Hanjin Group in accordance with their father's dying injunctions, signaling a sibling feud over control of the logistics-centered conglomerate.Cho, who is notorious for her 2014 “nut rage” incident, released a statement via her legal representative, claiming that Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Won-tae is not following their father's instructions regarding group management.“Our father wanted the family to run the business together, but Hanjin Group is currently neglecting his last words,” Hyun-ah said through her legal representative. Former Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho died of a chronic lung disease in Los Angeles in April at the age of 70.Their feud surfaced in May when the board of Hanjin KAL, the group's holding company, belatedly named Won-tae as the group's new chairman reorganized by the Fair Trade Act. Hyun-ah and he

Dec 23, 2019By Kwak Yeon-soo
Sibling feud erupts over control of Korean Air
Tech & Science

Seongnam tops business-friendly city list

A drone flying near Seongnam City Hall, Jan. 31. / Korea Times fileBy Kwak Yeon-sooSeongnam, the second-largest city in Gyeonggi Province, topped the list of business-friendly cities in Korea, a survey taken by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) showed Monday.In the survey targeting 8,000 companies and 228 local governments, Seongnam received 75.9 points out of 100 for innovative activities, such as establishing the first drone flight test site in Korea and launching high-tech products this year.Drones were initially prohibited from being flown in Seongnam, as the city encompasses Seoul Airport. However, the local government consulted with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Republic of Korea Air Force, to establish the drone test field.More than 10 high-tech products and services were developed in Pangyo Techno Valley, a tech cluster area in Seongnam. They include a service that can distinguish human organ size and weight using artificial intelligence (AI), transparent displays and wireless kitchen appliances.Seongnam, some 20 kilometers away from S

Dec 23, 2019By Kwak Yeon-soo
Seongnam tops business-friendly city list
Companies

Cod season is back

Models display cod at an E-mart outlet in Seoul, Monday. The discount store chain said it will offer the fish, called “daegu” in Korean, at 23,800 won ($20) per head for a week starting Dec. 26. The best month for cod is December, it said. / Courtesy of E-mart

Dec 23, 2019By Kwak Yeon-soo
Cod season is back
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