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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

Pulmuone claims 75% share in US tofu market

Pulmuone's tofu products sold in the U.S. / Courtesy of PulmuoneBy Kwak Yeon-sooPulmuone had a 75 percent share of the U.S. tofu market in the third quarter, the company said Monday.The food company said its tofu market share in the U.S. soared from 4.9 percent in 2015 to 69.5 percent in 2016, citing Nielsen research data.The company attributed the success to growing consumer demand for plant-based foods and aggressive marketing strategies. Plant-based meat alternatives are becoming a more popular choice for American consumers. About 8 percent of Americans are vegetarians, and 37 percent of non-vegetarian millennials responded that they are willing to buy plant-based foods, according to Mintel Reports in 2018. “The growing demand for plant-based proteins in the U.S. has been the major driving force behind the success of Pulmuone's tofu business,” said Park Jong-hee Park, a category manager of Pulmuone Foods USA. “We will continue to offer new plant-based foods to dominate the U.S. tofu market.”Pulmuone tapped into the U.S. market under the brand Nasoya, the to

Nov 29, 2019By Kwak Yeon-soo
Pulmuone claims 75% share in US tofu market
Economy

Exports to rebound in 2020 on higher chip sales

Korea International Trade Association (KITA) Chairman Kim Young-ju speaks during a press conference at the association's headquarters in Seoul, Thursday. / Courtesy of KITABy Kwak Yeon-sooOutbound shipments will grow in 2020 mainly on the back of stronger memory chip sales, according to the head of the country's export promotion body, Thursday.Korea International Trade Association (KITA) Chairman Kim Young-ju said that despite some downside risks, the association estimated that the value of exports next year would increase 3.3 percent from this year to $561 billion.The figure is a positive sign given that exports for this year are expected to fall 10.2 percent from 2018 to $543 billion, due to sharp price drops in chips and petrochemical products.“Korea, an export-oriented country heavily dependent on semiconductors and petrochemicals, was hit hard by price drops in chips and petrochemicals this year,” Kim said during a press conference held at KITA headquarters in Seoul. “However, exports of semiconductors will grow in 2020 on stronger demand from data centers and

Nov 28, 2019By Kwak Yeon-soo
Exports to rebound in 2020 on higher chip sales
Companies

Novelis promotes aluminum can recycling for sustainable future

Novelis' aluminum can recycling plant in Yeongju, North Gyeongsang Province / Courtesy of NovelisBy Kwak Yeon-sooNovelis, a global producer of rolled aluminum and a recycler of beverage cans, has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting recycling for a sustainable future.According to the company, about 72,000 tons of aluminum cans are produced annually in Korea, and the recycling rate of beverage cans and scraps is 80 percent. Koreans throw away 20 percent or more than 17 billion won ($14.4 million) worth of aluminum cans every year. “Aluminum provides an eco-friendly alternative to plastic. It is infinitely recyclable, meaning that it can be recycled over and over again without any loss in quality,” Novelis Asia President Sachin Satpute said. “If the government and citizens realize the importance of aluminum recycling, it will not only benefit the environment but the local economy as well.”Novelis' recyclable aluminum can / Courtesy of NovelisNovelis, a unit of India's Hindalco Industries, runs an aluminum can recycling plant in Yeongju, North Gyeongsang Provin

Nov 28, 2019By Kwak Yeon-soo
Novelis promotes aluminum can recycling for sustainable future
Companies

BMW Group to double R&D capacity in Korea

BMW Group Chief Marketing Officer and board member Pieter Nota speaks during the company's press conference at the BMW Driving Center in Incheon, Wednesday. / Courtesy of BMW KoreaBy Kwak Yeon-sooBMW Group will expand its research and development center here and plans to increase cooperation with its local partners in “future mobility systems,” the company said Wednesday. The German automaker held an event to celebrate the expanded BMW Korea Driving Center in Incheon.Board members Nicolas Peter and Pieter Nota, and BMW Group Korea CEO Han Sang-yun attended the ceremony and a press conference to share the group's commitment to Korea. The BMW Korea Driving Center will offer various new programs, including the Premium Automobile Delivery Service, to meet customer demand here.The expansion has added 50,022 square meters to the existing center, which now covers 291,802 square meters. The company spent 12.5 billion won ($10.6 million) on the expansion, which comprises a new circular driving course, an extended xDrive off-road course, and new customer experience and convention c

Nov 27, 2019By Kwak Yeon-soo
BMW Group to double R&D capacity in Korea
Companies

Orion goes after Lotte, Nongshim in 'water business'

Orion Vice Chairman Huh In-cheol speaks during the press conference unveiling its first mineral water product, Jeju Yongamsu, in Seoul, Tuesday. / Courtesy of OrionBy Kwak Yeon-sooOrion has tapped into Korea's water business, launching its first mineral water product ― Jeju Yongamsu (volcanic mineral water) ― Tuesday.According to Orion, the alkalescent mineral water, produced at a plant on Jeju Island, is naturally filtered through 400,000-year-old basalt, making it rich in minerals such as calcium and magnesium.Compared with the big four bottled water companies ― Jeju Samdasoo, Nongshim Baeksansoo, Lotte Chilsung Icis and Haitai Pyeongchangsoo ― that sell their products for 950 won ($0.81) at convenience stores, Jeju Yongamsu will be priced at 1,000 won.“Given that Jeju Yongamsu is sold in 530-milliliter bottles, whereas the other products are supplied in 500-milliliter bottles, we think the price is reasonable,” an Orion official said. The company has rolled out plans to dive into the premium-priced mineral water markets in China, Vietnam, Indonesia, India and Russia.In

Nov 26, 2019By Kwak Yeon-soo
Orion goes after Lotte, Nongshim in 'water business'
Companies

Retailers riding on 'Frozen 2' hype

Models promote “Frozen 2”-themed products at Lotte Mart's Toys "R" Us in Seoul, Nov. 19. YonhapBy Kwak Yeon-sooRetailers are rolling out a variety of “Frozen”-themed merchandise for fans of all ages, as Korean moviegoers join the worldwide frenzy over Disney's latest release “Frozen 2,” according to industry officials Tuesday.According to the Korean Film Council (KOFIC), the latest Disney film has attracted 4.79 million viewers in Korea as of Monday, just five days after its opening here. Along with the movie's soaring popularity, sales of Frozen-themed products are going up. 7-Eleven rolled out “Frozen” character figures, capsule toys, snow globe DIY kits, Lego sets and sticker books. The convenience store chain said it will offer Elsa's Jewelry Box and Anna's Dress through delivery service.“After the sequel to Disney's Frozen brought a huge demand for the merchandise, there's a new generation of kids that are getting obsessed with the movie, the dolls and characters,” a 7-Eleven official said. Frozen 2-inspired merchandise

Nov 26, 2019By Kwak Yeon-soo
Retailers riding on 'Frozen 2' hype
Companies

Binggrae unveils pumpkin sweet potato-flavored milk

By Kwak Yeon-sooBinggrae's pumpkin sweet potato-flavored milk Halloween edition / Courtesy of BinggraeBinggrae has released a pumpkin sweet potato-flavored milk as its special winter flavor for 2019.The pumpkin sweet potato-flavored milk follows the brand's mulberry-flavored milk that hit the shelves in February 2018 and tangerine-flavored milk that came out in November the same year. All are part of the company's “Original Flavored Milk” series.The food and beverage company said it took almost a year to develop the sweet potato flavored milk, testing about 100 types of fruits and vegetables.Binggrae's banana-flavored milk, its top-selling drink, was the first flavored milk in Korea to surpass 200 billion won ($169 million) in annual sales. The unique taste and bottle shape are loved by consumers of all ages, it said. All Binggrae's flavored milk products are sold in plastic bottles which resemble traditional Korean jars. The company has more than an 80 percent share of the banana milk market and sells an average of 800,000 bottles per day. The banana-flavored milk is sol

Nov 25, 2019By Kwak Yeon-soo
Binggrae unveils pumpkin sweet potato-flavored milk
Tech & Science

Korea, ASEAN to expand business ties for mutual prosperity

President Moon Jae-in speaks during Korea-ASEAN CEO Summit held at the BEXCO convention center in Busan, Monday. /YonhapBy Kwak Yeon-sooPresident Moon Jae-in called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to expand business ties with Korea, Monday, stressing that Asia's fourth-largest economy will increase its investment in the region and extend more aid.Speaking at the CEO Summit, part of Korea-ASEAN Commemorative Summit, Moon stressed that the two should work together to promote broader cooperation as they share a common destiny.“I'd like to propose three cooperation frameworks that can take our partnership to the next level,” Moon said during his keynote speech at the CEO Summit. “They are people-centered inclusive cooperation, mutual prosperity and innovative growth, and strengthened connectivity”Under the theme “Cooperation and Tasks for Win-Win Prosperity of Korea and ASEAN,” the CEO Summit provided an opportunity for heads of state and business leaders to exchange ideas on economic cooperation.Seven hundred businesspeople and g

Nov 25, 2019By Kwak Yeon-soo
Korea, ASEAN to expand business ties for mutual prosperity
Economy

ASEAN becomes No. 2 trading partner for S. Korea

Korea-ASEAN trade jumps twentyfold in 30 years of partnershipBy Kwak Yeon-sooASEAN has become the nation's second-largest trading partner, with trade between Korea and the Southeast Asian bloc jumping twentyfold this year from 1989.Experts said Korea should adopt a two-pronged strategy to strengthen its foothold in the region by pursuing an ASEAN-wide approach and developing strategies tailored to each country at the same time, as ASEAN member states are all different in economics, politics and culture.According to data from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), Sunday, in the first 10 months of this year, the country's exports to ASEAN reached $80 billion.Korea's imports from the Southeast Asian countries reached $47.4 billion during the January-October period, indicating that Korea enjoyed a trade surplus of $32.6 billion.The latest figures, which were released ahead of the Korea-ASEAN commemorative summit to be held from today through Wednesday, are significant as Korea's exports to ASEAN member nations stood around $3.9 b

Nov 24, 2019By Kwak Yeon-soo
ASEAN becomes No. 2 trading partner for S. Korea
  • Moon, ASEAN leaders discuss peace, co-prosperity
Companies

SK chief urges world to use AI to create social value

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won delivers an opening speech during the Nanjing Forum 2019 held in Nanjing, the capital of China's eastern Jiangsu Province, Saturday. / Courtesy of SK GroupBy Kwak Yeon-sooSK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won has called on the global community to ramp up efforts to create social value by utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies, the company said Sunday.Under the topic “Open the AI, Open the Future,” Nanjing Forum 2019 was attended by international corporate leaders, scholars and political figures.During his opening speech, Chey said society needs to come up with a system to measure the social value created by emerging technologies.“Emerging technologies such as AI and machine learning are raising new concerns,” he said. “To make sure such technologies best support humanity, we need a new system to measure their social value.”At the forum, Chey introduced cases in which SK Group applied AI and big data in the fields of semiconductors, electric vehicle (EV) batteries and advanced materials to crea

Nov 24, 2019By Kwak Yeon-soo
SK chief urges world to use AI to create social value
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