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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

Korean Air to reclaim ownership of in-flight catering, duty-free operations

Korean Air will buy back the remaining 80 percent stake in Korean Air C&D Service from Hahn & Company, in a strategic move to restore the airline’s full ownership of its in-flight catering and duty-free retail operations, the nation's flag carrier said Thursday. The transaction valued at 750 billion ($506 million) was approved by Korean Air’s board of directors on the same day. After the agreement is finalized, Korean Air C&D Service will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of the airline. In 2020, Korean Air divested the 80 percent stake in its in-flight catering and duty-free business to the private equity firm to secure liquidity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Korean Air aims to guarantee a stable supply of in-flight meals and strengthen overall service competitiveness by bringing the essential services back ahead of its upcoming integration with Asiana Airlines, the airline said.

Mar 12, 2026By Lee Min-hyung
Korean Air to reclaim ownership of in-flight catering, duty-free operations

Juno Hair to open flagship salon in Ho Chi Minh City

Juno Hair, Korea’s leading premium hair salon brand, will open a flagship location Saturday in Ho Chi Minh City, marking the brand’s expansion into Southeast Asia’s premium hair market. The new salon is the company’s eighth overseas location and a key step in its Asian expansion strategy. The Ho Chi Minh City location spans five levels, covering approximately 660 square meters, making it one of Juno Hair’s largest international outlets. The salon features 16 styling stations and integrates hair, makeup and head spa services in one premium space. The salon combines Korea’s latest hair trends with an authentic Korean Head Spa program. Guests can enjoy multistep scalp care, deep cleansing, therapeutic massages and advanced hair styling and coloring services inspired by Korea’s trend-setting salon culture. A hybrid team of 10 Korean and five Vietnamese designers will operate the salon. By blending the expertise of stylists from both countries, Juno Hair aims to meet rising local demand for premium hair and spa services, driven by Vietnam’s growing wellness culture and popula

Mar 12, 2026By Ko Dong-hwan
Juno Hair to open flagship salon in Ho Chi Minh City

Nongshim, Samyang to cut ramyeon prices in line with gov't cost stabilization efforts

Korean ramyeon makers said Thursday they will lower prices of their instant noodle products next month in line with the government's efforts to stabilize rising consumer prices. The country's four major ramyeon companies — Nongshim, Samyang Foods, Otoki and Paldo —said the decision aims to help ease consumers' living costs. Industry leader Nongshim said it will lower the prices of 12 ramyeon products and four snack items by an average of 7 percent starting April 1. Samyang Foods, known for its globally popular Buldak spicy ramyeon, plans to cut the prices of two Samyang ramyeon products and its cup noodles by 14.6 percent. Samyang's Buldak Bokkeum Myeon — often marketed internationally as fire chicken instant noodles — will not be subject to the planned price cuts. Otoki, formerly known as Ottogi, plans to lower the prices of eight ramyeon products by 6.3 percent. Paldo plans to cut the prices of 19 ramyeon products by 4.8 percent. Meanwhile, companies including CJ Cheiljedang, Sajo Daelim, Otoki and Lotte Wellfood said they will lower cooking oil prices for the same reason.

Mar 12, 2026By Yonhap
Nongshim, Samyang to cut ramyeon prices in line with gov't cost stabilization efforts

Hyundai Motor, Chinese firm sign MOU on battery recycling in Indonesia

Hyundai Motor Group said Thursday it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a Chinese company to cooperate in the battery recycling business in Indonesia. Under the agreement, the Korean automaker will send production scraps generated at its battery cell plant in Indonesia — a joint venture with LG Energy Solution — to Zhejiang Huayou Recycling Technology, an affiliate of China's Huayou Cobalt, where they will be processed into black mass, the company said in a press release. Used batteries and scrap can be processed into black mass, which can then be refined to extract core battery materials, such as lithium, cobalt and nickel, for reuse in battery manufacturing. The companies will also collaborate on recycling used electric vehicle (EV) batteries, as recycled materials play an increasingly important role in the EV battery supply chain, it said. "The agreement marks an initial step toward establishing a circular battery economy that spans the entire battery life cycle. We will continue efforts to build a sustainable battery supply chain," a Hyundai official said.

Mar 12, 2026By Yonhap
Hyundai Motor, Chinese firm sign MOU on battery recycling in Indonesia

Netmarble’s new titles gain traction across key markets

New titles released by Netmarble earlier this year are gaining traction, posting strong results in their key target markets. Vampir, which recently launched in Taiwan, quickly rose to the top of local app market revenue rankings. Another title released earlier, StoneAge: Idle Adventure, has maintained strong momentum, securing a top three position on both major mobile app stores in Korea. Released Aug. 26 last year, Vampir is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by key creators behind Lineage 2: Revolution, which was widely credited with raising the bar for Korean mobile games. The title has received favorable reviews for its distinctive vampire-themed dark fantasy setting based on a medieval world. It topped the revenue charts on Korea’s two major app markets and expanded its reach to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau on March 11. Even before its official launch, Vampir had already signaled strong demand. In Taiwan, the first round of character name reservations sold out within five minutes of opening, while the second round closed in just 15 minutes. With predownloads

Mar 12, 2026By Nam Hyun-woo
Netmarble’s new titles gain traction across key markets

Korea downplays US Section 301 investigations

Seoul's top trade negotiators dismissed concerns Thursday about potential fallout from the Office of the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) decision to launch investigations into Korea and 15 other economies under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The law allows the U.S. to impose unlimited tariffs in retaliation against foreign practices it considers unfair and harmful to American commerce. Describing Washington’s latest measure as a forewarned follow-up action after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down “reciprocal” tariffs based on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the government said tariffs on Korean goods would return to 15 percent — the level agreed upon last November — once the investigations conclude. Currently a 10 percent global tariff is applied to Korean products through a new imposition following the court ruling. “The USTR has repeatedly explained the U.S. government’s plan to leverage Section 301 to restore tariff rates to the levels agreed upon before the Supreme Court’s ruling,” Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo told report

Mar 12, 2026By Park Jae-hyuk
Korea downplays US Section 301 investigations

Hyosung wins $96 mil. ESS deal in Australia

Hyosung Heavy Industries has secured a 142.5 billion won ($96.32 million) energy storage system (ESS) engineering, procurement and construction contract with Australia’s Tangkam BESS, marking its first ESS supply deal in the country, the company said Thursday. Under the deal clinched Tuesday, Hyosung will build a 100-megawatt and 200-megawatt-hour battery-based ESS in the Tangkam area of Queensland, with commercial operations targeted for late 2027. The project comes as Australia accelerates efforts to stabilize its power grid while increasing the share of renewable energy. The Australian government aims to raise renewables to 82 percent of the national power mix by 2030, but intermittent power generation from solar and wind requires additional infrastructure to maintain grid stability. Hyosung said the ESS will store surplus electricity generated from renewable sources and release it when needed, while also helping maintain grid quality through real-time frequency control. For the latest project, the company will deploy an integrated system powered by its battery management software,

Mar 12, 2026By Lee Min-hyung
Hyosung wins $96 mil. ESS deal in Australia

HiteJinro opens flagship soju bar in Melbourne to expand Australian market

Major liquor company HiteJinro is expanding the market for soju, a popular Korean alcoholic drink, in Australia with a new flagship bar in Melbourne to help introduce Korea’s drinking culture. The company said Thursday it opened Jinro Pocha Melbourne on Feb. 27 to serve as a strategic hub for expanding the country's soju market. Jinro is one of the company’s signature brands. "Pocha" is a shortened version of the Korean word "pojangmacha," a kind of street stall selling food and alcoholic drinks that became widely popular in Korea in the 1970s. The Jinro brand also rose to prominence during the same era. Jinro Pocha Melbourne features a modern interior inspired by Korea’s pojangmacha culture. The venue features decor highlighting Jinro’s brand identity, including figurines of the brand’s toad mascot and limited-edition HiteJinro merchandise. The bar offers Jinro soju and the company’s signature Terra beer, along with highballs and cocktails made with Jinro products. The menu also features Korean dishes commonly enjoyed with alcohol, such as Korean-style beef tartare, buckwheat

Mar 12, 2026By Ko Dong-hwan
HiteJinro opens flagship soju bar in Melbourne to expand Australian market

HS Hyosung Advanced Materials provides carbon fiber prosthetic for para-cyclist

HS Hyosung Advanced Materials said Wednesday it has provided a carbon fiber prosthetic leg to Park Chan-jong of Korea’s national para cycling team. HS Hyosung Vice Chairman Cho Hyun-sang personally delivered the prosthetic leg to Park Tuesday. Park’s motto — “My leg has no limits” — reflects the company’s philosophy of creating value by challenging the impossible, Cho said. He added that the company’s carbon fiber technology will support Park’s challenge and help him bring honor to Korea on the international stage. HS Hyosung Advanced Materials will continue to pursue value-driven management that contributes to the health and prosperity of society, Cho added. Park is a Korean para-cyclist who lost his left leg in a traffic accident in 2022. He earned a spot on the national team just three years later, demonstrating remarkable resilience and determination. He is currently training with the goal of winning a gold medal at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games. The metal prosthetic leg Park previously used often caused significant physical strain during long-distance cyclin

Mar 12, 2026By Nam Hyun-woo
HS Hyosung Advanced Materials provides carbon fiber prosthetic for para-cyclist

Antitrust regulator fines pork processors $2.13 mil. for price-fixing

The antitrust regulator said Thursday it has imposed a combined fine of 3.15 billion won ($2.13 million) on nine pork processors for price-fixing. The companies colluded on bid and quotation prices while supplying pork products to the country's major discount retailer E-Mart, according to the Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC). Along with the fines, the FTC issued corrective orders and referred six of the companies for further investigation by prosecutors, the watchdog said. The decision comes as the government intensifies efforts to crack down on collusion and unfair practices in essential food markets amid rising prices. President Lee Jae Myung has called for tougher penalties against secret agreements among industry rivals that distort commodity prices.

Mar 12, 2026By Yonhap
Antitrust regulator fines pork processors $2.13 mil. for price-fixing
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