Vita Coco to start selling in Korea Vita Coco, also called “Madonna’s drink” is now available in Korea.The company behind the best-selling coconut water in the United States is also gearing up to make inroads into other Asian markets, said an industry watcher Monday.Vita Coco made headlines when a group of high profile celebrities including Madonna, Demi Moore and major-leaguer Alex Rodriguez invested in the firm. Also it hired pop star Rihanna as a model for its advertizing campaign. Although the name isn’t familiar to Korean customers, it has been taking the sport and ion supply drink markets by storm as the next-generation natural sports drink.“It is all-natural, 100 percent coconut water. It is great to quench your thirst and recover from fatigue after workouts,” said the Korean manager of the local branch. Vita Coco will be available at Shinsegae Department Stores, SSG Food Markets and Star Super, with many more outlets expected to stock it in the coming months.Apr 22, 2013By Park Jin-hai
2PM feel greatly moved by Japanese fans The K-pop group 2PM perform during the “LEGEND of 2PM” concert at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday. / YonhapBy Park Jin-haiThe six-member K-pop boy band 2PM shed tears following their final performance Sunday in front of 55,000 Japanese fans at the Tokyo Dome.During the second of two concerts titled “Legend of 2PM,” they sang 33 songs including hits “Breakthrough” and “Give Me Love” before their cheering supporters.On the final day all members seemed unable to contain their emotions ― the teary-eyed Taec-yeon thanked fellow band members who have overcome difficulties as well as supportive fans for always being there for them.Nichkhun, who was involved in a drunk-driving incident, also gave his thanks holding back tears. “There was a hard time (for our group) because of me. But I would like to thank fans who trusted me. I am deeply sorry for what I caused to other members, the agency and most of all our fans,” he said.Jun-ho, Yoo-young, Chan-sung and Jun. K all expressed what it meant to perform for their fans in JapanApr 22, 2013By Park Jin-hai
Korean literature presence grows in Japan From left, Shin Kyung-rim’s “Riding a Camel,” Ku Hyo-seo’s “Nagasaki Papa,” Kim Jung-hyuk’s “The Library of Instruments,” Han Kang’s “The Vegetarian” and Park Seong-won’s “What Makes Up a City” have been translated into Japanse by Cuon, a Japan-based publisher. Kim Seung-bok, head of Cuon, publisher and content agency based in Japan, holds theJapanese version of “The Vegetarian” by Korean author Han Kang. / Courtesy of CuonBy Chung Ah-youngJapanese literary works by world-renowned authors such as Murakami Haruki and Ekuni Kaori have a solid fan base in Korea. Korean literary works that struggled with a peripheral presence in Japan just a few years ago are now being rediscovered there. Korean contemporary works with universal themes, such as Gong Ji-young’s “The Crucible,” Shin Kyung-sook’s “Please Look After Mom,” HApr 22, 2013
Jang Geun-suk holds first overnight fan meeting with Japanese fans Jang Geun-sukBy Park Jin-haiJang Geun-suk met with 1,500 Japanese fans in an overnight meeting held Sunday at High 1 Resort in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province. The fans flew in a day earlier for the one-night, two-day meeting with the “Prince of Asia.” Jang, 25, an actor and performer, is in Japan where he recently opened a café for fans in Tokyo. He has starred in popular “hallyu” or Korean wave dramas including “You’re Beautiful.”The event was organized to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Lotte Duty Free’s Korean wave marketing. According to the itinerary, fans had shopping on the first day of their arrival on Saturday and checked in the resort the following day, where they took photos and dined with Jang.Other events included Jang’s mini-concert and a quiz show.“The event is surely a success, given that the Japanese tourists decreased in number in recent years due to the depreciation of Yen and rising security threat from North Korea,” said a manager of the Duty Free Shop. Lotte Duty Free Shop hasApr 21, 2013By Park Jin-hai
Orion eyes big sales in China, Russia Chinese customers look at Orion’s “Choco Pie” at a supermarket in Beijing in this file photo. The confectionary company is expected to rake in more than 1.2 trillion won in sales in China this year. It’s also trying to ramp up sales in Russia and Southeast Asian countries.By Park Si-sooThis is the fourth in a series of articles on Korean food companies and restaurants seeking to expand overseas ㅡ ED.Tam Chul-kon, CEO of OrionLast year was something special for confectionary maker Orion.The company surprised investors in January by making itself the first Korean food company to hit 1 trillion won ($894 million) in sales in China last year. The news shot the firm’s stock price up over 1 million won in October, a milestone event that had previously only been achieved by corporate giants such as Samsung Electronics.The company, known for its long-running hit chocolate cake “Choco Pie,” is now looking for double-digit growth in the world’s most populous nation this year. It’s also trying to ramp up sales in Russia, and VietnaApr 21, 2013
B.A.P to embark on 'Live on Earth' tour Jong-up, Young-jae, Him-chan, Bang Yong-guk, Dae-hyun and Zelo pose in this promotional photo. The group will perform in four cities in North America and two in Japan. / Courtesy of TS Entertainment By Kim Ji-sooBang Yong-guk, 23-year-old leader of the fast-rising K-pop group B.A.P, is seeking to conquer the world with music.Barely a year after debuting in Korea, the six-member boy group will soon embark on a four-city North American tour with two dates in Japan as well. B.A.P, standing for “best, absolute, perfect,” brings together Bang, 23; Him-chan, 23; Dae-hyun, 20; Young-jae, 20; Jong-up, 19; and Zelo, 16. Bang the leader and Zelo the youngest rap; and Dae-hyun, Young-jae and Him-chan sing while Jong-up concentrates on dance.“We’re feeling the pressure, yes, but we are working hard and preparing for the concerts. I think fans can expect good performances,” said Bang, in an e-mail interview with The Korea Times.“I was surprApr 19, 2013
Brief Line Officials from the organizing committee for the 2013 Osong Cosmetics and Beauty Expo and faculty members of CheongJu Foreign Language High School pose after signing a memorandum of understanding Thursday for the school’s students to volunteer for the expo.Students help Osong fair High school students will work as volunteer interpreters at the 2013 Osong Cosmetics & Beauty Expo, slated for May 3-26, in North Chungcheong Province.The organizing committee for the Osong fair announced on Thursday it sealed an agreement with CheongJu Foreign Language High School to enlist the services of 93 students as volunteer interpreters.The students will be dispatched in and around the venue during the international fair and provide language services for 10 days.“We have been encouraged by the participation of those students. Their interpretation service will help visiting foreigners and facilitate the Expo, while students themselves will have opportunities to nurture their global-minded talents,” said Ko Se-ung, secretary general of the fair. Apr 19, 2013By Park Jin-hai
Grueling office life being satirized By Baek Byung-yeul A poster for KBS drama “The Queen of Office” Courtesy of KBSIt is strange that the country never really had its version of ``The Office,’’ the British-inspired American sitcom that was a hilarious satire on the modern workplace. After all, weren’t Koreans the most depressed and overworked corporate citizens on the planet?But it now appears that the anonymous workers behind the cubicles have finally acquired a voice through pop culture.The new KBS television drama, ``The Queen of Office,’’ based on the Japanese comic book ``Haken no Hinkaku’’ and revolving around the story of a non-regular employee working her way up in the supermarket kingdom, is the most successful show of the year so far. The broadcaster is reporting viewer ratings of around 15 percent, a better audience record than any other drama in the same timeslot.Meanwhile, the Internet cartoon ``Misaeng,’’ also about precarious workers but this time set in a cut-throat trading company, has become immensely popular to the point where a fApr 19, 2013
Japanese restaurants flourish here Sushi restaurants from Japanese franchises appeal to customers withauthentic flavor and reasonable prices. / Korea Times fileDomestic companies prevented from expansion for ‘democratization of economy’ By Park Si-sooJapanese bento providers, including Hottomotto, are gaining popularity among young office workers.Several curry and omelet restaurants, including Coco Ichibanya, have increased their presence in Seoul and the surrounding areas.Japanese franchise restaurants are making headway toward Korea as their competitors here wage an uphill battle to stop their expansion.The government is moving to thwart the rapid growth of major indigenous restaurant brands. Foreign restaurants are exempt from the restriction, prompting concerns that the move, initiated to help small owner-operator restaurants flourish, will end up making the country a “heaven” for offshore chains.Heightening the fear, the National Commission forApr 18, 2013
Psy's 'Gentleman' ranks 12th on Billboard K-Pop star Psy's new single, "Gentleman," ranked 12th in the Billboard Hot 100 chart updated Wednesday, according to its official magazine.It is the second time that Psy has entered the main chart of Billboard, following "Gangnam Style," which swept the global pop music industry last year.The new song "launches at No. 1 on Streaming Songs with 8.6 million streams registered in the U.S. in just shy of two days since its posting on Saturday," the Billboard Biz said.The rise of both songs was apparently driven by huge popularity on YouTube.The new one, released just five days ago, has already recorded more than 125 million hits.Psy plans to arrive in the U.S. this weekend to promote "Gentleman," a visit that is expected to help spur its popularity."Style" entered the Billboard ranking at 64th and galloped to second. But it failed to reach the top.It became the first video ever to reach 1 billion views. It now stands at 1.5 billion. Apr 18, 2013
