(Photo=Song Mi-ryung facebook) A growing backlash against Starbucks in South Korea over a promotion tied to one of the country’s most politically sensitive historical anniversaries is evolving beyond a consumer controversy, with South Korean officials now signaling that the dispute could become an opportunity to increase interest in beverages made from domestic agricultural products. The controversy erupted after Starbucks Korea

(Photo=Homeplus) Homeplus, South Korea’s second-largest hypermarket chain and one of the country’s most recognizable retail brands, is scrambling to sell nearly all of its remaining business operations as mounting cash shortages push the company closer to collapse, exposing the growing strain inside a retail sector being rapidly reshaped by e-commerce disruption and changing consumer habits. The retailer, controlled by private

(Photo=Hyundai Motor Group) When Hyundai Motor Group released a video showing its humanoid robot Atlas learning soccer movements and kicking a ball like a penalty shooter, the clip initially appeared to be another viral robotics showcase designed for social media attention. But the company’s ambitions appear far larger than entertainment. Hyundai is increasingly using robotics to reposition itself in the

Photo=Shinsegae Group Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin issued a formal, personal apology on May 26, 2026, following intense public backlash over a controversial promotional campaign by Starbucks Korea that critics criticized as deeply insensitive to historical national tragedies. During a press conference at the Josun Palace hotel in Seoul, Mr. Chung expressed heavy regret, stating he deeply accepts the pain

Photo=Bear Robotics South Korea-based Bear Robotics, a subsidiary of LG Electronics, is accelerating its global expansion in service robotics with a newly unveiled compact robot designed for densely packed restaurant environments, aiming to remove one of the final physical barriers to automation in small and mid-sized hospitality venues. The company unveiled its “Servi Q” model at the National Restaurant Association