S. Korea, Laos vow to combat deforestation together

South Korea's forest agency announced Thursday that it has established a cooperative organization with Laos to enhance joint efforts in combating deforestation and promoting sustainable forest management. The organization, the REDD+ Cooperation Center, focuses on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. It is based on the REDD+ Act, a framework adopted in February under the UN for implementing, monitoring and managing programs aimed at conserving forests and reducing ca

Oct. 10, 2024

Lotte chief vows sustainable cacao sourcing in Ghana

Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin, alongside executives from the group's Korean and Japanese subsidiaries, visited Ghana to support the sustainable sourcing of cacao, a key ingredient in their signature chocolate product. As part of the Sustainable Cocoa Bean Project, a joint initiative by Lotte's Korean and Japanese branches, the visit included Lee Young-gu, head of Lotte's food division; Lee Chang-yeop, CEO of Lotte Wellfood; and Genichi Tamatsuka, CEO of Lotte Holdings. Lotte

Oct. 10, 2024

AliExpress Korea chief questioned on product safety at Assembly audit

AliExpress Korea CEO Ray Zhang expressed the company’s commitment to enhancing product safety during a parliamentary audit, where he faced criticism from South Korean lawmakers for the platform’s failure to stop the sale of hazardous products despite previous pledges to do so. The audit, led by the Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee on Monday, was convened to address growing concerns about unsafe products circulating on Chinese e-commerce platforms. These platforms,

Oct. 8, 2024

Interactive booths highlight wellness, pet care

A diverse range of institutions -- from medical experts and ESG-focused companies to art students and pet care providers -- engaged visitors through interactive booths at Wellness Seoul 2024, offering a blend of health, creativity and eco-friendly initiatives aimed at inspiring a higher quality of life for all. Among the most popular booths was that of the Seoul Korean Medicine Association, a community of Korean medicine doctors based in Seoul. The doctors provided on-site consultations and offe

Oct. 7, 2024

Musical artists dazzle at Wellness Seoul 2024’s grand finale

Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Banpo Bridge’s fountains cascading over the Han River, Wellness Seoul 2024 concluded on Sunday evening with performances by an orchestra, popera singers and a guitarist -- all delivering a message of embracing a quality, healthy life through the appreciation of music in everyday life. The highlight of the evening event -- the namesake Wellness Seoul Concert -- was British popera singer Paul Potts, who performed pieces including “Impossible Dr

Oct. 7, 2024

Korea, EU to hold joint study to combat climate-led food crisis

South Korea's forest agency said Thursday that a research project submitted by its affiliate, the Korea Arboreta and Gardens Institute, aimed at addressing the climate-driven food crisis through crop wild relatives, has been selected for a part of an R&D program promoting cooperation with the European Union. Crop wild relatives, also known as CWRs, are recognized for their ability to adapt to extreme environments and their high genetic diversity, making them crucial for improving future

Oct. 3, 2024

Lotte ups outreach for children and women

Lotte Corp., the South Korean holding company of Lotte Group, is strengthening its corporate social responsibility campaigns, placing particular focus on children, women and military personnel. Since 2017, the company has been supporting local community centers dedicated to after-school care for children, creating garret-style shelters equipped with cultural and interactive materials, it said. To date, Lotte Corp. has supported 87 centers nationwide, with plans to expand to areas including Daegu

Oct. 3, 2024

Coupang’s one-day luxury delivery service rebrands as R.LUX

South Korean e-commerce giant Coupang said Wednesday that it has rebranded its one-day delivery service for premium beauty products as R.LUX, introducing a dedicated app to enhance user experience. Initially launched as Rocket Luxury in July 2023 as part of Coupang’s strategy to expand into the premium beauty market, the service was rebranded as R.LUX to elevate the shopping experience and create a stronger, more distinctive identity, the company said. The platform offers improved featur

Oct. 2, 2024

Food tycoon Paik Jong-won's Theborn Korea pushes toward IPO

Celebrity entrepreneur and chef Paik Jong-won’s yearslong effort to list his food franchise firm Theborn Korea on the country’s main bourse has cleared its first hurdle, yet challenges remain as the fate of the company heavily depends on his fame. Supported by a strong brand lineup and the rising public profile of its CEO Paik, Theborn Korea passed the preliminary review by the Korea Exchange for its initial public offering on Aug. 30, about three months after submitting its applicat

Oct. 2, 2024

[Herald Interview] Sleep tech startup Munice seeks bigger footing in US

In a world where sleep disorders reportedly affect millions, South Korean startup Munice is offering a unique and science-based solution. Their app, Nightly, specializes in using a specific type of rhythmic sound frequency, called monaural beats, designed to promote relaxation and deep sleep. According to CEO Kwon Seo-hyun, 26, Nightly helps users fall asleep faster and experience deeper rest through brainwave entrainment. The app encourages electrical oscillations of the brain to synchronize wi

Oct. 1, 2024