• East Asia

    Bakery war deepening

    New rules to be unveiled against franchise expansion Tension is rising among the country’s bakery franchises because the government is expected to announce new regulations preventing further domestic expansion of their businesses. The Commission for Shared Growth for Large and Small Companies will publish the rules today despite strong opposition…

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  • East Asia

    Chinese firms target fashion brands

    A growing number of Chinese companies are expanding investment in Korean fashion brands to learn their marketing and design and to eventually develop a high-quality homegrown brand in China. Over the past few months, some cash-rich Chinese firms have taken over leading Korean brands, while others have established funds to…

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  • East Asia

    Bullish Market Returns In Tokyo Stock Market Due To Expectation From New Leader

    People walk by an electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo, Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012. Asian markets have risen amid optimism that Japan’s new leaders will stimulate its sluggish economy. A man walks by an electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo, Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012.…

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  • East Asia

    Santa Claus from Finland in town

    If you were one of those who decided to believe Santa Claus didn’t exist after one Christmas Eve when you saw your parents put gifts under the Christmas tree, here is somebody who can restore your childlike innocence. A white-bearded old man from Finland, wearing a symbolic red coat is…

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  • Imports of Japanese sake hit record high

    Korea’s imports of Japanese traditional alcoholic beverage sake jumped to a record high this year amid growing demand for foreign liquors among local consumers, customs data showed Monday. Korea imported a record high of 4.1 million liters of sake during the January-November period, up 70.2 percent from the same period…

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  • East Asia

    Aides to draw Park’s economic policy

    People are now paying keen attention to what direction President-elect Park Geun-hye will steer the Korean economy that has been suffering from sluggish growth due to multiple downside risks both at home and abroad. Policymakers and business leaders are looking to what her economic policies will be. One way to…

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  • East Asia

    What’s best way to ease hangover?

    Year-end binge drinking renews rivalry in ‘cure’ drink market For many Korean company workers, December is a month of binge drinking. They stagger and sway through a variety of year-end parties day after day and in many cases are forced to drink beyond their limits. The year-end binging has drastically…

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  • East Asia

    President-elect’s business network

    Park has links with POSCO, Hanwha, GS With Park Geun-hye elected as the next president, market players are paying attention to how close her relationships are with domestic business leaders. Park has an extensive network within the business world. Companies with ties forged with the President-in-waiting include Korea’s biggest steelmaker…

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  • East Asia

    Markets unlikely to be swayed by election

    With the presidential election over, policymakers and investors are looking to how the results will affect the future course of financial markets, particularly the stock market. Analysts predict the stock market will receive a short-term boost on the elimination of political uncertainty and the anticipation of stimulative economic policies by…

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  • East Asia

    SK Chairman Chey steps down from top post

    SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won has stepped down from the top post of Korea’s third largest conglomerate’s decision-making body to serve as a strategic stakeholder, the group said Tuesday. Kim Chang-geun, vice chairman of SK Chemical, was appointed to chair the group starting January, it said. “Chey, who has served…

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