95.5 Percent of Containers on Hanjin Vessels Havebeen Unloaded ... Shipping Fiasco Almost Comes to an End after Two Months[Korean, OSY]

http://news.donga.com/3/all/20161108/81234594/1

Summary:Korean government reported in a press interview on November 8 that the fiascocaused by default of Hanjin Shipping Co. has almost come to an end as 95.5percent of the 396,000 TEU containers held on Hanjin vessels was unloaded (or94 of the 97 vessels operated by the company completed unloading, 52 in foreignports and 42 in local ports).  Korean government added that it wouldcontinue to provide support to have the remaining 35,000 TEU containers stillon Hanjin vessels unloaded as early as possible.  Hanjin Shipping, thenumber one shipper in Korea, which was put under court receivership inSeptember 2016 due to heavy debts, is currently undergoing a liquidationprocess. 

Michelin Guide Publishes Its First Seoul Edition[Korean, OSY]

http://news.donga.com/3/all/20161108/81215083/1

Summary:Michelin Guide announced that its first guide for Seoul was published onNovember 7, 2016.  The Seoul guide designated two '3 star' restaurants,three '2 star' restaurants, and nineteen '1 star' restaurants in thecity.  Both '3 star' restaurants (Gaon and Layeon) were traditional Koreancuisine restaurant.

Local Farmed Salmon to Appear in Retail Stores forthe First Time [Korean, OSY]

http://news.donga.com/3/all/20161107/81214451/1

KoreaMinistry of Marine & Fishery (MMF) reported that the first local salmonaquaculture farm in Korea, located in Gosung, Gangwon province, was scheduledto start to distribute 500 metric tons of the fish to the retail market onNovember 8.  MMF added that Korea was the first country in Asia thatstarted commercial production of farmed salmon.  Hakbae Yoon, viceminister of MMF commented that the local farmed salmon would be offered at 10percent lower price than imported farmed salmon in retail stores. Consumption of salmon in Korea has shown a sharp increase in recent years from12,000 metric tons in 2010 to 34,000 metric tons in 2015.  All the salmonhas been imported from foreign countries, including Norway so far.

E Mart Reports Record High Cash-register Sales inThird Quarter 2016 ... 'Traders' Warehouse Discount Stores and 'On-line E MartMall' Lead the Sales Growth [Korean, OSY]

http://news.donga.com/3/all/20161107/81214451/1

Summary:E Mart, the leading retail company in Korea reported that it generated a recordhigh, 4 trillion 34 billion won of cash-register sales and 216 billion won ofoperating profit in the third quarter 2017.  The sales and profit were 9.5percent and 10.9 percent higher than the third quarter 2015.  According toE Mart, 'Traders' warehouse discount stores and 'On-line E Mart Mall' businessled the growth.  'Traders' stores (10 stores) generated 327 billion won ofsales, up 17 percent from the third quarter 2015.  'On-line E Mart Mall'generated 212 billion won of sales, up 27 percent.  On the other hand, thesales of conventional E Mart stores (hypermarket) saw 1.4 percent growth only.

Sales of Distilled Spirits in Retail Stores Up 13%during the First Month under Anti-Corruption Act [Korean, OSY]

http://news.donga.com/3/all/20161106/81195918/1

Summary:According to E Mart, the leading hypermarket retail store chain in Korea, salesof distilled spirits during the first month (October) since the implementationof Kim-Young-Lan Act (anti-corruption act that prohibits public serviceemployees from taking free meals or gifts over 30,000 won and 50,000 wonrespectively) on September 28 increased 13 percent.  Overall sales ofalcohol beverages also increased 10 percent.  Total number of customerswho purchased alcohol beverages amounted to 2.7 million during the month, up200,000 from the same month in the previous year.  Lotte Mart, anotherleading hypermarket store chain also reported 7 percent increase in distilledspirits sales during the month.  Marketers agree that restricted sales ofalcohol beverages in foodservice sector (bars and restaurants) under the acthas generated additional sales of alcohol beverages in retail stores for homeconsumption.

On-line Based, Home-delivery "Cooking Box"Business Arises in Korea [Korean, OSY]

http://news.donga.com/3/all/20161103/81141368/1

Summary:Rapid expansion of people living alone as well as ladies in economic activityis generating new business opportunity for on-line based, home delivery recipeservice companies.  These companies offer trendy recipe ideas coupled withhome-delivery packages that contain full ingredients needed to cook the recipeat home.  Outstanding players in the business include www.prepbox.co.kr, www.tasteshop.co.kr and www.magictable.co.kr.

CJ Foodville Opens Its 300th Store in Foreign Market... Targets to Have 4,000 Stores in 15 Foreign Countries by 2020 [Korean, OSY]

http://news.heraldcorp.com/view.php?ud=20161102000081

Summary:CJ Foodville, a leading foodservice company in Korea reported that its 300thstore in foreign market opened in Beijing, China on November 2.  The storeis a consolidated outlet for three different foodservice businesses under CJFoodville, Tour les Jours (bakery store), Twosome Plus (cafe) and Bibigo (fullservice Korean restaurant).  CJ Foodville currently operate stores in 10different countries, including China, USA, Vietnam and Indonesia.  CJFooville added that it is committed to expand its foreign market business andtargets to operate 4,000 stores in 15 different foreign countries by 2020.

American Beef Recovers #1 Imported Beef Market Sharein Korea for the First Time Since BSE Outbreak in 2003

http://news.donga.com/3/all/20161031/81099305/1

Summary:According to USMEF, the U.S. has recovered the leading share in the importedbeef market in Korea as of October this year.  Korea's imports of beefmeat (frozen and chilled) from the U.S. amounted to 10,551 metric tons up toOctober 20, which was 2,169 metric tons larger than the import volume fromAustralia.  American beef has lost the leading market share in Korea toAustralia since the outbreak of BSE in 2003.  However, continued priceincrease of Australian beef has promoted increased demand for American beef inKorea.  Retail buyers also commented that Korean consumers' taste favorsAmerican beef over Australian beef.