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Reporting and analysis from Breeze in Busan
Desk Focus
This desk tracks companies, industry, corporate strategy, and regulation, with an emphasis on how business developments reshape Busan and Korea.
In South Korea, the sharp rise in food prices is putting a strain on both consumers and small businesses. As inflation persists, many workers are opting for in-house dining, while small eateries struggle with rising ingredient costs, energy prices, and labor shortages.
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What happens when every taste is a brand, every menu is a manual, and every chef follows someone else’s recipe?
Franchise bakeries have flourished in Korea. But at what cost? Local flavors, food identity, and cultural diversity are disappearing.
Aesthetic care is thriving — but at what price to the country’s healthcare system? Inside the contradiction between cosmetic excellence and essential care collapse.
Once seen as a lifeline for small businesses, publicly funded food delivery apps are shutting down across South Korea. Poor design, weak infrastructure, and lack of sustained strategy reveal a deeper problem: local governments are still treating digital services as short-term campaigns.
South Korea’s knowledge industry centers were meant to support startups and SMEs, but oversupply and speculative investment have left thousands of office spaces vacant, driving investors into financial distress.
Self-employment in South Korea has reached a historic low, with the number of small business owners falling below 5.5 million. As debt surges and revenue drops, the future of independent businesses looks uncertain.
The decline of Homeplus marks a turning point for South Korea’s retail industry. E-commerce, debt, and shifting consumer habits have reshaped the market—can Homeplus adapt?
South Korea’s new towns, once envisioned as thriving urban hubs, are now facing a crisis of rising commercial vacancies. Empty storefronts and struggling businesses reflect a deeper flaw in urban planning—overestimated commercial demand, rigid zoning laws, and shifting consumer habits.
South Korea’s restaurant industry faces an unprecedented crisis as closures hit record highs, outpacing new openings for the first time in 16 years.
On June 13, 2024, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) imposed a historic fine of 140 billion won on Coupang for its unfair business practices, including manipulating search algorithms to unfairly prioritize its private label (PB) products. This decision has significant implications for fair competition and local businesses. Coupang, one of South Korea’s largest e-commerce platforms, has been at the center of controversy for manipulating search algorithms to favor its private label products o
South Korea's recent introduction of the digital nomad visa, effective from January 1, 2024, marks a shift in its approach to remote work and tourism. However, the visa's stringent income requirements and other criteria have sparked debate about its actual effectiveness and appeal. High Income Threshold: A Barrier to Broader Appeal A pivotal aspect of the digital nomad visa is its high income requirement, set at twice the national GNI per capita, translating to an annual income of about 84.96