
팟캐스트 (696) 북촌, 글로벌 관광객 위한 새로운 쇼핑 명소로 부상
진행자: 홍유, Chelsea Proctor
Bukchon emerges as new shopping hot spot in Seoul for global tourists
기사 요약: 북촌이 전통문화와 현대적 쇼핑이 어우러진 공간으로 변모하며, 전 세계 관광객들의 이목을 끄는 서울의 새로운 쇼핑 명소로 부상하고 있다.
[1] Nestled between the historical grandeur of the main palace Gyeongbokgung and the winding alleys of traditional hanok, Bukchon is being transformed from a heritage enclave into one of Seoul's most dynamic shopping destinations, particularly for international travelers.
grandeur: 장엄함, 위풍당당함
enclave: 소속된 지역, 집단
[2] Once known primarily for its well-preserved architecture and cultural significance, Bukchon is now a growing hub for fashion, beauty and fragrance brands. With an influx of flagship stores, limited-edition product launches and experiential spaces, the neighborhood is drawing attention from both domestic trendsetters and foreign visitors.
well-preserved: 잘 보존된
influx: 유입, 밀어닥침
[3] That growth is backed by hard data. According to the city of Seoul's real-time statistics, monthly credit card spending in Bukchon Hanok Village rose from 1.9 billion won ($1.38 million) in January to over 2.57 billion won last month. Projections suggest spending may exceed 3 billion won by the end of this month.
hard data: 객관적이고 구체적인 수치 자료
projection: 예상, 추정
[4] Recognizing its potential, both global and local brands are establishing a presence in the neighborhood. Tamburins, a K-beauty fragrance label known for its minimalist design and immersive retail experience, opened its Bukchon flagship store in 2023.
yoohong@heraldcorp.com

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Korea Herald
Banila Co Launches Covericious Ultimate Cover Cushion on Amazon U.S., Expanding Global Presence
The cushion chosen by Korean consumers is ready to make its global debut! SEOUL, South Korea, June 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As one of K-beauty's most trusted names, Banila Co has officially launched its Covericious Ultimate Cover Cushion on Amazon in the U.S., accelerating its push into global beauty markets. Now available to American consumers, the Covericious Ultimate Cover Cushion builds on the legacy of the 'Covericious Ultimate White Cushion,' which has surpassed 4 million cumulative units in sales [1]. With a strong reputation built across both Korean and international audiences, Banila Co is entering the U.S. market with the aim of further amplifying its brand presence worldwide. Following the global success of its hero product, the Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm —ranked the No. 1 cleansing balm brand worldwide [2] —Banila Co is on track to replicate that momentum with its latest launch. The arrival of the Covericious Ultimate Cover Cushion has generated buzz among beauty consumers eager for high-performance, skincare-infused makeup solutions. The product has also been distinguished for its excellence, ranking first in customer satisfaction —as chosen by Korean consumers—in Korea's base makeup category for two consecutive years at the FIRST BRAND AWARDS 2025 [3], reinforcing Banila Co's reputation for quality and innovation. More than just coverage, the Covericious Ultimate Cover Cushion is formulated with white truffle extract and a proprietary flower complex to help brighten and clarify skin while delivering seamless, buildable coverage. Its weightless texture offers comfortable wear throughout the day—and night—with tested wear of up to 100 hours [4]. The sleek, travel-ready compact makes flawless skin just a tap away, wherever you are. To meet the needs of a truly global customer base, Banila Co has developed a versatile range of 20 inclusive shades tailored to a wide spectrum of skin tones around the world. This internationally developed shade range reflects the brand's collaboration with global color specialists and insights from U.S.-based makeup artists, ensuring a custom-fit match for every complexion—from fair to deep skin tones. "We're excited to bring Banila Co's advanced base makeup technology to the global stage with the launch of the Covericious Ultimate Cover Cushion on Amazon U.S.," said a Banila Co representative. "We remain committed to advancing K-beauty's presence worldwide by delivering high-quality, inclusive, and performance-driven products that resonate with today's beauty consumer."


Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Korea Herald
Kimchi, ginseng and halal beef: Korea's food diplomacy gets foothold in UAE
Through food fairs, Korean culture showcases in UAE, Korea deepens commercial ties across Middle Eastern markets for Korean flavors DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Welcoming a contingent of Korean food makers, an exhibition hall in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, turned into a vibrant showcase of Korea's food industry Tuesday. The 2025 Dubai K-Food Fair, a two-day event held from Tuesday to Wednesday by the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation, or aT, brought together 30 Korean companies and 60 buyers from across the Middle East. Thirty booths lined the venue, each representing a slice of the K-food industry, with a singular purpose: To turn Korea's food culture into tangible export deals in Islamic consumer markets. Much of the focus centered on red ginseng, rice cakes, Korean beef and, perhaps needless to say, kimchi. During the fair, more than 251 tailored one-on-one meetings were conducted, culminating in seven memorandums of understanding valued at over $2 million, according to aT. At Nonghyup Red Ginseng's booth, a director surnamed Nam, fresh from a business meeting with a local buyer, said the buyer had shown keen interest in the product's reputed health benefits and skin-enhancing properties. 'We're equipped to produce halal-certified ginseng," he said. "With the UAE's strategic location, strong consumer spending and rising appreciation for Korean ginseng, it offers an ideal entry point to the broader Middle Eastern market." Roydon Dmello, CEO of Pure Heart General Trading, was among the many buyers at the event. He said that tteokbokki, Korea's spicy rice cake dish, has the most market potential. 'I think tteokbokki has strong growth potential, but if the texture were a bit softer, people would enjoy it more,' he said, adding that he also imports rabokki, a variation that includes ramyeon, which sells very well. Enthusiasm for Korean food among UAE consumers is already showing up in the numbers. As of May, Korea's food exports to the UAE had risen 40.2 percent on-year, totaling $116 million. Joo Won-chul, director general of the Food Industry Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, pledged to adapt to shifting conditions to sustain Korean food's momentum. 'We will respond swiftly to the rapidly changing export landscape and actively address the challenges faced by exporters," he said. Change of scene, palate The event's success encapsulates a sharp shift, according to Shin Dong-chul, founder of 1004 Gourmet, a UAE-based Korean food and beauty retail company that operates five stores and supplies Korean products to more than 600 hotels and restaurants. When the first shop opened in 2008, Korean food was largely unfamiliar to local consumers. 'Back then, around 80 percent of our customers were Korean expatriates. Now, that figure has flipped, 80 percent are non-Korean,' Shin said during an interview with The Korea Herald, attributing the shift to the global rise of Korean culture and, more recently, word-of-mouth among chefs and influencers. Shin is also at the center of a growing campaign to introduce premium Korean cuisine, particularly Hanwoo to one of the world's most discerning halal markets. 'The chefs here always ask, 'Where's the Hanwoo?'" Shin said. 'They know it from visits to Korea. They remember the flavor.' Unlike Japanese Wagyu, prized for its high fat content, Hanwoo offers a more balanced profile with rich aroma, distinct flavor and a savory, firm texture, he added. Hanwoo's popularity was palpable not only at the food fair but also at its first-ever launch showcase in Abu Dhabi, hosted by aT a day earlier to introduce Korea's halal-certified Hanwoo. 'At Hanwoo's first launch event, several attendees expressed interest in importing the beef," an official from the Hapcheon Livestock Cooperative Federation said. "During the fair, one group visited a different Hanwoo booth and signed an MOU.' Korean food fervor in Dubai shows no signs of slowing, with the Dubai branch of Korea 360 — a physical space established through interagency efforts to showcase Korean content from dramas and K-pop to food, fashion and cosmetics — helping sustain the momentum. 'Since opening in April, the Dubai branch has drawn an average of 1,200 visitors on weekends and about 400 on weekdays,' said Park Young-il, director of the UAE Business Center at the Korea Creative Content Agency. Park said the venue, which will run through April next year, is expected to promote Hallyu and support Korea's broader market expansion in the Middle East.


Korea Herald
6 days ago
- Korea Herald
Shinsegae's beauty gambit: Chicor rivals Olive Young in tourist hubs
South Korean retail giant Shinsegae Group is making a bold return to the cosmetics scene through its beauty select shop brand Chicor, aligning closely with the latest waves of K-beauty. A new flagship store is set to open in Seoul's bustling Gangnam district -- not just a relocation, but a complete reimagining following the closure of its previous Gangnam branch. Chicor aims to make a striking impression by stocking more than half of its 5,000 products from Korean brands. This marks a significant pivot from its previous strategy, which favored foreign imports by a margin of 70 percent, a shift as much cultural as it is commercial. The Gangnam flagship, for its part, aims to offer a multisensory experience, inviting shoppers to sample textures and experiment with color in immersive, hands-on spaces. Exclusive brand partnerships, sourced through Shinsegae International's global network, will help set the retailer apart, the company explained. As one industry insider noted, the rising popularity of K-beauty has likely prompted the company to move away from its traditional focus on luxury foreign beauty products. Launched in 2016 as a curated showcase of everything from niche imports to cult-favorite middle-market brands, Chicor once bloomed into 30 locations until the pandemic clipped its wings. Chicor's resurgence was set in motion following Chair Chung Yoo-kyung's promotion late last year, which catalyzed a broader realignment across Shinsegae's beauty operations. Formerly housed within Shinsegae's broader sales division, Chicor now reports directly to CEO Park Joo-hyung. Park, speaking at the company's shareholder meeting in March, called for the creation of a 'new standard' in K-beauty retail, even as he acknowledged the road so far had been rocky. According to Park, who noted that Chicor's operating losses had been halved from the previous year, the key lies in rebalancing the product mix. 'Chicor was long anchored by luxury offerings,' he said. 'But we've worked to broaden the portfolio and place K-beauty at the forefront.' In a consequential turn, the move sets Shinsegae on a collision course with CJ Group's Olive Young, the undisputed leader in Korean beauty retail. Today, Chicor's footprint has contracted to 19 stores, with annual sales hovering around 100 billion won ($73 million), a figure dwarfed by Olive Young's sprawling 1,370 locations and 4.8 trillion won in revenue last year. And yet, Shinsegae's distinct approach to curation may well ruffle Olive Young's feathers, particularly as it sets its sights on tourist-heavy districts like Myeongdong and Hongdae to entice foreign shoppers with exclusive brand offerings and pop-up theatrics. At its Hongdae location, for instance, increasing the proportion of K-beauty brands such as Melixir and Nonfiction, from 40 to over 60 percent last October led to a marked uptick in international sales, with monthly revenue surging more than 90 percent year-on-year. 'We plan to continue expanding Chicor's footprint in areas with high tourist traffic, with K-beauty leading the charge,' a company official said. Shinsegae is said to be exploring additional store openings in areas like Myeongdong and Dongdaemun, ahead of the upcoming launch of its new flagship in Gangnam. Alongside efforts to refine its beauty platform, Shinsegae is charting a deeper structural push into the industry. According to industry sources, Shinsegae is reportedly weighing a financial investment in a private equity fund managed by Ascent Equity Partners, which last month signed a 285 billion won deal to acquire a 40 percent stake in local cosmetics manufacturer C&C International.