Latest news with #CoupangPlay
Korea Herald
7 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Netflix-Naver, Tving-Baemin? Streaming wars take new shape
As competition for subscribers intensifies, streaming services in Korea resort to hybrid models South Korea's streaming services have realized that their survival hinges on more than just offering compelling content -- platforms are increasingly turning to strategic brand partnerships to combat subscriber churn and fuel growth. Korean streaming platform Tving is set to unveil a bundled membership offering in collaboration with Baedal Minjok, the nation's top food delivery app, starting June 2. The combined membership, which marks the first time for a Korean streaming service to partner with a food tech company, merges Baemin Club's paid subscription benefits -- free delivery, exclusive coupons and discounts -- with Tving's ad-supported standard tier. Subscribers to Baemin Club will now be offered access to Tving's ad-supported plan at an extra cost of 3,500 won ($2.50) per month. Tving's ad-supported plan, which costs 5,500 won on its own, allows users to watch Tving content with intermittent ad breaks. Meanwhile, Coupang Play is also gearing up to launch South Korea's first free ad-supported streaming service this June. Under the new model, Coupang members will gain free access to Coupang Play's content library in exchange for viewing pre-roll and mid-roll advertisements. The new model grants regular Coupang members access to both Coupang and Coupang Eats delivery services, as well as to Coupang Play's ad-supported plan. This shift toward hybrid models, as well as a pioneering move to waive monthly fees, comes after Netflix's collaboration with Naver, which debuted last November. The partnership, branded as the Naver Plus Membership (4,900 won), gives subscribers free access to Netflix's ad-supported tier, along with bonus Naver Pay points and redeemable cookies for webtoon and series rentals on Naver Webtoon. Currently, Netflix's ad-supported plan without a Naver Plus Membership costs 7,000 won. Netflix Korea's decision on May 10 to raise prices across all its plans, while maintaining the Naver-Netflix membership at 4,900 won, underscores the significance of the alliance for subscriber retention. The new partnerships and free ad-supported options come in response to a plateauing streaming market. According to a report from the Korea Creative Content Agency released in December 2024, free streaming service usage surged from 78.2 percent in 2023 to 85.1 percent last year, whereas paid service penetration stalled, inching down from 55.2 percent to 53.4 percent. 'The streaming service market has matured to a point where relying on one or two breakout hits to drive growth is no longer viable,' said an insider from a Korean streaming service, speaking on condition of anonymity. "Subscriber behavior tends to be substitutive -- when users sign up for a new service, they often cancel an existing one. Right now, domestic streaming platforms are seeing their user base level off at some 30 million, with growth largely tapering off," he said. This is forcing platforms to pivot their strategies to justify escalating content investments, he pointed out, adding that platforms are targeting subscribers of other popular brands in a bid to expand their market shares. However, partnerships between diverse platforms may come with unintended downsides. Alongside the appeal of low subscription fees may lie a trade-off, in which businesses onboarded onto retail platforms such as Baemin and Naver Shopping may face higher commission rates and shrinking profit margins. Additionally, consumer choice may become increasingly limited. As competition among platforms grows, the lock-in effect strengthens, making it harder for users to switch services. The reduced flexibility narrows consumer options, and over time, even as discounts fade or service quality declines, users may be forced to remain with the platform they originally chose.
Korea Herald
7 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Coupang streamlines leadership, Park Dae-jun named sole CEO
South Korean e-commerce giant Coupang announced Monday that it will restructure its top leadership, moving from a dual-CEO structure -- with Park Dae-jun and Kang Han-seung at the helm -- to a sole-CEO model led by Park. With Park assuming full responsibility for overseeing the company's operations, the company plans to double down on AI-driven logistics expansion while continuing to support Korean small businesses. Park, who joined Coupang in 2012 as director of public policy office, was promoted to vice president of policy in 2019 and has been leading the company's new business division since 2020. Under his leadership, Coupang has made significant strides in innovation, including nationwide expansion of its ultrafast Rocket Delivery service and large-scale job creation. Park has also spearheaded regional infrastructure development and forged collaborations with local governments and agencies, launching initiatives that broaden digital sales channels for small businesses and farmers. By driving new ventures such as Coupang Eats and Coupang Play, Park has continued to enhance the customer experience and drive sustainable growth. Meanwhile, Kang Han-seung, who had overseen Coupang's management operations, will shift his focus to North American business development and global expansion. This move aligns with Coupang Inc., the parent company, as it accelerates global operations with initiatives such as Rocket Delivery in Taiwan and expanded luxury e-commerce offerings through Farfetch.
Korea Herald
7 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Coupang streamlines leadership, Park Dae-jun named sole CEO
South Korean e-commerce giant Coupang announced Monday that it will restructure its top leadership, moving from a dual-CEO structure -- with Park Dae-jun and Kang Han-seung at the helm -- to a sole-CEO model led by Park. With Park assuming full responsibility for overseeing the company's operations, the company plans to double down on AI-driven logistics expansion while continuing to support Korean small businesses. Park, who joined Coupang in 2012 as director of public policy office, was promoted to vice president of policy in 2019 and has been leading the company's new business division since 2020. Under his leadership, Coupang has made significant strides in innovation, including nationwide expansion of its ultrafast Rocket Delivery service and large-scale job creation. Park has also spearheaded regional infrastructure development and forged collaborations with local governments and agencies, launching initiatives that broaden digital sales channels for small businesses and farmers. By driving new ventures such as Coupang Eats and Coupang Play, Park has continued to enhance the customer experience and drive sustainable growth. Meanwhile, Kang Han-seung, who had overseen Coupang's management operations, will shift his focus to North American business development and global expansion. This move aligns with Coupang Inc., the parent company, as it accelerates global operations with initiatives such as Rocket Delivery in Taiwan and expanded luxury e-commerce offerings through Farfetch.
Korea Herald
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Retro Korea: Must-watch series that capture nation in transition
Travel back in time with a curated lineup of dramas that bring Korea's rapid urban transformation to life on screen. These binge-worthy series, set against the backdrops of the 1960s through 1990s, offer a mix of genres — from political thrillers to heartfelt coming-of-age tales. This weekend, delve into the series that authentically capture the struggles and dreams of everyday Koreans during decades of seismic change. 'Twenty-Five Twenty-One' on Netflix, Tving Set during the Asian financial crisis and the years following the IMF bailout of Korea in the late 1990s, "Twenty-Five Twenty-One" follows the journey of Hee-do (Kim Tae-ri) and Yi-jin (Nam Joo-hyuk) as they navigate love and ambitions. Anchored by poignant performances and an emotionally stirring script, the series resonated deeply with viewers during the pandemic, offering solace and hope amid uncertainty. The show's compelling mystery — who does Hee-do eventually marry? — kept fans engaged week after week, while its beautiful mise-en-scenes and nostalgic production design made it a standout. 'Boyhood' on Coupang Play One of Coupang Play's breakout hits, "Boyhood" chronicles the rise of Jang Byung-tae (Im Si-wan), who relocates to South Chungcheong Province and is unexpectedly mistaken for a fearsome fighter. Set in the late 1980s, this nostalgic coming-of-age dramedy weaves together a number of period details, from its nostalgic countryside setting to its retro-inspired soundtrack sung by contemporary Korean singer-songwriters. "Boyhood" struck a chord with audiences, marking a whopping 2,914 percent spike in viewership by its finale. With its sharp comedic beats, the series delivers a charming underdog tale packed with laughs and cultural authenticity. 'Uncle Samsik' on Disney+ Taking a darker, more politically charged turn compared to previous works, "Uncle Samsik" plunges into the volatile 1960s, a period marked by ideological upheaval and national reconstruction. Featuring "Parasite" star Song Kang-ho in his highly anticipated K-drama debut, the series centers on the enigmatic political fixer Uncle Samsik (Song), a man with unrelenting ambition. One of Disney+'s most ambitious Korean originals to date, "Uncle Samsik" meticulously recreates post-war Seoul. With its high production value and powerhouse performances, the political saga will make your weekend fly by. yoonseo.3348@
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Better Growth Stock: Coupang vs. Sea Limited
Coupang continues to grow as it gradually expands overseas. Sea scaled back its ambitious growth plans, but its business is still wobbly. The more focused e-commerce leader looks like the better investment. 10 stocks we like better than Coupang › Coupang (NYSE: CPNG) and Sea Limited (NYSE: SE) were both popular growth stocks during the buying frenzy in meme and growth stocks in 2021. Coupang, which owns South Korea's largest e-commerce platform, went public at $35 on March 11, 2021. Its stock closed at its all-time high of $50.45 just four days later. Sea, which owns Southeast Asia's leading e-commerce platform Shopee and the video game publisher Garena, went public at $15 per share on Oct. 20, 2017. Its stock set its record high of $366.99 on Oct. 19, 2021. Today, Coupang's stock trades at about $27 a share, while Sea trades at roughly $163. Both stocks retreated from their all-time highs as their growth slowed and rising interest rates compressed their valuations. Should you buy either of these stocks as a turnaround play today? Coupang, which is based in Seattle, still generates most of its revenue in South Korea. It conquered that market by building its first-party fulfillment centers within seven miles of 70% of South Korea's population, drawing more merchants to its third-party marketplace and expanding its Prime-like Wow subscriptions with more features and digital perks. Its number of active customers grew from 14.9 million at the end of 2020 to 23.4 million in the first quarter of 2025. Its ranks of Wow subscribers more than doubled from 6 million in 2020 to 13 million in 2023, but it hasn't updated that figure since then. That expansion was driven by the introduction of the Coupang Play streaming media platform in 2020 and upgrades for its Rocket Delivery, Rocket Fresh grocery, and Coupang Eats food delivery services. Coupang also launched its marketplace in Taiwan in 2022 and acquired the British online luxury marketplace Farfetch in 2024 to expand beyond South Korea. From 2020 to 2024, its revenue rose at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26%. It also turned profitable on a generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) basis in 2023 and 2024. The company's profits rose as it expanded its higher-margin third-party marketplace, automated more services, and sold a larger mix of Farfetch's higher-margin luxury products. From 2024 to 2027, analysts expect Coupang's revenue and GAAP EPS to grow at a CAGR of 13% and 130%, respectively. Those are incredible growth rates for a stock that trades at just 1.4 times this year's sales. Its valuations might be compressed by the near-term concerns about tariffs and trade wars, but it could command a much higher valuation if those headwinds dissipate. Sea, which is based in Singapore, turned Shopee into the top e-commerce platform across Southeast Asia and Taiwan. However, that expansion was driven by steep discounts, shipping subsidies, and other loss-leading strategies that were difficult to sustain. Sea relies on Garena's gaming profits to subsidize Shopee's losses. That strategy worked as its hit battle royale game Free Fire grew like a weed during the pandemic. Unfortunately, Free Fire lost its momentum after the pandemic ended. The game was also banned in India, its fastest-growing market, in 2022. At the same time, Shopee's growth cooled as it lapped its big growth spurt during the pandemic. Shopee also faced tougher competition from Alibaba's Lazada and Coupang in its core Southeast Asian and Taiwanese markets, respectively. Instead of capitalizing on its pandemic-driven growth spurt to strengthen its logistics networks, Shopee poured that cash toward expanding into more markets in Latin America, India, and Europe. That was an over-ambitious move that offset its narrowing losses in Taiwan and Southeast Asia. Despite those challenges, Sea's revenue still increased at a CAGR of 40% from 2020 to 2024. It also turned profitable on a GAAP basis in 2023 and 2024 as it laid off thousands of employees, reined in Shopee's discounts, and scaled back its ambitious overseas expansion plans. From 2024 to 2027, analysts expect its revenue and GAAP EPS to grow at a CAGR of 20% and 97%, respectively. It expects to strengthen Shopee with new live streaming "social commerce" features, artificial intelligence (AI)-powered automation tools, and an expansion into Vietnam. As for Garena, the company expects Free Fire to keep growing with a new version (Free Fire Max) and more e-sports tournaments. That's a healthy outlook, but its stock looks pricier than Coupang's at 4.6 times this year's sales. Coupang and Sea are both growing rapidly. However, if I had to choose one, I'd stick with Coupang because its business model is more balanced and its stock looks cheaper. Sea is growing at a faster rate but is still overwhelmingly dependent on a single video game -- which is now seven-and-a-half years old -- to drive its long-term profits. That glaring weakness, along with its higher forward price-to-sales ratio, makes it a less attractive investment than Coupang. Before you buy stock in Coupang, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Coupang wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $642,582!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $829,879!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 975% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 172% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 19, 2025 Leo Sun has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Sea Limited. The Motley Fool recommends Alibaba Group and Coupang. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Better Growth Stock: Coupang vs. Sea Limited was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
