[Green Economy News = Reporter Yang Hyun-seok] Convenience stores are serving up playful, attention-grabbing collaborations. GS25 announced a lineup of Super Mario Galaxy–themed items, leaning on the global blockbuster’s IP for nine limited-edition releases—from fresh prepared meals to movie-night essentials like popcorn and jelly—led by a headline “Super Mario Bento.”
Meanwhile, aiming straight at sports superfans, 7-Eleven (Korea Seven) teamed up with the KIA Tigers for a limited “Supreme Tigers” collection. Expect team-branded packaging, collectible stickers, and merch designed to spark collectors’ fever. 7-Eleven says the collab will deliver fresh excitement both at the ballpark and for fans watching from home by tapping the KIA Tigers’ large national following.
Also making headlines today (May 3): Hyundai Department Store Group’s overseas push The Hyundai Global will stage a K‑brand pop-up at Shin Kong Mitsukoshi in Taichung, Taiwan—more retail updates compiled by Green Economy News.
○.. A Super Mario bonus stage is popping up at convenience stores.
GS25, operated by GS Retail, said on May 3 it will launch a collaboration collection based on the global hit Super Mario Galaxy.
Super Mario Galaxy has emerged as this year’s top animated box-office earner, surpassing 1 trillion KRW (approximately 750 million USD) globally. As part of a differentiated merchandising push focused on IP partnerships, GS25 moved ahead with the tie-in.
Planning began late last year, and to coincide with the domestic release on April 29 GS25 will roll out nine items in stages: the Super Mario Bento; Mushroom Pizza Sandwich; Mario Triple Power-Up Burger; Super Mario Popcorn Truffle; Super Mario Luma Star Jelly; and more.
The collection centers on GS25’s signature fresh foods plus must-have movie snacks like popcorn and jelly, and Super Mario Galaxy imagery appears across front-facing packaging so shoppers can spot the collab instantly.
The standout item is the Super Mario Bento, which comes with an exclusive collectible. Each bento includes a limited keycap produced especially for the promotion.
Thirteen keycap designs feature favorite characters—Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Bowser and others—and one random keycap will be tucked into each Super Mario Bento. The bento officially launches on May 6, and the limited-edition keycaps are available only to buyers.
GS25 also lined up tied promotions: customers who pay for the Super Mario Bento with an NH NongHyup Card receive a 50% QR discount, while KakaoPay users can get 25% off all Super Mario Galaxy items through the end of the month.
“We created the Super Mario Bento to give customers more than a product—an experience—by partnering with an IP that has a huge fandom,” said Hong Hye-seung, manager of GS Retail’s FF team. “We’ll keep rolling out standout items and events this Family Month to create happy memories.”
○.. 7-Eleven—known for hitting big with sports photo cards and collabs—said on May 3 it will release nine limited KIA Tigers items under the Supreme Tigers theme starting May 13.
The collaboration was designed to tap into fandom trends and the electric momentum around pro baseball. The KBO broke records this season by reaching 2 million cumulative spectators in just 117 games, raising hopes that total attendance could surpass 13 million this year.
7-Eleven aims to match fan energy and, through synergy with the KIA Tigers’ deep national fan base, offer novel experiences for both stadium-goers and at-home viewers.
Products showcase the KIA Tigers’ logo, mascot and messaging on packaging to capture the team’s bold identity, and collectible stickers—now a key fandom element—are included to boost appeal.
On May 13, 7-Eleven will kick off the series with easy game-day snacks and collectible transit cards. “Fried Squid” puts a twist on the popular shredded-squid side by deep-frying it for a chewy texture and savory finish. Two transit-card designs (logo and mascot) launch the same day.
Through the month, bakery items, ramen, beer and merch will follow to keep the buzz alive.
Bakery highlights include Peanut Soboro with a sweet peanut-butter note and Cheese Almond Cookie, a crowd-pleasing combo. A spicy Fiery Kimchi Ramen with kimchi flakes adds a bold option for fans needing a kick. For the ballpark, 7-Eleven even prepared Fan Candy—a practical one-touch fan with candy inside.
Each food product—bakery, snacks, candy and ramen—will include one random sticker out of 85 designs featuring dynamic player shots (Kim Do-young, Yang Hyeon-jong) and the mascot. Limited-edition transit cards will come with specially made player stickers (20 designs) sized to fit the card for collectors.
For playful packaging concepts, 7-Eleven highlighted product storytelling. The Hidden Beer Can (500ml) is a crisp lager whose label peels away to reveal one of six hidden-player designs. The Tumbler Gift Set adds a roomy 1200ml tumbler for everyday practicality.
To celebrate the launch, 7-Eleven will run buy-and-show Instagram events and stamp-collection promotions in its mobile app. Participants can win prizes like the No. 26 Authentic Third uniform, cheering sticks, and 7-Eleven mobile gift certificates.
“We focused on folding the team’s charm into everyday items so a trip to 7-Eleven sparks the same thrill as heading to the ballpark,” said Yoo Yeon-soo, brand-marketing lead for 7-Eleven’s marketing strategy team. “We hope 7-Eleven becomes another fun playground for KIA Tigers fans, and we’ll keep creating products sports fans love.”
○.. Hyundai Department Store is accelerating K‑brand overseas expansion through its The Hyundai Global platform.
Hyundai Department Store said on May 3 it will operate a The Hyundai Global pop-up at Shin Kong Mitsukoshi’s Zhonggang location in Taichung, Taiwan, for about three months through July 26.
The pop-up will occupy a 66㎡ (20 pyeong) event space on the busy 10th-floor food court and feature 13 fashion, beauty and lifestyle brands, including six K‑brands making their Taiwan debut: SomeWhereButter, Slowand, Atte, 23.65, Matire and Marie Claire.
Selected earlier this year for a government-backed joint-entry support program, Hyundai Department Store said it will beef up local marketing and staffing to strengthen the pop-up’s operations.
Shin Kong Mitsukoshi runs 16 stores across six Taiwanese cities—including Taipei, Taichung and Taoyuan—and draws about 100 million visitors a year. The Zhonggang branch, hosting this pop-up, is the highest-grossing department store in Taiwan.
The event follows a successful solo K‑brand pop-up Hyundai Department Store staged last October at Shin Kong Mitsukoshi’s Taipei Xinyi Place A11, which posted the highest sales of any pop-up the department store has hosted.
During the Taichung run, Hyundai Department Store will invite influential Korean creators and cheerleaders popular in Taiwan and preview new products from participating brands.
“As The Hyundai Global’s profile grows in Taiwan, the chance of opening permanent K‑brand stores is increasing,” a company spokesperson said. “We plan to expand beyond Taiwan and Japan to markets like Hong Kong to help more domestic brands go global.”
○.. Lotte Hi‑Mart (CEO Nam Chang-hee) will run a monthlong Home Appliance Festival across about 300 stores and its online mall throughout May for Family Month. The festival, Lotte Hi‑Mart’s signature twice-yearly bargain event, bundles popular items and offers steep discounts. With big family holidays like Children’s Day and Parents’ Day and a long holiday stretch, Lotte Hi‑Mart is putting up its largest promotional budget to offer a curated slate of top items at online lowest-price levels.
The headline promotion, “Super Hero 22,” will feature 22 popular products—from major appliances like air conditioners, refrigerators and TVs to kitchen gadgets, vacuums and IT devices like laptops and tablets—at aggressively low online prices.
Lotte Hi‑Mart will also run Wedding Promotions and Move-in All‑Care Services offering up to 9% off for customers preparing for weddings or new homes. The Wedding Promotion combines verified marriage discounts, tiered purchase deals and card offers for up to 9% off. The Move-in All‑Care Service bundles discounts up to 7% (product discounts and card cashback) and provides up to 12 months interest-free installments with the Lotte Members card. The service covers moving, move-in cleaning, appliance transfer and installation, cleaning and noise-dampening mats—handling move-ins end to end.
Customers who buy appliances like refrigerators, washers, robot vacuums or microwaves together with custom storage cabinets can get extra savings. Selected models—Samsung Bespoke KitchenFit Max 4‑door, LG Objet Collection KnockOn Fit & Max, LG Tromm Objet Collection Wash Tower, Samsung Bespoke AI Combo washer‑dryer—qualify for discounts up to 200,000 KRW (about 150 USD), depending on the item.
“For Family Month, we’re offering popular items like ‘Super Hero 22’ at online lowest-price levels to help customers shopping for Children’s Day and Parents’ Day gifts,” said Kim Seung-geun, head of Integrated Marketing at Lotte Hi‑Mart. “We hope customers find great appliance gifts and enjoy special family moments.”
○.. Shinsegae Department Store’s Starfield Hanam is breaking the first-floor department store mold with a bold new spatial strategy.
Rather than the usual luxury-and-cosmetics focus, the first floor now blends a large café with youth-fashion and kids’ brands to create a linger-worthy, locally tailored space.
On April 29, Shinsegae Hanam opened Terarosa, a specialty coffee brand, in a roughly 100‑pyeong (about 3,558 sq ft) store—the first Terarosa to sit on a department store’s ground floor.
Terarosa offers a hybrid cultural spot where guests can enjoy coffee and French-style pastries in a spacious, mellow setting. The concept—melding beans, branded goods and curated space to evoke a midpoint between city and nature—creates a relaxed hangout suited to families and couples.
The first floor also refreshed 10 youth-fashion brands and 18 children’s labels, adding Hanam debuts like Rave, Duelling and Apricot Studio. Rather than many small stores, the mall expanded individual shop footprints and circulation, making the shopping flow about 1.5 times more spacious for a more comfortable experience.
The revamp reflects Hanam’s shopper base: roughly 60% are family groups in their 30s and 40s who want shopping plus rest and experiences—not just transactions.
With the new Gyosan district developments set to welcome about 80,000 residents starting in 2027—many young couples with small children—Shinsegae expects the area’s retail scene to shift toward more stay-focused consumption on weekdays as well as weekends.
In response, Hanam redefined its first floor from a premium showcase into a customer-centric space that mixes shopping, rest and hands-on experiences.
“Reflecting Hanam’s family-heavy customer mix, we created a first floor that blends shopping and relaxation,” said Park Seong-ju, manager of Shinsegae Department Store Starfield Hanam. “We’ll keep expanding differentiated content tailored to our visitors and continue to innovate our spaces.”
○.. Pulmuone (CEO Lee Woo-bong) signed an MOU with the National Institute of Biological Resources (under the Ministry of Environment) to promote industrial uses and joint development of native biological resources, the company said on May 3.
The deal aims to expand the industrial application potential of the institute’s biological materials and data and create a foundation for sustainable use of native species.
The signing took place April 30 at the National Institute of Biological Resources in Seo‑gu, Incheon, with Director Yoo Ho and Pulmuone Technology Institute Director Kim Tae-seok in attendance.
Under the MOU, Pulmuone and the institute will pursue discovery and basic research on new food ingredients derived from native species; develop processing and utilization technologies and prototypes; commercialize products using native resources; and explore new collaboration models—expanding into plant-based protein alternatives and pet food.
They’ll also work together on biodiversity conservation, promote sustainable use of native species, and run outreach and education to raise public awareness. The MOU runs from April 30, 2026, through April 30, 2029.
The partners will collaborate across the full pipeline—from identifying promising materials in the institute’s database to productization. The institute will validate high-potential biological materials, and Pulmuone will test commercialization in food and pet-food applications, advancing product development and market rollout. The effort should raise the industrial value of domestic biological resources and help build a sustainable supply ecosystem and new markets.
A key project is developing alternative protein ingredients from Lemnaceae (duckweed). Duckweed grows fast and is protein-rich, positioning it as a promising next-generation protein source, though commercial research in Korea is still in early stages.
Pulmuone Technology Institute will analyze the nutrition and functionality of various native species—including duckweed—and develop innovative food ingredients from them. Pulmuone says this work could reduce import dependence for food raw materials and boost domestic material sovereignty for Korea’s food industry.
“Domestic native species hold huge, untapped industrial potential,” said Kim Tae-seok, director of Pulmuone Technology Institute. “Through this partnership, we’ll uncover sustainable food ingredients and help spread healthier, more sustainable food culture.”
○.. Starbucks Korea (CEO Sohn Jeong-hyun) has launched the first deployment of its Hero Program after signing an agreement with the Ministry of National Defense.
On April 29, Starbucks visited the 2nd Marine Division on Ganghwa Island, delivering 1,000 cups of Starbucks coffee and 1,000 food items as part of the Hero Program. The mobile coffee trailer S:BuKcha—Starbucks’ new mobile coffee unit that debuted April 22—served fresh drinks on site.
Marines training in the heat took a break with iced Starbucks coffees and heart pies, a brief moment of relief during tough drills.
The S:BuKcha is a mobile trailer Starbucks Korea designed and built over about six months to bring coffee to hard-to-reach places and disaster zones, continuing Starbucks’ coffee-centered community support efforts.
After signing an MOU with the Ministry of National Defense on April 6 to boost troop welfare and expand support, Starbucks chose the Ganghwa marines as the Hero Program’s first stop to thank service members for their work.
Starbucks plans to keep visiting and supporting “heroes”—service members, police, firefighters and others—by delivering coffee and food with messages of encouragement.
Since 2024, the Hero Program has supported a wide range of community members, expanding from military personnel to police, firefighters, coast guard personnel and pregnant people; Starbucks says it has supported about 40,000 heroes to date.
“The Hero Program isn’t a one-off effort but a growing social initiative,” a Starbucks representative said. “We’ll keep meeting more heroes in the field and showing our support.”
○.. LG U+Charm is stepping up its Share Pad hygiene-donation campaign to help neighbors in need.
The Share Pad campaign—now in its 14th year—regularly donates essential hygiene items like sanitary pads and diapers to vulnerable women, teens and infants. As of the end of last year, LG U+Charm’s cumulative donations topped 10 million items.
Recently, LG U+Charm made large donations: on April 23 it gave 100,000 sanitary pads to Save the Children, and on April 27 it delivered another 270,000 hygiene items through Gumi City Hall—Gumi is home to LG U+Charm’s HQ and factories.
This year’s efforts pair product donations with employee-driven participation: staff will again take part in the 2026 Earth Run Marathon charity event in May to experience giving firsthand and help spread a culture of donation.
LG U+Charm plans to donate about 1.7 million hygiene items this year and scale annual contributions to roughly 3 million by 2030.
“Share Pad goes beyond handing out products—it’s about practicing shared value through employees’ voluntary participation,” an LG U+Charm CSR official said. “We’ll keep running participatory campaigns to improve living conditions for vulnerable groups and broaden positive social awareness around giving.”
