Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
South Korea Exports Surge in January on AI Chip Demand, Marking Fastest Growth in 4.5 Years 
Japan Election Poll Signals Landslide Win for Sanae Takaichi, Raising Fiscal Policy Concerns 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
China Manufacturing PMI Slips Into Contraction in January as Weak Demand Pressures Economy 
Sandisk Stock Soars After Blowout Earnings and AI-Driven Outlook 
SpaceX Seeks FCC Approval for Massive Solar-Powered Satellite Network to Support AI Data Centers 
Trump Threatens Aircraft Tariffs as U.S.-Canada Jet Certification Dispute Escalates 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
Bob Iger Plans Early Exit as Disney Board Prepares CEO Succession Vote 
Apple Forecasts Strong Revenue Growth as iPhone Demand Surges in China and India 
U.S.–Venezuela Relations Show Signs of Thaw as Top Envoy Visits Caracas 
Panama Supreme Court Voids Hong Kong Firm’s Panama Canal Port Contracts Over Constitutional Violations 
Oil Prices Surge Toward Biggest Monthly Gains in Years Amid Middle East Tensions 
Nvidia’s $100 Billion OpenAI Investment Faces Internal Doubts, Report Says 
American Airlines Plans Return to Venezuela Flights After U.S. Lifts Ban 
Wall Street Slips as Tech Stocks Slide on AI Spending Fears and Earnings Concerns 
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is finally making a comeback in South Korea after halting its operations for two years. The fried chicken fast food chain confirmed its return to the country on Wednesday, Nov. 9.
According to The Korea Herald, the American chain of fried chicken fast-food restaurants closed its stores in the land of the morning calm in December 2020. The company said at that time that it made the decision due to low sales and some issues with carrying the business.
For its return to the Korean market, Popeyes’ local operator NLC, a Silla Group subsidiary, said that the first restaurant is opening in a location near the Gangnam Station. The training of the outlet’s staff is set to begin on Monday next week.
The Silla Group signed a master franchise deal with Restaurant Brands International (RBI), Popeyes brand owner, earlier this year with the intention of opening hundreds of branches in the country. The first store is expected to be in full operation under the management of NLC before this year ends.
"We are thrilled to launch Popeyes with the Silla Group subsidiary. We have strong confidence in the group and are pleased to announce exciting plans to bring our iconic Louisiana-style chicken to one of the largest chicken QSR markets in the world," RBI’s president, David Shear, said in a press release at the time of the partnership’s announcement. "Our entry illustrates our commitment to serving more guests around the world and the execution of our growth plans for the Asia Pacific region."
Lee Eun Hee, a consumer science professor at Inha University, suggested that Popeyes’ return to the Korean market may be successful this time due to the “Westernization of the Korean people’s palette.” She added that the locals are also looking for cheaper alternatives to expensive steaks and meat as sources of protein, and chicken is now the best option.
Meanwhile, NLC is confident that customers will patronize the Popeyes brand again once it returned. "Chicken is one of the most loved food categories in Korea and we are proud to have brought back Popeyes. We also believe our aggressive expansion of the fried chicken restaurant chain can greatly contribute to the country's economy by creating new jobs," an official at NLC said.
Photo by: theimpulsivebuy/Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)
