Yonhap's online-to-offline service to add more startups, topics
SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- The online-to-offline (O2O) service by Yonhap News Agency, South Korea's leading newswire, will add six more startups and two more topics beginning in the middle of February, officials said Thursday.
Yonhap launched the service last month, allowing readers to connect with everyday activities, including booking nearby restaurants and finding recipes through their smartphones.
The service's name, which is only in Korean, is a combination of a hashtag and the Korean word "heung," which is best described in English as a sense of joy and excitement that keeps people afloat.
Nine startups, including a restaurant information website Siksin, and three topics, such as food and travel, were included in the service.
Starting in the middle of this month, three startups, in the fields of travel, fashion and interior design, will join the service. The number of topics will rise to five.
An official at the online-to-offline service said the second-stage launch of the service comes as it is increasingly attracting readers' attention.
"For a win-win cooperation between media and O2O startups, we will continue to search for smaller O2O startups that are struggling to secure a point of contact with customers," the official said.
Ahn Byeong-ik, head of Siksin, said the O2O service by Yonhap is a "positive" for the company that allows it to woo customers by offering a new way to connect with customers beyond Internet portals.
With the use of smartphones growing fast, O2O startups have sprung up in South Korea in recent years, enabling consumers to use an app or website for food orders, car rides, real estate and other services.
Industry estimates show that the domestic market for O2O services will jump to 300 trillion won (US$261.5 billion) by the end of this year from 15 trillion won last year.
(END)
-
1 BTS wins 6 prizes at 2021 Gaon Chart Music Awards
-
2 Samsung unveils new flagship phone with BTS, viral Korean act
-
3 'Boy With Luv' becomes 2nd BTS music video to hit 1.1 bln views
-
4 Rookie band TREASURE aims to spread positive vibes with debut full album
-
5 Ex-BIGBANG member Seungri additionally indicted for inciting assault
-
1 Samsung unveils new flagship phone with BTS, viral Korean act
-
2 BTS wins 6 prizes at 2021 Gaon Chart Music Awards
-
3 S. Korea's military strength 6th in world, N. Korea at 28th: report
-
4 (News Focus) Anger mounts over deepfake porn targeting Korean female celebs; more than 330,000 sign petition
-
5 Ex-BIGBANG member Seungri additionally indicted for inciting assault
-
1 S. Korea's military strength 6th in world, N. Korea at 28th: report
-
2 (3rd LD) S. Korea extends current social distancing level for 2 weeks, eases restrictions on cafes, gyms
-
3 Another bout of heavy snow to hit S. Korea
-
4 New virus cases in 500s for 6th day; tougher curbs partially eased
-
5 (LEAD) New virus cases in 500s for 6th day; tougher curbs partially eased