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India's <keyword id="20884491" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cement-industry" source="keywords">cement industry</keyword> is heating up faster than a kiln! If one’s tracking the sector, the war-like situation between the existing and emerging cement giants is pretty evident. For the uninitiated, Aditya Birla Group-backed <keyword id="19963567" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ultratech-Cement" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Ultratech Cement" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Ultratech Cement">Ultratech Cement</keyword> and <keyword id="19955648" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Adani-Group" source="keywords">Adani Group</keyword> have been at loggerheads for increased market share in recent years. And now, JSW Cement also seems to be gearing up to challenge the potential duopoly. As conglomerates aggressively acquire smaller players to achieve market domination, the cement industry in India right now resembles an eighteenth-century battlefield. The battle has significantly escalated this year, but this trend of acquiring regional cement companies can be traced back to 2018 when Ultratech acquired Binani Cement. Since then, both Adani Group and Birla Group have been capturing checkposts all over India, one by one. Ultratech acquired Binani Cement to strengthen its base in the western region and this week, India Cement, for the southern states. Adani has also acquired the Hyderabad-based Penna Cement this year, after acquiring majority stakes in Ambuja Cements and ACC in 2022. But why the obsession with cement? <h2>Why are the Titans clashing for…cement?</h2>India's infrastructure boom is in full swing, and whoever controls the cement supply holds the key to this construction kingdom. Adani Group has been known to follow an acquire &amp; dominate strategy for capturing market segments. <keyword id="19907441" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Aditya-Birla-Group" source="keywords">Aditya Birla Group</keyword>, however, has dominated the cement industry in India through Ultratech for a while now. The answer to the above question may simply lie in establishing the leadership moat for themselves. With even-growing public and private spending on infrastructure, both players want to capture the majority share to dominate the supplies of cement, which is essential for construction. <h2>Where is the sector heading?</h2>While both Adani and Aditya Birla groups have locked horns to acquire CK Birla’s Orient Cement for a while now, a new hurdle threatens their dominance. As per an Economic Times report, Sajjan Jindal-led JSW Cement has now started to evaluate the acquisition of the promoter stake in Orient Cement. As an emerging front, JSW Cement also aims to reach 50 MT per annum by 2030. However, two other major players, Shree Cement and Dalmia Bharat, already have 53 MTPA and 43 MTPA capacity. <div type="image" title="Birla Vs Adani" msid="112196675" hostid="261" sizebytes="284160" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Look back at major acquisitions in the cement sector&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> However, with over a dozen acquisitions over the last decade, both Ultratech and Adani Group are by far the largest players in the sector eyeing over 200 MT per annum by 2030. <h2>What about the prices?</h2>Will consumers benefit from this cutthroat competition to industry domination? In the short term at least, yes! While lower prices might sound appealing, it's essential to keep an eye on quality as consolidation in the manufacturing sector is always tricky. We don't want to end up with buildings crumbling like cookies. And let's not forget about the little guys. This consolidation of power into a few mega-corporations could squeeze out smaller players, reducing competition and potentially leading to higher prices in the long run. <h2>I think I’ve seen this film before….</h2>The current atmosphere of the cement industry feels reminiscent of what happened in the telecom industry in India in 2016 i.e. the infamous tussle of tariffs. As Reliance Industries launched Jio, it disrupted the entire segment and forced other telecom companies to compete on their terms. As a result, the tariffs fell sharply, companies shut and brands merged, but Jio still claims 40% of the market share in India in terms of subscriber count. Moreover, experts feel that the change in power dynamics in both these industries, cement and telecom, have direct ties to the current government’s industrial policy. Government policies seem to favour companies that have acquired a dominant position in distinct sectors of the economy, which in India’s case are led by two of the richest men in Asia — Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani. This strategy of adopting ‘<keyword id="1327299" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="national-champions" source="Orion">National Champions</keyword>’ is seemingly inspired by South Korea’s <keyword id="4933297" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chaebols" source="Orion">Chaebols</keyword> and Japan’s Zaibatsu conglomerates that came into existence decades ago. <h2>From corporate drama to k-drama: Chaebols</h2>The term Chaebol might ring a bell if you've watched K-dramas. They are family-owned business conglomerates in South Korea. This business structure originated in the 1960s and got so popular that it made its way into Korean pop culture. While chaebols have fueled the rapid growth of the Korean economy, concerns about their opaque governance and controlling shareholder interests often deter external investors. Japan’s zaibatsu were also similar financial and industrial conglomerates that were major forces in Japan during World War II. Korea’s Hyundai and Japan’s Mitsubishi are some prime examples of this structure. <h2>Growth of the Goliaths</h2>Viral Acharya, the former Deputy Governor of the RBI, highlights the decade-old trend of the central government achieving economic growth outcomes by working with large conglomerates in part, rather than with state governments. In his conference paper for the Brookings Papers on Economic Activity in March 2023, he demonstrates this pattern with examples from multiple sectors. “By way of specific examples, the share of the Top 5 groups by sales in Civil Engineering and Construction rose from 31% in 2016 to 42% in 2021, in Telecommunications from 65% to over 84%, and in the Retail trade sector from under 44% to over 65%. Similarly, the share of Top-5 groups by Assets rose sharply by 2021 to 68% in the Manufacturing of Basic Metals, 26% in the Manufacturing of Chemicals, 90% in the Manufacturing of Refined Petroleum and Coke, and 47% in the Manufacturing of Non-metallic Mineral Products (including cement and other building materials),” writes Acharya. While this strategy of ‘National Champions’ has benefitted the telecom sector, it has its caveats. The acceleration in the growth may lead to an oligopolistic economy, thereby restricting the entry of new players and stifling innovation. Additionally, a multi-dimensional concentration of power poses the threat of crony capitalism. <h2>National champions: checks and challenges</h2>There’s more to this debate. Arvind Subramanian and Josh Felman, in their paper titled ‘India’s Stalled Rise’ note that the collective impact of this strategy could be more adverse in India, more than anywhere else. They explain that the two big conglomerates — Adani Group and Ambani-led Reliance “have interests that extend throughout the economy, in defence production, ports and airports, energy, natural gas, petroleum, digital platforms, telecommunications, entertainment, media, retail, textiles, financial payments, and education.” Chaebols and Zaibatsu have/had their demerits that range from autocratic decision-making dubbed as ‘imperialistic management’ to the slow inclination of the market towards an oligopolistic structure. However, they weren’t shielded from international competition, nor was this strategy of creating ‘national champions’ shaped using government regulation. They were prevalent in sectors that faced competition internationally, like Hyundai in automobile manufacturing, keeping them in check. The lack of a similar system of checks and balances in India may lead to deeper implications of this strategy of ‘national champions.’ Viral Acharya further notes that they “grew not just at the expense of the smallest firms, but also of the next largest firms” and empirically established a causal link between market power and markups (broadly, profit). At a point when India has seen a monumental shift in infrastructure and looks to capture the market share that China could evacuate, the implications of a tilted policy could prove detrimental. While consolidation can improve performance and catalyse growth, we need to be very careful as a country of the direction we will set ourselves in at this crucial juncture. <h2>Also read:</h2> <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112159576" title="India Cement employees to lose jobs after UltraTech acquisition? Chairman Srinivasan answers" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"><payload><![CDATA[seealso]]></payload></div> <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112163130" title="Ambuja Cements Q1FY25 profit at Rs 789.63 crore; revenue at Rs 8,311.48 crore" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"><payload><![CDATA[seealso]]></payload></div>

Cementing dominance: Birla vs Adani, of Chaebols, conglomerates, and National Champions

<ul><li>Netflix is the most popular streaming service to watch Korean dramas and movies.</li><li>But there are other apps like Prime Video and Viki where you can watch Korean content.</li><li>You can also watch Korean dramas and movies dubbed in Hindi and other Indian languages.</li></ul>It’s no secret that Indians love <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/amazon-prime-video-to-take-on-netflix-with-10-new-k-dramas/articleshow/87869220.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Korean dramas and movies</a> especially since the start of the pandemic last year. According to Netflix, K-Drama viewership in India increased more than 370% in 2020 from 2019. The K-Drama and K-Movie craze actually started around a decade back in the northeastern states of India during the days of CDs and DVDs. But now there are so many platforms where you can easily watch the latest Korean content. Netflix is the most popular streaming service for Korean movies and drama in India. But there are other apps and services available where you can watch Korean content. If you’re bored or looking for some new Korean content then you can try out these streaming services. Amazon Prime Video Amazon Prime Video is the latest entrant in this segment. It recently started streaming Korean dramas including popular ones like True Beauty, The Penthouse, and Mr. Queen. There are new and old Korean dramas that you can watch on Prime Video, and some of which aren’t available on Netflix. Prime Video is available with Amazon Prime membership priced at ₹179 per month, and ₹1,499 per year. Viki Viki is a popular streaming service for not just Korean dramas but Asian dramas and movies in general. If you want to watch the latest Korean dramas then Viki is one of the best apps you’ll get. The app is available for free but with ads. You can also subscribe to Viki at ₹299 per month or ₹3,099 per year. MX Player MX Player is another great destination for Korean dramas and it also offers dubbed audio in Hindi and regional languages Tamil and Telugu. MX Player streams over 50 Korean dramas including Pinocchio, Heirs, Kill Me Heal Me, The Penthouse and more. MX Player is also available as an ad-based free service or you can get it for ₹199 per year. IQIYI IQIYI is primarily for Chinese dramas and shows but it also streams Korean dramas. You can also watch popular anime like Jujutsu Kaisen and Haikyu on IQIYI. The app has a lot of content to stream and popular Korean dramas. You can watch shows for free with ads or subscribe to IQIYI starting at ₹159 per month. SEE ALSO: <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="73666376" title="How to restore deleted contacts on Android" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

Where to watch Korean dramas and movies in India

<ul><li>Amazon last month started streaming Korean dramas including popular titles like Mr. Queen and The Penthouse.</li><li>It is now one of the few global platforms offering access to Korean content.</li><li>Here’s a look at what Amazon is offering, and how it can be the closest rival to Netflix.</li></ul>Netflix has a new Korean drama (K-Drama) rival in town — Amazon Prime Video. The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/news/upcoming-movies-and-web-series-to-binge-watch-on-netflix-amazon-prime-video-disney-plus-hotstar-and-sony-liv/slidelist/87781193.cms">streaming service</a> last month announced ten Korean shows including popular titles like True Beauty, The Penthouse, and Mr. Queen, which are not available on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/beware-of-these-popular-netflix-scams-and-phishing-attacks/articleshow/87843343.cms">Netflix</a>. With these Korean shows, Amazon Prime Video becomes another popular global platform other than Netflix cashing in on the Korean wave in India. Amazon has also been aggressively pushing its K-drama offering by partnering with the most popular influencers in the country. Netflix is now almost synonymous with Korean shows and movies for the global audience especially owing to the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/squid-game-masks-in-india-and-fans-around-the-world/articleshow/86939519.cms">Squid Game craze</a> that took over the internet. It even became the most popular Netflix show. There’s a plethora of Korean series and movies that you can watch on Netflix. It has also been regularly producing originals like Crash Landing on You, Nevertheless, The King: Eternal Monarch, and Something in the Rain. Netflix hopped on the early K-wave in India Before streaming services, K-Drama fans resorted to pirated copies on websites and the good old days of CDs to watch their favourite shows and movies. But Netflix slowly started bringing in more Korean content to its platform and one particular show that really hit it in India was Crash Landing on You. It was released in December 2019 but it gained wide popularity around March when the lockdown started in India. Crash Landing on You even made it to Netflix India’s top 10 list. In South Korea, it’s the highest-rated tvN drama (television network) and also the third highest-rated South Korean TV drama in cable television history. Netflix also<a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/the-k-magic-is-taking-over-india-people-find-comfort-in-korean-dramas-music-and-food/articleshow/86836620.cms?from=mdr"> said </a>that K-Drama viewership in India increased more than 370% in 2020 over 2019. Even television networks jumped on the K-Drama bandwagon with Zee Cafe started airing fan-favourite Boys Over Flowers and also Descendants Of The Sun. Dish TV also started a dedicated channel called “Korean Drama Active” for Korean shows dubbed in Hindi. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Amazon Prime Video is inching closer to rival Netflix" comment="subhead" text="Amazon Prime Video is inching closer to rival Netflix">Amazon Prime Video is inching closer to rival Netflix</cmsannotation> Other than Netflix, Amazon Prime Video is the biggest streaming platform to offer Korean content. Last month, the streaming service launched ten Korean titles, and it plans to release a new series every week. But this isn’t Amazon’s first encounter with Korean movies. It’s the only OTT platform in India to stream Oscar-winning movie Parasite, and also Minari which had six Oscar nominations. The K-Dramas streaming on Amazon aren’t originals or new shows but old ones that aired recently or a couple of years ago. It is also worth noting that some of these titles aren’t available on Netflix but are otherwise very popular. Take The Penthouse for example, which became the most-watched program on any channel on Friday, and also the <a href="https://www.soompi.com/article/1488140wpp/the-penthouse-ends-on-no-1-ratings-after-3-seasons">most-watched miniseries</a> of the entire week when it ended. Another popular title Mr. Queen also bagged the fifth-highest ratings in South Korea’s television network tvN’s history. It’s also important to highlight that Amazon can have an upper hand here with these titles or future ones that are not available on Netflix. There are unofficial websites to watch these shows but it's always a safer option to access it from verified platforms. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Amazon vs Netflix" comment="subhead" text="Amazon vs Netflix">Amazon vs Netflix</cmsannotation> Amazon doesn’t have a catalogue as big as Netflix but its plan to release a new series every week could soon make it a go-to hub for Korean content. Then there’s the pricing too. Netflix does offer multiple subscriptions, even low-priced ones for mobile users starting at ₹199 per month. Amazon on the other hand bundles Prime Video, Music with the e-commerce <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/amazon-prime-subscription-will-soon-cost-you-up-to-50-more/articleshow/87175961.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Prime membership</a> which costs ₹179 per month. If we compare the two, Amazon is much cheaper and also offers more benefits with its subscription. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Not only Netflix" comment="subhead" text="Not only Netflix">Not only Netflix</cmsannotation> It’s not only Netflix that offers access to Korean content. Other OTT apps like Rakuten’s Viki and Viu are also dedicated platforms for Korean and Asian movies, TV shows. Viki, for example, already streams some of the shows like Mr. Queen and The Penthouse. The app is available for free as an ad-based service. MX Player also offers K-Dramas dubbed in Hindi and regional languages Tamil and Telugu. Disney+ Hotstar is another global platform that pushed its entry into this genre with the launch of five new Korean series - Moving, Grid, Snowdrop, Rookies and “Sixth Sense Kiss”. The streaming service will also release an exclusive documentary titled “Blackpink: The Movie” on Disney+ and, it also announced a spinoff of the popular Korean TV show “Running Man” exclusively for Disney+. Apple also launched its first Korean-language series “Dr. Brain” globally on the same day the service debuted in South Korea. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/amazon-prime-subscription-will-soon-cost-you-up-to-50-more/articleshow/87175961.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Amazon Prime subscription will soon cost you up to 50% more from December 14</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/beware-of-these-popular-netflix-scams-and-phishing-attacks/articleshow/87843343.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Love binge watching? Beware of these Netflix scams and phishing attacks</a>

Amazon Prime Video may not be the early bird, but it still wants to catch the K-wave in India

<ul><li>Indians embrace the ‘clean beauty’ trend with natural, organic, green, and allergen-free ingredients.</li><li>Japanese products emphasize preventive measures instead of fixing damage.</li><li>Japanese skin and hair care products claim to be simple and require minimal effort to use. </li></ul>K-pop and K-dramas have ushered in a new trend of K-beauty regimens, which have picked up across India too over the last decade. But it’s not the only Asian beauty trend that’s making inroads in this fast-growing market. Japanese beauty companies are also making a beeline for the Indian market to cash in on the ‘natural ingredient’ trend. Late last year, one of Japan’s largest cosmetics companies <keyword id="19951131" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shiseido" source="keywords">Shiseido</keyword> partnered with <keyword id="19919253" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shoppers-stop" source="keywords">Shoppers Stop</keyword> to launch its NARS brand in India. Not only has it plans to open 14 stores in Mumbai and Delhi, but it’s also marketing the brand via <keyword id="19955203" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sephora" source="keywords">Sephora</keyword> stores. And there are more to come, says a report by <keyword id="20604035" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="global-data" source="keywords">Global Data</keyword>. With India’s health and beauty market projected to grow at 5-6% between 2022-27, they aim to make a significant impact, the data and analytics firm adds. J is the new K of beauty It’s not that there are no similarities between J-beauty and K-beauty. They share the same DNA of being rooted in R&amp;D, and Japanese brands also introduced revolutionary products like oil cleansers. “While K-beauty relies on eye-catching product assertions, trendy ingredients, unconventional packaging, and quick results, J-beauty emphasizes efficiency, enduring effects of formulations, and refined packaging akin to Western beauty goods,” explains Mani Bhushan <keyword id="19906945" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shukla" source="keywords">Shukla</keyword>, consumer analyst at GlobalData. In general, beauty regimens are picking up fast as Indians focus on self-care. Adding to that, social media and rapid urbanization are making them pay more attention to personal appearance. Not only are Indians keen on new-age beauty trends, but they also seek brands that are ethical, sustainable, and safe. Moreover, consumers now pay a lot more attention to ingredients that go into beauty products. And Japanese cosmetics can rank higher in this regard, opines Global Data. They aid the ‘clean beauty’ trend, which encompasses product claims like natural, organic, green, and allergen-free. Japanese beauty products place importance on preventive measures instead of fixing damage. “Recognizing the increasing demand for natural and organic products in India, J-beauty manufacturers have rolled out new formulations to meet the preferences of the discerning consumer base, including ageing individuals,” adds Shukla. What’s the next trend? Indian consumers are constantly hunting for the next big beauty trend. As per GlobalData’s Q4 2023 consumer survey, 74% of female consumers are consistently or frequently influenced by the uniqueness and enjoyability of a product or service when making health and beauty purchases. If easy to use and less cumbersomeness picks up as the next trendsetter, Japanese companies could have an upper hand. Japanese skin and hair care products claim to be simple and require minimal effort to apply and use. “Although both K-beauty and J-beauty incorporate multi-step routines into their skincare regimens, they differ in complexity. J-beauty sets itself apart from the former by embracing a more streamlined approach with fewer products, resembling Western beauty regimens,” says Shukla. As per GlobalData’s survey, 66% of female consumers in India said that their choice of a beauty product is influenced by how well it aligns with their time and money constraints.

Move over K-beauty, Japanese brands are here to take over India’s clean B-trend

<ul><li>From concert tickets, learning the language, albums, and photo books, to online or in-person meet-and-greets, K-pop fans leave no stone unturned in immersing themselves in their idols’ culture.</li><li>Now, with <keyword id="10879114" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Non-fungible-Tokens" source="Orion">Non-fungible Tokens</keyword> (NFTs), owning a special item is always going to be attractive to all dedicated fans.</li><li>K-pop fans, brand experts and NFT marketplaces tell us all you need to know about the oncoming wave of K-pop NFTs.</li></ul>It was in 2012 that Korean Singer Park Jae-sang’s (PSY) song ‘Gangnam Style’ took the world by storm, became the <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2019/12/20/youtube-most-viewed-music-videos-from-gangnam-style-to-despacito/2702463001/">most </a>streamed song on YouTube and what followed was the birth of the South Korean Wave or Hallyu in India. <div type="image" title="Gangnam style gif" msid="90628215" hostid="261"></div> This global phenomenon was later driven by music, movies, and dramas, which further rose to popularity in India during the <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/9/15/k-craze-korean-dramas-and-culture-are-taking-india-by-storm">lockdown</a>. For most fans, the affair with South Korean culture began with Korean popular music (K-pop) and its biggest bands such as Bangtan Sonyeondan (BTS), Blackpink, MonsterX, iKon, Big Bang, Twice, and Red Velvet. Slowly, the fondness expanded to the food they ate, the language they spoke, the make-up and jewellery they wore, and a highly enthusiastic, loyal and active fandom was born. As per research and analytics firm <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/956032/south-korea-kpop-popularity-in-india/">Statista’s </a>recently conducted survey in India between the ages of 15 and 59 years who had experienced South Korean cultural content, K-pop was considered to be very popular by 34.4% of respondents. Statista’s another <a href="https://www.statista.com/topics/5098/music-industry-in-south-korea/#:~:text=All%20in%20all%2C%20the%20South,to%20become%20a%20global%20phenomenon.">report </a>on Korean culture said that the South Korean music industry achieved an all-time high sales revenue of over ₩6.8 trillion in 2019, as well as an export value of over $756 million, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/01/30/bts-kpop-bighitentertainment/">which accounts for a sizeable 0.3% contribution to South Korea’s GDP</a>. The same survey found that the <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/937260/south-korea-reasons-for-kpop-popularity-worldwide/">main reason for its popularity</a> were the catchy rhythms and choruses. Indian digital content creator, Radhika Bangia, who often dresses up as her favourite Korean characters on Instagram, is followed by 1.6 million people. Her bio, “Crash landing on K-dramas”, explicitly declares her love for the Korean culture to the world. It was her Korean best friend in New Zealand who introduced her to K-pop. Bangia got really hooked on to the music when Boy With Luv, a BTS song, came out and in the world of K-drama, it was Boys Over Flowers for her. She says that she has been surprised at the speed which K-Pop and K-drama have grown in India. “K-Pop/K-Drama is mainly a love-it or hate-it affair (even though it’s so catchy I’m not sure how you can hate it). It’s so much fun to meet and interact with other K-Pop/K-Drama fans and see their enthusiasm for it,” says Bangia in an emailed reply to Business Insider. Why Indian advertisers need to take K-pop fandom more seriously Fans of K-drama and K-pop have created various groups on Facebook, <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/kpop/">Reddit</a>, Telegram, Clubhouse, where they bond over their shared love for South Korean culture. Their loyalty for their favourite stars is most apparent in the <a href="https://www.d8aspring.com/eye-on-asia/the-power-of-k-pop-groups-in-endorsement-deals">rise </a>of K-Pop Twitter fancams, record-breaking YouTube streams, and sold-out concerts and merchandise. As per Southeast Asian e-commerce aggregator, iPrice Group, a devoted member of the BTS army across Southeast Asian countries, must have <a href="https://iprice.ph/trends/insights/how-much-money-do-kpop-fans-spend-on-their-idols/">spent </a>an average of $1,422, which is equivalent to buying an iPhone 12 Pro. This average purchase includes at least 15 studio albums, five concerts and numerous merchandise. <div type="image" title="k-pop" msid="90628210" hostid="261"></div> Fans of K-pop across South Asian countries and globe, do not shy away from spending money to support their idols. It is a quality that brands look for in their ambassadors -- the ability to start a conversation among a huge fan following and their social currency. BTS followers are also one of the major representatives of the <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2020-10-28/bts-k-pop-stans-are-fighting-qanon-and-maga-on-social-media?utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;cmpid=socialflow-twitter-businessweek&amp;utm_content=businessweek">online “stan” culture,</a> where super fans use different online channels, especially social media, to continuously promote and defend their idols. According to <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bts-twitter-account-mentions-fans-1128480/">Twitter</a>, BTS has been the most-tweeted-about band on Twitter for four consecutive years. However, in India, only multinational food chain McDonald’s has tried to leverage on this huge stan culture. Last year in April, McDonald’s launched the BTS Meal across 11 countries in Asia, including India. The internet <a href="https://www.campaignasia.com/article/bts-campaign-in-asia-has-been-phenomenal-mcdonalds-asia-marketer/469926">exploded </a>with messages from ARMY, fans of BTS, and McDonald’s. Apart from that, we have only seen international collaborations such as Samsung, Coke and Hyundai with BTS. Telling us why Indian brands have failed to jump in the whirl of Hallyu, Lloyd Mathias, business strategist and marketing expert, says, “Indian brands have yet to tap into the immense potential of K-Pop as a marketing tool, partially because of the inability of marketers to fully comprehend the phenomenon and more specifically as Indian brands will have to enter into specific licensing arrangements with them. For global brands like Coke and McDonald’s and Korean brands like Hyundai and Samsung, this clearly poses no problems.” K-drama fan Bangia was thrilled at the idea of two cultures coming together. “I would personally love to see some Indian brands collaborating with BTS or BlackPink. I think the mixing of cultures would be cool to see!” While Indian fans are getting their dose with international collaborations and the merchandise available online, the unconditional love that ARMY and various K-pop fans extend, offer an immense potential for brands in bringing in new consumers. Anjali Malthankar, national strategy director at digital advertising agency Tonic Worldwide, says, “Indian brands are treating K-pop as topical content, but there is a big opportunity for Indian brands to ride the wave and appeal to the K-pop fanbase. What fans in India would want, is to be as close to the K-pop stars as possible, and to have access to them. In fact, that’s what K-pop has cracked on social media. They know what their fans want and the whole model is about giving power to the fans to make their favorite stars more popular. I feel, a live concert, physical or virtual/experiential can be a big platform for Indian brands to participate.” On the other hand, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of blockchain analytics company bitsCrunch, Vijay Pravin Maharajan points out that it would be unfair to say that Indian brands have failed to capitalise on its popularity as there are so many different opportunities for brands to draw in audiences. “It is important to remember that, like South Korea, India is home to a thriving local entertainment industry and is a melting pot for entertainment worldwide. Even among those who were favourable to K-pop, there are certainly other genres and industries they engage with. It is highly unlikely that the average Indian K-pop fan engages exclusively with the genre. Indian brands are likely to go with local entertainment and artists, of which there is an almost continuous supply,” says Maharajan. Can NFTs be a place where fans get their due? Any fan is not just a spectator or silent admirer of art, they are active stakeholders who go out of their way to support their idols. From concert tickets, learning the language, buying albums, and creating photo books, to online or in-person meet-and-greets, K-pop and K-drama fans leave no stone unturned in <a href="https://homegrown.co.in/article/803152/merchandise-events-more-a-guide-to-everything-k-pop-in-india">immersing </a>themselves in their idols’ culture. And Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are pushed toward heavily engaged fandom. Apart from <a href="https://www.verizon.com/business/small-business-essentials/resources/beliebers-why-care-231604811/">Beliebers</a>, <a href="https://fandomwire.com/popular-actors-who-are-bigger-potterheads-than-you/">Potterheads</a>, <a href="https://www.diggitmagazine.com/articles/taylor-swift-and-story-swifties-fandom">Swifties </a>and fans who form a beeline diligently in front of Amitabh Bachchan and Shahrukh Khan’s bungalows in Mumbai, K-pop and K-drama lovers are amongst the biggest communities. With K-pop NFTs, fans can own a special collectible item that would stay with them forever, even transfer onto different clouds. It would get them an opportunity to support their artist directly, flaunt their fandom and become a part of the larger community. So, can K-pop NFTs be the next big wave in the growth of Korean culture in India? Brand guru Mathias says yes. “I believe NFT can help take this to the next level given that many can now ‘own’ part of the phenomenon in the metaverse.” Korean culture has successfully built a sense of connectivity and relativity with the Indian masses, owing to the commonality of culture in terms of food habits, manners, and behaviour. With NFTs, fans of these two cultures can support their favourite artists. Ramkumar Subramaniam, CEO and cofounder of no-code NFT platform GuardianLink, says, “With the rise of NFTs aided by the popularity digital currency and assets have garnered, especially in the entertainment and art fields, even the globally famous South-Korean band, BTS, entered the red-hot NFT space in November. Given that India is rapidly adopting NFTs as a way of building connect with their favourite artists, NFTs are anticipated to be the next big thing fuelling Korean culture’s penetration in India.” Sai Krishna VK, founder of visual tech company Scapic, who is also known for his content around crypto and investment, says, “NFTs intrinsically capture value that fandom has always had, the only difference is that this value is now a direct relationship and with ownership too, in some cases. Industries like K-pop will be among the biggest to benefit from this as the chance to interact, engage and be closer to the stars you idolise is the sort of technology product that was simply not possible before this.” The initial buzz around the world of NFT was by crypto investors. They finally found a medium to spend their digital money on. Now, from <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/prabhas-posters-from-radhe-shyam-to-be-available-as-nfts/articleshow/90054402.cms">Prabhas </a>fans to K-pop, NFTs are attracting more diverse audiences and fandoms. Finfluencer Neha Nagar has been talking about the growth of NFT and crypto in India. She thinks that the introduction of K-pop NFTs to India will give a push to both Korean culture and NFT’s adoption. “K-pop fans are a very strong community, now every K-pop fan will be forced to think about NFTs, which will lead some of them to actually buy those NFTs for the sake of love for their k-pop stars. K-pop fans already have spent on merchandise and tickets to support their stars. Owning k-pop, NFTs will now be called ‘a proof of being a k-pop fan,’ especially genZ will get more attracted to NFTs now, which will push the NFT craze to next level. This is going to be quite exciting!” Maharajan of bitsCrunch says, “With the growing popularity of K-pop in India, moving the production of music videos to the digital realm may be the way of the future.” While K-pop fans are voicing their <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2021/12/nft-kpop-environmental-problems/621091/">concerns </a>over carbon-torching NFT, various <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/binance-and-the-record-label-behind-k-pop-sensation-blackpink-will-work-on-creating-eco-friendly-nfts/articleshow/89435868.cms">labels </a>have started working on launching greener NFTs. Bangia is optimistic that K-pop fans will accept NFTs that support their favorite artists, “but my personal hope is that we can find a way to minimise the amount of energy that blockchain requires,” she adds. K-pop has been able to make international inroads in recent years and now with the arrival of various K-pop NFTs, the future of hallyu in India looks <a href="https://youtu.be/gdZLi9oWNZg">Dynamite</a>!

NFTs may finally leverage India's fandom for Korean drama and music, which Indian brands have failed to cash in on

<ul><li>There is an increased demand for Korean noodles and more sellers are joining the platform.</li><li>India’s South Korean ramen imports rose from ₹10.44 crore in 2020 to ₹30.63 crore in 2021.</li><li>The surging demand is mainly from Tier 1&amp;2 cities. </li></ul>There is something new on the plate for <keyword id="2884394" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="instant-noodle" source="Orion">instant noodle</keyword> lovers in India – ramen from Korea. Long used to the comfort of Maggi and Yippee, Indian consumers are warming up to the spicier noodle options offered by Korean brands like Nongshim, Samyang, <keyword id="14761789" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="paldo" source="Orion">Paldo</keyword> and more as the Korean wave sweeps the nation. Korean ramen is also the latest viral food on Instagram. Influencers are posting reels on social media, reviewing them and jumping on the hallyu which means the Korean wave. GenZs and Millennials cannot get enough of these K-noodles, just like their love for K-dramas and K-pop. “Korean noodles have grown more than the instant noodles category. Most of the demand is coming from the Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities,” said Seshu Kumar Tirumala, national head-buying and merchandising at Bigbasket. However, it is to be noted that Korean instant noodles have a very low base in India, with Nestle’s Maggi and ITC’s Yippee dominating the Indian instant noodles market. <div type="image" title="Korean Noodles" msid="93663312" hostid="261" sizebytes="171884"></div> However, imports of noodles are growing slowly but steadily. India’s South Korean ramen imports rose from ₹10.44 crore in 2020 to ₹30.63 crore in 2021, according to an Economic Times <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/prime/consumer/riding-the-hallyu-wave-how-korean-packaged-food-is-making-its-way-into-indian-homes/primearticleshow/86045707.cms">report</a>. “Korean noodles have seen a growth of 140% over the last year in the Indian market and ramen noodles are contributing to 90% of the overall category on Bigbasket,” said Tirumala. Most of the demand for these niche products seems to be coming from quick commerce players or grocery delivery services as opposed to the traditional kiranas. Apart from quick commerce, specialised K-stores like Seelamart in Delhi, and Korean online retailer korikart.com cater to the buyers in the segment. “Nongshim, Paldo and Samyang are the top Korean ramen sellers in the Indian market,” said Akhil Jetly, assistant manager at Seelamart. A <keyword id="12724311" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="blinkit" source="Orion">Blinkit</keyword> spokesperson says that there has been an increased demand for global cuisine in general and Korean noodles in particular. “Just a year ago, there was hardly any interest in this category but now, the business has been growing about 20% month-on-month. More sellers are joining the platform, and since the market has turned competitive, prices are low,” said Blinkit’s spokesperson. Korean noodles however are pricier than their Indian counterparts – in some cases by as much as 10 times. The cheapest Korean noodles pack costs around ₹50, and goes as high as ₹200. Most of them are in the ₹100-150 range, according to data from wholesalers and retailers. Yet, that hasn’t prevented those who have acquired the taste of K-noodles from digging in and expanding their palate. SEE ALSO : <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/tiktoks-in-app-browser-on-ios-includes-code-that-can-monitor-your-keystrokes-and-taps/articleshow/93662878.cms">TikTok’s in-app browser on iOS includes code that can monitor your keystrokes and taps</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/there-is-a-yawning-gap-between-the-confidence-of-consumers-and-businesses/articleshow/93662752.cms">There is a yawning gap between the confidence of consumers and businesses</a>

Beyond the squid game: Indian taste seekers are warming up to K-noodles

<ul><li>India has banned another 43 chinese apps from the country in the name of data privacy and security. </li><li>The list mostly consists of dating apps that pose the risk of ‘honey trapping’ officials or soldiers. </li><li>It also bans the online shopping application AlibabaExpress.</li></ul>As tensions between India and China continue to simmer, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has banned another Chinese 43 apps from India. This is the third such list that the government has issued in which no direct mention has been made to China or the app’s origins, but the list still exclusively consists of Chinese mobile apps. Notable names that have been featured on the list are the e-commerce company AliExpress, Snack Video — which had been gaining popularity after the ban of TikTok — and Alibaba Workbench. However, more notably, out of the 43 apps that India has chosen to ban, 15 are dating apps. Here’s the full list of Chinese apps banned in India on November 24: <ol><li>AliSuppliers Mobile App</li><li>Alibaba Workbench</li><li>AliExpress - Smarter Shopping, Better Living</li><li>Alipay Cashier</li><li>Lalamove India - Delivery App</li><li>Drive with Lalamove India</li><li>Snack Video</li><li>CamCard - Business Card Reader</li><li>CamCard - BCR (Western)</li><li>Soul- Follow the soul to find you</li><li>Chinese Social - Free Online Dating Video App &amp; Chat</li><li>Date in Asia - Dating &amp; Chat For Asian Singles</li><li>WeDate-Dating App</li><li>Free dating app-Singol, start your date!</li><li>Adore App</li><li>TrulyChinese - Chinese Dating App</li><li>TrulyAsian - Asian Dating App</li><li>ChinaLove: dating app for Chinese singles</li><li>DateMyAge: Chat, Meet, Date Mature Singles Online</li><li>AsianDate: find Asian singles</li><li>FlirtWish: chat with singles</li><li>Guys Only Dating: Gay Chat</li><li>Tubit: Live Streams</li><li>WeWorkChina</li><li>First Love Live- super hot live beauties live online</li><li>Rela - Lesbian Social Network</li><li>Cashier Wallet</li><li>MangoTV</li><li>MGTV-HunanTV official TV APP</li><li>WeTV - TV version</li><li>WeTV - Cdrama, Kdrama&amp;More</li><li>WeTV Lite</li><li>Lucky Live-Live Video Streaming App</li><li>Taobao Live</li><li>DingTalk</li><li>Identity V</li><li>Isoland 2: Ashes of Time</li><li>BoxStar (Early Access)</li><li>Heroes Evolved</li><li>Happy Fish</li><li>Jellipop Match-Decorate your dream island！</li><li>Munchkin Match: magic home building</li><li>Conquista Online II</li></ol>

India bans another 43 Chinese apps as border tensions along LAC continue to simmer

Last week, the <keyword id="6356662" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="singapore" source="Orion">Singapore</keyword> Tourism Board (STB) announced visitor numbers to the city-state which topped expectations with over 2.9 million arrivals in the first three months of this year. This is 62 per cent of 2019's first quarter figure of the 4.7 million people who visited Singapore in the first quarter of 2019. A total of 193,230 of these came from India which is about 3.5 times more than the 54,530 who arrived in 2022. Indian residents are the fourth largest source of tourist arrivals in the first quarter after Indonesians (523,300), Malaysian (278,910) and Australians (265,730). Americans made up the fifth largest group of visitors by country of origin at 168,960. China which was the largest source of tourists for Singapore with over 3.75 million visitors in 2019 have yet to fully return to Singapore and made up the ninth largest group of tourists in Q1 with only 124,560 coming to Singapore. In 2019, based on figures from China's National Bureau of Statistics, Chinese tourists made nearly 170 million trips abroad. Although China has lifted travel restrictions, cumbersome travel processes targeted at Chinese residents by countries like South Korea and Japan earlier this year dampened the enthusiasm for outboard travel. This has been exacerbated by delays in passport renewals and visa applications as well as the inability of Chinese airlines to mount the same number of flights as before COVID. Based on data from Alibaba-owned travel booking site Fliggy, during February, international flights out of China are at less than 10 per cent of 2019 levels. Furthermore, the travel habits of Chinese citizens have been changed by three years of COVID-19 restrictions with many now contented to explore the vast and varied attractions in their own country. "The Chinese tourists we will welcome this year and in the coming years are very different from those who came before," Wolfgang Georg Arlt, founder and chief executive of COTRI (Chinese Outbound Tourism Research Institute), was quoted by CBNC as saying at ITB Berlin, the world's largest tourism trade fair. COTRI is an independent consulting company based in Germany. In China as elsewhere, years of pandemic-induced lockdowns sparked a shift away from major tourist attractions toward "more nature-orientated, more outdoor-orientated tourism," Arlt said. He highlighted the emergence of trends like camping and glamping, as well as family-focused trips. COTRI predicts that Chinese outbound travel will recover to around two-thirds of 2019's figures, with around 110 million overseas trips this year. In the meantime, the Singapore Tourism Board is not waiting for Chinese tourists' return to launch new activities and attractions to boost tourism on the island. To inspire travel to Singapore through TV series and films, STB together with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) announced the launch of an SGD 10 million (USD 7.5 million) Singapore On-screen Fund. The fund aims to support international media and entertainment (M&amp;E) partners in marketing Singapore through television and film shows aimed at an international audience. The Singapore On-screen Fund will support selected projects by key M&amp;E companies, which must be set in Singapore and launched before the first quarter of 2027. Successful projects will receive funding support of up to 30 per cent of qualifying costs related to featuring Singapore, including production and marketing costs. This is in part inspired by past collaborations which resulted in movies such as "Crazy Rich Asians", the popular K-drama "Little Women (2022) and the HBO sci-fi hit series "Westworld Season 3" (2020). These shows created an international impact and left a positive impression on audiences around the world. Also just announced in April is the return of the Free Singapore Tour which is very popular with Indian tourists as well as those from Australia and Indonesia. The tour was suspended during COVID. This tour is organised by STB together with Changi Airport and is meant for transit passengers at Changi who have a layover period of at least five and a half hours but less than 24 hours. They must also have valid entry visas for Singapore to take part in the tours. The objective of organising these free tours is to entice transit passengers to make Singapore a destination for their next holiday. The original three tours available before COVID - the City Sights Tour, Heritage Tour and Jewel Tour - have been refreshed to include new points of interest. A brand-new Changi Precinct tour will introduce travellers to the interesting sights and sounds of the eastern region surrounding Singapore Changi Airport. Each tour lasts two and a half hours and will be available daily, with plans to progressively increase to nine tours a day. In 2019, over 80,000 passengers went on the Free Singapore Tour. Another exciting development is the stationing of a brand-new Disney Cruise Line ship in Singapore from 2025 for five years. A memorandum of understanding between STB and Disney Cruise Line was announced on March 29. The 208,000 gross-ton ship which will have a passenger capacity of about 6,000 plus a crew strength of 2,300 will be taking passengers for cruises around Southeast Asian countries, home to more than 40 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Disney Cruise Line ship has the potential to add millions of local and foreign cruise passengers during the five-year period, including fly-cruise passengers who arrive in Singapore by air. It is also expected to bring about significant spillover benefits for the wider economy. "We look forward to welcoming the magic of Disney Cruise Line to Singapore in 2025," said Keith Tan, Chief Executive of STB. "This is an important milestone for STB and reflects Disney Cruise Line's strong confidence in Singapore and Southeast Asia. The new Disney cruise ship will be an attraction itself and is expected to boost the tourism sector in Singapore for many years to come."

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Cementing dominance: Birla vs Adani, of Chaebols, conglomerates, and National Champions

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Where to watch Korean dramas and movies in India

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Amazon Prime Video may not be the early bird, but it still wants to catch the K-wave in India

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Move over K-beauty, Japanese brands are here to take over India’s clean B-trend

Katya Naidu

NFTs may finally leverage India's fandom for Korean drama and music, which Indian brands have failed to cash in on

Karuna Sharma

Beyond the squid game: Indian taste seekers are warming up to K-noodles

Soniya Tiwari

India bans another 43 Chinese apps as border tensions along LAC continue to simmer

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As Indian visitors surge, Singapore tourist arrivals now at two-thirds pre-Covid levels

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