Kakao bets on games, social commerce

Kakao bets on games, social commerce

Lee Sir-goo By Cho Mu-hyun Although it is the talk of the town for launching a free Internet call service, Kakao Talk, the No. 1 mobile messenger operator, is still lacking where it counts most ― a viable business model. Its CEO Lee Sir-goo, obviously buoyed by a huge subscription base and recent attention for taking on the nation’s mobile carriers, doesn’t have an ace in the hole to instantly turn around its two-year losing streak. But he believes that a turnaround may come eventually, thanks to its over 50 million subsribers which has huge "potential." “We will launch a game platform next month after a beta test, and though we will give partner WeMade Entertainment preemptive rights as an investor, we plan to launch many new games from different providers,” Lee said during a recent interview. He leads Kakao together with Lee Jae-beom. “The delay in some of the projects is due to our desire to create a lasting business model for our services that are both profitable and significant,” he said. Also included in its step-by-step approach is a social commerce business with Thinkreals, which Kakao recently purchased. “We do have a social commerce model under development, which the employees of Thinkreals will assist in, but it will have a distinctive Kakao color to it,” he said. Lee was understandably passionate about the ongoing duel with carriers over its free mobile voice over Internet protocol (m-VoIP). He denied their claims that Kakao’s free service would eat away at their profit base, charging the carriers with foul play. “Telecommunications companies are intentionally lowering the quality of our Voice Talk (Kakao Talk’s free call service), which they have the technology to do,” said the CEO. “The decrease of quality (caused by them) I think has lowered the number of calls, while we receive user complaints.” “I don’t know if they intended it or not, but we are the ones taking the blame,” he said. “I am very thankful to LG Uplus for making a brave decision, which I think consider in the users’ interest. But they have not yet unblocked access.” m-VoIP is just the tip of the iceberg on the issue of network neutrality. Network neutrality is an assertion by content providers, such as Kakao Talk that they should be allowed complete use of networks whatever content transmitted. “Network neutrality is needed for many companies like us that do creative things to emerge. The most important thing in the mobile business is coexistence. Based on a stable and high quality network, the hardware industry and content providers like us benefit each other, which leads to more subscribers for mobile carriers,” Lee lamented. There is much speculation as to why Kakao Talk has developed and launched m-VoIP services. Some believe that it is attempting to end two years of losses. Lee says that there was absolutely no profit consideration for the free call service, while the real reason was that the company felt that it was a must-have, fun feature to make the messenger service more compelling. “Despite rumors that say otherwise, our main business is the messenger service and Voice Talk is secondary to that. If you try our Voice Talk, you know you log onto it through our messenger first, and it is one of many click-on items that enhance the chat experience.”

impale@koreatimes.co.kr

S&P, Moody’s cut ratings on KT, SK

S&P, Moody’s cut ratings on KT, SK

By Kim Yoo-chul Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services (S&P) and Moody’s Investors Service downgraded the credit ratings of Korea’s major telecommunications companies SK Telecom and KT, citing a potential threat posed by Kakao Talk’s free call service. S&P revised its outlook on KT to negative from stable. It explained the outlook revision reflects its expectation that a weak operating environment in the nation’s telecom industry will test KT’s performance over the next one-to-two years. ``We believe KT will face intensifying competition, uncertain regulatory conditions, and continuous declines in revenue in its fixed-line voice business,’’ said Park Jun-hong, a credit analyst at S&P. S&P believes that free mobile voice over Internet protocol (m-VoIP) services, such as that of Kakao Talk _ the most popular mobile messenger service in Korea _ could potentially threaten KT’s wireless and fixed-line voice revenue, it said in a statement. S&P gave favorable responses over stable growth in KT’s long-term evolution (LTE) customers and an improvement of performance in its pay-TV business. ``Despite these factors, we expect conditions in South Korea’s telecom industry to pressure KT’s earnings and profitability,’’ the credit rating agency said. KT spokeswoman Kim Yoon-jeong declined to comment. S&P’s downgrade on KT comes a few days after Moody’s gave negative views on SK Telecom and KT as the free voice call service by KaKao Talk will have a negative financial influence on Korea’s top two carriers. Moody’s also added the free call service will chip away at voice service revenue. Officials at SK Telecom also declined to comment. Existing local telecom companies including the smallest LG Uplus are strongly blaming KaKao Talk as the free call service will damage what the telecom companies claim is the ``market order.’’ The nation’s top telecom regulator, the Korea Communications Commission, confirmed that it won’t get involved in the fight between KaKao Talk and telecom companies. The agency believes that KaKao’s free call service is within the Korean Telecommunication Law's legal boundaries. Lee Sir-goo, KaKao’s co-CEO, said in a recent forum held at the National Assembly that SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus are forming an alliance to intentionally lower the voice call quality in the service provided by KaKao Talk, as the local carriers want to secure more profit sources.

The Korea Herald > World > World Business Ratings agency downgrades France

NEW YORK (AP) ― France’s credit rating was downgraded Thursday by Egan-Jones Ratings, which said the new government’s proposed policies could weaken the country’s finances and that French banks could need help.

The agency lowered France to “BBB+” from “A-” and assigned a negative outlook, which could foreshadow future downgrades.

Egan-Jones is smaller than the three main firms that issue ratings on companies and countries ― Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and Fitch ― all of which have ratings on France that are several notches higher.

S&P has a “AA+” rating while Moody’s and Fitch have “AAA” ratings. All three have “negative” outlooks.

Egan-Jones said France has mostly avoided the rise in borrowing costs over the past 18 months, but the ratings firm expects that to change as the European debt crisis continues.

Deterioration of France’s credit measurements combined with needed support for its banks “are likely to pressure the country,” the ratings agency said.

Egan-Jones said that new French President Francois Hollande “will be under pressure to keep campaign promises which will ultimately hurt credit quality.”

The official unemployment rate in France climbed to 10 percent in the first quarter, the highest level since 1999. High unemployment and weak economic growth helped the socialist Hollande defeat conservative incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy in last month’s presidential election.

Spanish debt climbs to 72.1% of GDP: central bank

Spain's public debt rose to 72.1 percent of gross domestic product in the first quarter of 2012 from 63.6 percent in the same period a year earlier, the Bank of Spain said Friday.

The government expects the public debt to reach 79.8 percent of GDP by the end of the year, a figure that does not include the impact of a eurozone loan of up to 100 billion euros ($126 billion) to ailing Spanish banks.

The ratings agency Moody's warned Wednesday that the loan "will materially worsen the government's debt position" and projected Spain's public deficit would hit 90 percent of GDP this year and continue rising through 2015.

Moody's slashed Spain's credit rating by three notches, from A3 to Baa3, the lowest level of "investment grade" or just above "speculative" or "junk" status. (AFP)

Obama halts deportations of young illegals

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during a press conference in the White House, Washington, on Friday. AFP

U.S. President Barack Obama suspended the threat of deportation against hundreds of thousands of young illegal immigrants Friday, delighting crucial Hispanic voters ahead of November's election.

"These are young people who study in our schools, they play in our neighborhoods... they are Americans in their heart, in their minds, in every single way but one... on paper," Obama said at the White House.

The scheme applies to people brought to the U.S. before the age of 16, who are currently under 30, are in school or have graduated from high school, or have served in the military and have not been convicted of a felony.

"Put yourself in their shoes, imagine you have done everything right your entire life... only to suddenly face the threat of deportation to a country you know nothing about," Obama said.

"This is not amnesty, this is not immunity... this is the right thing to do," said Obama, who, in an unusual scene, was heckled by a journalist from the conservative Daily Caller website during his remarks.

Although affected youths will be able to apply for work permits, they will not be granted permanent residence status or a path towards citizenship.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said that only youths that had been living in the U.S. for five years and were no threat to national security would be eligible for the scheme.

Obama's decision will go some way to enshrining the goals of the DREAM Act, legislation backed by the White House that could lead to young illegal immigrants gaining permanent residency.

The bill, opposed by Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and conservatives on Capitol Hill, has repeatedly failed to pass Congress and become law.

Romney said that although the plight of young illegals was important, the action Obama took "makes it more difficult to reach that long-term solution."

"I'd like to see legislation that deals with this issue," he said, adding that he agreed with the approach of U.S. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida.

Rubio, seen as a possible future Republican presidential candidate, has a difficult line to walk on immigration between a hawkish Republican party and a desire not to alienate Hispanic voters.

"By once again ignoring the constitution and going around Congress, this short-term policy will make it harder to find a balanced and responsible long-term one," Rubio said.

Romney's position on immigration reform, adopted to appeal to conservative Republican primary voters, could come back to haunt him among Hispanics in general election swing states like Colorado and Nevada.

Other Republicans accused Obama of overstepping his powers and of bypassing the collective will of elected lawmakers.

"Americans should be outraged that President Obama is planning to usurp the constitutional authority of the United States Congress and grant amnesty by edict to one million illegal aliens," Iowa Representative Steve King said.

"There is no ambiguity in Congress about whether the DREAM Act's amnesty program should be the law of the land.

"It has been rejected by Congress, and yet President Obama has decided that he will move forward with it anyway."

Officials said the move was not a permanent solution to the status of illegal immigrants but offered a two-year deferment of deportation proceedings, which could be extended by a further two years on expiry.

Despite sparking conservative anger, Obama's decision was however welcomed by immigration reform groups.

"The president has given us a reason to believe in him," said Cesar Vargas, managing partner at DRM Capitol Group, which fights for DREAM legislation around the United States.

"We will ensure that people go out to vote to keep this executive order alive."

Officials said the measure could impact around 800,000 youthful illegal immigrants. The Pew Hispanic Center said up to 1.4 million children and young adults could benefit.

There are 11.5 million illegal immigrants living in the United States, and efforts to deal with their status -- and provide a path to citizenship -- have foundered in recent years over sharp political divisions.

In an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll last month, Obama led Romney among registered Hispanic voters, 61 to 27 percent.

Obama promised to work towards comprehensive immigration reform, a goal of the Hispanic community, when he ran for office but has made little progress. Now the president is pledging to tackle the issue if he wins a second term. (AFP) 

Nokia to cut up to 10,000 jobs globally by end-2013

HELSINKI (AFP) -- Finland's Nokia, one of the world’s biggest mobile phone makers, announced Thursday that it planned to cut up to 10,000 jobs by the end of next year due to massive additional cost-savings measures.

“These planned reductions are a difficult consequence of the intended actions we believe we must take to ensure Nokia's long-term competitive strength,” company chief executive Stephen Elop said in a statement.

Nokia was earlier this year bumped from the world’s biggest mobile phone maker spot it had held for 14 years.

Stephen Elop, CEO of Nokia Oyj (Bloomberg)

The company said it has been undergoing a major restructuring for more than a year would need to implement much bigger cost-saving measures than previously expected. It also announced a massive management reshuffle.

“In addition to the already achieved annualized run rate saving of approximately 700 million euros ($874 million) at the end of the first quarter of 2012, the company targets to implement approximately 1.6 billion of additional cost reductions by the end of 2013,” it said in a statement.

Nokia said it would continue to “closely assess the future of certain non-core assets,” and confirmed reports that it would sell its luxury mobile phone business Vertu to private equity firm EQT VI.

Vertu was established in 1998, on a concept of haute-couture mobile telephony. Its phones, which are typically adorned with diamonds and other gems, run on the Symbian operating system with prices starting at around 4,000 euros for the Constellation model.

Nokia has since early 2011 been restructuring and phasing out its Symbian smartphones in favor of a partnership with Microsoft. That alliance has produced a first line of Lumia smartphones.

Nokia is depending heavily on the new phones to help it survive in a rapidly changing landscape with RiM's Blackberry, Apple’s iPhone and handsets running Google's Android platform take growing bites out of its market share.



caption: Stephen Elop, chief executive officer of Nokia Oyj Bloomberg

'Hottest' to artist: evolution of 2PM

'Hottest' to artist: evolution of 2PM

Members of K-pop boy band 2PM pose for a promotional photoshoot for their most recent release, “Hands Up,” in 2011. In their fifth year as one of the country’s most popular groups, they insist the best is yet to come, with great participation in the creative process. / Courtesy of JYP Entertainment This is the fifth in a 15-part series on the stars and trends of Hallyu, or the Korean wave, which is gaining popularity in Southeast Asia and Latin America. The Korea Times produces this special project in cooperation with the Korea Foundation and CJ E&M. — ED. By Kwaak Je-yup Dancing boy bands are a common feature in K-pop, but when it comes to fan loyalty, 2PM has few rivals. Catchy dance pop singles produced by their agency’s head producer JYP, intricate choreography that often takes a cue from acrobatics, handsome faces with slick hairstyles gelled to perfection and especially their signature chiseled torsos have driven quite a few fans around the world mad. In their hundreds of thousands, to put a real figure on it. Their first Asian tour, which ran from September to March and visited eight states, attracted nearly 160,000 people. Venues were packed every night. Last month, they sold out six consecutive dates at Tokyo’s iconic Nippon Budokan arena — every ticket was purchased under a minute after sale — amassing an additional 60,000. The six members’ regular meetings with their official fan club “The Hottest” look like a rock-infused church service; women let go of their inhibitions and find (momentary) salvation. They sigh, scream, cry, swoon and of course, sway with the massive group. Non-Korean fans visit the group’s home country and take pictures in front of their agency, JYP Entertainment, in Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul, as well as billboards with their faces on it, like a pilgrimage. And when controversy arises, the group elicits scorn and fury like no other. Beginning as a seven-member act — with Junsu, Nickhun, Taecyeon, Wooyoung, Junho, Chansung and Jaebeom — the 2009 announcement of the last name’s removal from the group brought angry fans holding demonstrations for weeks. What is behind this ardent emotional connection? Even the members themselves want to know. “I’d guess that it’s the 2PM identity,” says Wooyoung, 23. “The six members have different individual characters. I don’t think we can be called a global group yet, but when we had our first Asian tour ... we couldn’t believe the love that all the Korean and other fans were showering us with, singing along to our songs in groups.” “I can’t properly describe the feeling on stage when the Cool Ray (lighting device aimed toward the audience) at the Budokan is turned on, which only happens at sold-out performances,” says Taecyeon, 23. “Someone told me that it’s really difficult to have the Cool Ray up. When it happens, you can see every face in the house, all the way up to the third floor. It made me unbelievably happy to see the 60,000 fans (over six nights).” If they were best-known for their precision and synchronized dance moves five years ago, 2PM now seem more at ease, enjoying themselves more and trying to let each personality reflect in music and performance — and perhaps even lose control. “Compared to our debut stage, we are definitely more relaxed,” said the rapper. “And we really know each other like family now. We can improvise a little now because of that.” “Before one performance, we actually agreed not to rip our shirts off,” says Junho, 22, referring to one of their signature attractions, “But as we were coming off stage, we noticed Taecyeon’s abs were showing. He explained it as an in-the-moment thing; he said he was high on the fans’ love.” The singer added that he and Junsu, one year his senior, are also increasing the level of participation in the creative process, for lyrics, music and the overall concept, among other things. “We are also saddened by the fact that our overseas activities prevent us from spending more time in Korea and seeing our fans here more,” says Chansung, 22. “Stay tuned for our next Korean album, which should be released around this fall. It will be better than what we’ve done before.” Even in this path of evolution, some things will remain the same — especially their now internationally famous physique. “All of us are really active and love sports. We like that ‘jimseungdol’ nickname that fans have coined for us,” says Nickhun, the sole American member of Thai and Chinese descent who turns 23 at the end of this month, referring to the Korean portmanteau between beast and idol. “Instead of a drastic change in image, we want to show the sides we haven’t fully explored yet with different staging styles and performances. We are constantly thinking of new ideas and concepts.” And he adds that there is more than just their bodies to be uncovered: “If you listen more closely to our music, there are softer, more sentimental tracks as well.” For more, visit www.enewsworld.com. Who are 2PM? The six members of 2PM — Junsu, Nichkhun, Taecyeon, Wooyoung, Junho and Chansung — all feature the good looks synonymous with K-pop groups. But since their debut in 2008, the group has attempted to distinguish themselves by adding a muscular physique and dynamic dance moves including nearly-acrobatic choreography to their act. So, while most K-pop boy bands are known as “kkotminam” or “flower pretty boys,” the 2PM are more known as “jimseungnam,” which roughly translates into “animalistic boys,” referring to their muscular frames. They first debuted in 2008 with a catchy tune, “10 Points Out of 10.” But it was with “Again and Again” that the group hit No. 1. Then following it, “Heartbeat,” which was a single from their first full-length album “1:59 PM” released in November 2009, soared quickly to the top of the charts. In fact, both the album and single climbed multiple music sales charts. When the group first debuted, they originally had seven members led by rapper/dancer Jaebeom. But after a troublesome posting on the Internet, he eventually left in 2009. The abrupt departure of its leader briefly put the group’s future on hold, but only briefly. The six remaining members regrouped their energy and music with yet another hit song “Hands Up.” Popular across Asia, the group recently wrapped up a successful performance in Japan. Each member also pursues activities outside music. Taecyeon and Wooyoung have starred in popular television dramas including “Dream High.” Nickhun appeared on the entertainment program “We Got Married” where he took part in a mock-marriage with Victoria of girl group f(x).

Thousands of JYJ fans from Japan to visit Korea

JYJ (Cjes Entertainment)

Over 7,000 Japanese K-pop fans will visit South Korea late June to attend an event held by boy-band JYJ, its agency said Wednesday.

Cjes Entertainment said the 2012 JYJ Membership Week will host 15,000 Korean fans along with 7,024 Japanese fans that will visit Korea to attend the large-scale fan event.

“No other Hallyu star has been able to gather such a huge flock of fans in a single event,” claimed the agency. It alleged the influx of Japanese fans were “the largest in scale since the foundation of the country” although this claim was not officially validated.

Hallyu, which means the Korean wave, refers to the current popularity boom for Korean pop culture among Japan, China, and Southeast Asian countries.

JYJ Membership Week, to be held from June 28 through July 1 in Seoul, will feature exhibitions that will showcase various images of the boy-band. It will also present a chance for fans to meet JYJ in person.


The Korea Herald (khnews@heraldm.com)

Illegal surveillance targeted prominent figures: prosecutors

Names on list included Samsung’s Lee, chief justice, police chief

Opposition politicians lashed out at prosecutors for watering down their investigation into the government’s illegal surveillance of civilians after they closed the case on Wednesday without charging any additional high-level suspects.

The prosecutors announced that the illegal surveillance activities of the defunct ethics division of the Prime Minister’s Office was overseen by former vice minister of knowledge economy Park Young-joon and former Presidential Secretary for Employment and Labor Lee Young-ho.

They were found to have targetted about 30 prominent figures in government, parliament, business and regional circles. The list included former chief justice Lee Yong-hun, Samsung Electronics chairman Lee Kun-hee, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon and former police chief Eo Cheong-soo, the prosecutors said.

Cheong Wa Dae responded by issuing an apology for the development almost immediately after the results were announced.

“(Cheong Wa Dae) is apologetic to the public that people who have worked at Cheong Wa Dae were involved in the abuse of power at the ethics division under the Prime Minister’s Office,” President Lee’s spokesperson Park Jeong-ha said.

“Cheong Wa Dae will pay particular attention to ensure that similar incidents do not occur again.”

The main opposition Democratic United Party, however, was not appeased by the results of the investigation and called for a parliamentary investigation.

“The body of the surveillance scandal is President Lee Myung-bak, former lawmaker Lee Sang-deuk and a person suspected of illegal doings is the minister of justice … there is no way the prosecutors investigation can be properly done,” DUP committees on the surveillance scandal and corruptions of the current administration said. The current justice minister is Kwon Jae-jin, who was the presidential secretary for civic affairs.

“To reveal the truth, Minister Kwon Jae-jin needs to step down. The DUP submitted the petition calling for his removal, and will soon submit a petition for launching a parliamentary investigation.”

In relation to the case, Park and Lee were indicted on charges of abuse of authority. Park is currently under arrest on charges of taking bribes from the developer of the shopping mall Picity.

Park also ordered the division to gather information about Ulsan government officials in order to help a company in the southeastern city in return for 100 million won ($86,000).

Park, however, was found to have had no involvement in destroying evidence during the initial investigation in to the case in 2010.

In addition former chief of the PMO’s ethics division Lee In-kyu was indicted without detention on the same charges.

Former ethics division official Jin Kyung-rak, who carried out orders given by Park and the two Lees, was indicted for obstruction of duty and for searching premises without authority.

Regarding the involvement of Cheong Wa Dae, the investigators said that there was insufficient evidence to implicate the presidential civil affairs secretariat, which was pointed to as the source of the 50 million won given to Jang Jin-su as a bribe.

Jang is a former ethics division official whose revelations in March resulted in the case being reopened. In March, Jang, who was convicted of destroying evidence regarding the illegal surveillance activities in 2010, revealed that he was bribed and that he was acting under orders from Cheong Wa Dae officials when he destroyed evidence in 2010.

With regards to the reporting hierarchy of the ethics division, the investigators concluded that Park and Lee received reports and that the presidential civic affairs secretariat was not involved.

Aside from the roles of the key officials involved in the case, the prosecutors said that the PMO’s ethics division opened 500 surveillance cases that include 10 current and former lawmakers, eight high-level government officials and five current and former heads of regional governments, as well as seven civilians.

In the cases regarding government officials, however, the investigators said that the activities were within the division’s jurisdiction and that most of the other cases were simple information gathering.

Cases involving “simple” information gathering include chiefs of conglomerates ― identified as L and S of S group and L group respectively ― and Ven. Boseon of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. However, the information was not gathered through illegal activities, making it difficult to prosecute anyone for related activities, the prosecutors said.

The failure to identify the source of bribes and clarify whether or not “higher-ups” were involved is already putting the prosecutors under fire.

“It is ridiculous that Minister of Justice Kwon Jae-jin was not investigated, who is clearly at the center of the case,” Rep. Lee Sang-min of the Democratic United Party said on Wednesday.

Earlier on in the investigation, other DUP lawmakers claimed that Kwon had been in contact with PMO officials linked in the surveillance scheme.

According to Rep. Park Young-sun of the DUP, Lee In-kyu and other officials visited Cheong Wa Dae on 195 occasions between July 16, 2008 and June 23, 2010. The records revealed by Park showed that Lee and other PMO officials met with a number of officials including the then chief of presidential secretariat for civic affairs Kwon Jae-jin, and Jang Seok-myeong, who is a senior official in the presidential secretariat for civil affairs.

By Choi He-suk (cheesuk@heraldm.com)

Look smart, stay cool

Try conservative necklines, tone-on-tone looks and play with patterns


With the recent government drive to save energy, civil servants and office workers have been encouraged to adopt casual wear ― shirts without a tie, shorts and even sandals.

But while the relaxed and more casual look may keep office workers from turning on the air conditioner, it doesn’t help them look professional.

Now, fashion brands have met the challenge, presenting men’s summer office wear in light, cool fabrics that will help them dress professionally, yet still stay cool.

The new fabrics mix natural fibers from bamboo and coconut with traditional fibers such as cotton, wool, silk and linen.

They also mix natural fibers with synthetic fibers such as polyester to create new fabrics that are light, absorb perspiration and won’t wrinkle.

“If you wear clothes made with these fabrics, you can drop body temperature by as much as three degrees,” said Min Jung-ho, design manager of Trugen, a fashion brand targeting men in their 30s and 40s.

“We have presented a line of summer work wear for men to meet the growing need for the ‘cool-biz’ attire in line with the energy conservation campaign,” said Min.

(From left) A summer shirt with an attached vest by Caruso (Korea Fashion Association) A shirt with a traditional Korean pattern in cool and light fabric by HANTTRE Jacket and pants in cool and light fabric by Cambridge Members

UNIQLO has presented 13 different summer shirts and pants for men with a “dry” fabric that absorbs perspiration and reflects heat.

“The ‘dry’ shirts and pants will keep men feeling fresh all day long and enable them to create a formal business look,” according to the UNIQLO design team.
The Korea Fashion Association has even worked with the Ministry of Knowledge and Economy on developing summer fabrics and introduced summer work clothes through local fashion brands.

“We worked together to offer appropriate looks for office workers who want to keep a certain degree of formality and etiquette in the office,” said Park Young-su, deputy director of the KFA.

Caruso, one of the brands that took part in the government project, offered a shirt with an attached vest for those who still want a tailored look in summer.

Cambridge Members presented jackets, shirts and pants that have a reduced area of contact between the fabric and the skin.

With a wide variety of items available, some may face a moment of panic when deciding what to wear.

Trugen’s Min offered The Korea Herald his easy summer style guide for men.

Conservative neckline
If you want to look formal at the work place, polo shirts or V-neck t-shirts are the last options.

“Formal shirts with darker shades or micro-patterns will create a formal feeling that office workers, especially sales people, definitely need even during summer,” said Min.

He said dark shirts and those with patterns will go well with pants in lighter shades, a recent fashion trend in menswear.

“Men are starting to wear pants in sky blue or ivory; and shirts in navy are the easiest way to create a formal and professional look,” said Min.

Tone-on-tone
Items of the same color but in different shades can create a crisp and clean image.

“You don’t have to worry about matching colors on top and bottom,” said Min. The easiest way is to team a darker blue shirt with lighter pants of the same hue.

“You can create a cool feeling with brown too. Wear light brown or ivory pants and a darker brown shirt,” said Min.

Play with patterns
Try a shirt with small patterns and match it with pants or a blazer in the pattern’s color.

You can also match the color of your shirt collar with your pants.

For those who are hesitant to try bold colors, micro patterns mixed with a bold color is the first step to get in tune with the latest trend.

By Lee Woo-young (wylee@heraldm.com)