Issue 49: 2022. 4. 15. – “Introducing the New Automated Boardbook Line”

Dear all,

Greetings from PACOM! Spring is here, with flowers in full bloom and people already breaking out their short-sleeved shirts. I think the era of four seasons is pretty much over at this point--winter and summer have decided to get greedy and push out poor spring and autumn. As an autumn-born person, this is depressing, but I don't make the rules there.

Onto the news.

Prices

In the midst of rising prices everywhere, we have tried our hardest to avoid passing that onto our customers. However, there has been a recent escalation that has forced us to bend to the times.

Starting on May 1st, our local paper mills have informed us that prices will be raised further. These latest premeditated increases are rendering our current prices untenable, but we're here to provide solutions, imperfect as they may be.

We urge you to place your orders with PACOM before the stated date, as prices will be reflected according to date of request. PACOM will try its utmost to resist price increases for orders placed before May 1st.

We understand that this isn't the ideal news to receive, but we hope to give you enough advance warning to devise appropriate reactive measures in this regard. And you have our assurance that we will continue to do what we can to minimize the pain passed on to our customers.

New Equipment: Automated Board Book Binding Line

Our new automated board book binding line is operational! It is fully automated, with 12 pockets, cover capacity, and automated cutting and corner trimming capacity.

This new automated line will replace our old board book production line. Via this upgrade, we are already noticing a sizeable increase in production speed and end product quality, and as a bonus, there is that new machine feel and smell(?).

The demand for board books, an extremely popular product for children, has grown over the past few years and PACOM is responding to that increased demand by renovating and retooling itself. PACOM is no stranger to children's products, and will be utilizing the new line to continue its history of creating high-quality, safe-for-children products. Have a look for yourself!

Loosening Visit Regulations

In COVID times, visiting Korea was a significant hassle. One needed to submit information at least three weeks in advance to receive an exemption, or were otherwise forced to quarantine for anywhere between 7 and 14 days upon arrival--an untenable solution for those on business. Thankfully, there have been some developments that are helping alleviate the hassle.

Starting on April 1, fully vaccinated visitors can receive a PCR test at the airport after arriving and wait one night in their chosen place of stay (hotel, someone's house, etc.). This requires some pre-registration via the Korean government's Q-Code system, but it is a much easier process to navigate than having to request the government for quarantine exemption.

Those of you who are planning on visiting Korea, things are easier than they've been for the past couple of years. With the omicron wave now decreasing, further regulations may be loosened to make things even simpler; we'll keep you updated.

That is all for this edition of PACOM Update. Until next time!

Best regards,
Yu Bum Kim