SOUTH KOREA. Lotte Duty Free and The Shilla Duty Free both reopened their downtown stores on Jeju yesterday (5 October). As reported, both stores had been closed since 1 June due to the spread of COVID-19 and the drop of foreign visitors to the island.
The stores have not fully reopened and they are operating on reduced opening hours, but both retailers decided to partially reopen at the request of cosmetics brands and because a small number of foreigners continue to visit Jeju.
Both stores will be open from 14.00 to 18.00 – reduced from their usual operating hours of 9.30 to 19.00.
Brands such as Dior, Kiehl’s and SK-II are open for shoppers in Lotte Duty Free’s store. The retailer said it will continue to ensure the environment is safe and told The Moodie Davitt Report that the store will fully reopen after the COVID-19 crisis has eased.
The Shilla Duty Free said cosmetics brands including Sulwhasoo, Laneige and Hera are resuming operations, and CheongKwanJang (Korean Ginseng Corp) is available for visiting tourists. The decision to partially reopen was made to ease employment concerns of staff and to help revitalise the Jeju commercial scene, the retailer told The Moodie Davitt Report. The Shilla Duty Free added that operating hours and available brands may change.
Korean media sources indicated that no more than 20 customers visited the shops when they reopened and that only about 50 of the 400 stores are open (mostly cosmetics and luxury fashion). Nonetheless, the reopening is a good indication of the continued recovery of the Korean duty free market from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
