SOUTH KOREA. More than 83% of respondents polled in six surveys of 14,000 people approve the creation of duty free arrivals shops at Seoul Incheon Airport, according to the airport authority.
Incheon International Airport Corporation is forging ahead with plans to set up arrivals duty free shops, believing it would be convenient for passengers and could prevent a foreign currency outflow.
In June, the Uri Party submitted a revision bill for establishing arrivals tax free shops to boost overseas travellers’ spend. The bill will be examined at the National Assembly this month.
The authority said the new shops would bring fresh revenue to the airport, such as rent, of about Won10-13 billion per year.
But Korean Customs reportedly opposes duty free shops in the arrivals area for security reasons, believing the shops could be misused as a smuggling venue for terrorist items. They are demanding that the stores should be located before immigration, not in an area near the baggage claim, to prevent abuse.
According to a report in Korea Times, airlines are also said to be against the scheme, saying their earnings from inflight duty free sales would decrease.
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