Journalist

Cho Jae Hyung
  • Coupang to Challenge FTC Move Naming Kim Beom-seok as Group’s Controlling Person
    Coupang to Challenge FTC Move Naming Kim Beom-seok as Group’s Controlling Person Coupang said Tuesday it will pursue an administrative lawsuit after South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission changed Coupang’s designated “same person,” or controlling person, from a corporate entity to Coupang Inc. Chairman Kim Beom-seok, calling the move “double regulation.” In a statement, Coupang said Coupang Inc. owns 100% of its Korean unit, and the Korean unit in turn owns 100% of its subsidiaries and sub-subsidiaries, describing the structure as transparent. It said Kim and his relatives do not hold shares in the Korean affiliates, leaving “no concern at all” about private benefit or self-dealing. Coupang added that as a U.S.-listed company, Coupang Inc. is under strict oversight, including compliance with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission related-party disclosure requirements. It said the Korean unit has continued to meet the conditions that allow a corporation to be designated as the controlling person, and argued that tougher regulation amounts to double regulation. The company also said Kim’s younger brother is not an “executive” as defined under South Korea’s fair trade law — such as a CEO, director, auditor or manager — and holds no stake in the Korean affiliates. “Coupang will faithfully explain its position through an administrative lawsuit,” it said. Coupang plans to file an objection with the FTC within seven days and, if it is not accepted, proceed with litigation. Earlier, as it pushed back against claims by civic groups that Kim should be designated as the controlling person, Coupang said the vice president named in those claims was seconded from Coupang Inc. and works on improving global logistics efficiency. It said he is not an executive under the fair trade law and holds only some Coupang Inc. listed shares, like employees at a similar level. Under the controlling-person designation rules, the principle is to treat the natural person who effectively controls a business group as the controlling person. However, a corporation may be designated if “exception conditions” are met. Those conditions include: the scope of the business group is the same whether the controlling person is treated as an individual or a corporation; the individual who effectively controls the group does not invest in domestic affiliates other than the top company; the individual’s relatives do not invest in domestic affiliates or participate in management by serving as executives; and there are no debt guarantees or loans between the individual and relatives and the domestic affiliates. The designation is also expected to have broader repercussions. In U.S. politics, where lawmakers are sensitive to perceived discrimination against American companies, Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives have already increased pressure, including sending a letter of protest. The issue has also raised debate over whether it could violate the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement’s most-favored-nation obligation by treating the United States less favorably than third countries, and even the possibility of an investor-state dispute (ISD) has been mentioned.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 15:29:00
  • Amorepacific Group Q1 Operating Profit Rises 6.9% on Derma Beauty, Overseas Growth
    Amorepacific Group Q1 Operating Profit Rises 6.9% on Derma Beauty, Overseas Growth Amorepacific Group said it posted solid first-quarter results, helped by momentum in its derma beauty brands and a broader mix of global channels including North America and Japan. The company said consolidated first-quarter revenue rose 5.0% from a year earlier to 1.2227 trillion won, while operating profit increased 6.9% to 137.8 billion won. Flagship affiliate Amorepacific also reported gains, with revenue up 6.4% and operating profit up 7.6%, supporting the group’s overall improvement. In South Korea, revenue climbed 9% to 626.4 billion won and operating profit surged 65% to 81.5 billion won, the company said, citing a sharp improvement in profitability. Sulwhasoo posted higher sales across both online and offline channels on the back of Lunar New Year gift demand. Hera logged double-digit growth in multibrand stores and online channels, led by its cushion and lip categories. Aestura recorded its highest-ever sales at Olive Young, reinforcing its position as the top derma brand in the domestic market. Mise-en-scene entered cross-border channels through TikTok Shop, opening a new sales route. Overseas revenue rose 6% to 497.1 billion won. The company said it achieved double-digit sales growth in Western markets, Japan and the Asia-Pacific region, but operating profit fell 18% to 56.7 billion won due to aggressive marketing investment to expand newer brands globally. In Greater China, where efficiency measures are underway, revenue declined as offline channels were scaled back, though the company said it maintained a focus on protecting profitability. The group highlighted Aestura, Cosrx and Laneige as key performers abroad. In North America, Cosrx returned to sales growth on expanded sales of its RX line and PDRN line and strong Amazon promotions. Aestura posted triple-digit growth led by its A-Cica line, and IOPE entered Sephora in North America as it stepped up efforts in premium, high-performance skin care. Aestura also expanded into 17 European countries, while Cosrx posted strong growth in major U.K. channels. Premium brand Laneige strengthened its presence in Japan and other major Asian markets with new products including the Neo Cushion and the Juice Pop Box lip tint. Osulloc said it improved sales and profitability by reinforcing its position as a luxury tea brand and expanding product offerings that reflect current dessert trends. By contrast, other beauty subsidiaries — including Innisfree, Etude, Espoir and Amos Professional — saw results slip somewhat amid offline channel restructuring, the company said. An Amorepacific Group official said the company will focus companywide capabilities on delivering its mid- to long-term vision, “Create New Beauty.” To execute that vision, the group said it will accelerate five core strategic initiatives: 집중 육성 of key global markets, strengthening integrated beauty solutions, developing anti-aging offerings based on biotechnology, agile organizational innovation, and an AI-based shift in work processes. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 10:55:51
  • CJ OnStyle Speeds Up Content Commerce With Devil Wears Prada 2 Campaign, KBO Goods
    CJ OnStyle Speeds Up Content Commerce With 'Devil Wears Prada 2' Campaign, KBO Goods CJ OnStyle is strengthening its content-commerce business by turning fandom-based intellectual property tied to film and sports into shopping experiences. Industry officials said CJ OnStyle has partnered with The Walt Disney Company Korea to run a large branding campaign inspired by the film ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2,’ which is set to open on the 29th. The campaign runs through May 14. CJ OnStyle said it is the only commerce platform in South Korea running the campaign. The slogan is “This summer, OnStyle wears the devil.” The company is combining film content with its retail platform, targeting overlap between its core customers — women in their 30s and 40s — and the movie’s fan base. The main concept is “Runway to Realway,” aiming to bring the film’s fashion into everyday wear. CJ OnStyle curated about 2,500 style items, from office looks to resort wear, reflecting the storylines of the two main characters. To extend the film theme across the shopping experience, CJ OnStyle redesigned its mobile app interface, circular launcher logo and live-streaming studio around the movie concept. CJ OnStyle is also expanding its approach to Korea Baseball Organization, or KBO, goods, saying baseball fans’ spending has moved beyond stadium cheering to everyday self-expression. Instead of simply printing team logos, it planned merchandise focused on fashion accessories that can be used naturally for commuting, outings and travel. Based on CJ OnStyle’s analysis of KBO goods sales data from April 9 to 25, fashion accessories such as bandana scarves, lightweight folding umbrellas and stadium-bag key rings ranked among top sellers. Cumulative sales reached 35,000 items in about 10 days after launch, and fashion accounted for 52.8% of total sales. A CJ OnStyle official said the company will continue to strengthen content-commerce competitiveness through differentiated IP that gives customers more reasons to visit and more to enjoy on the platform.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 18:11:36
  • Korean Retailers Roll Out Payment Perks, Pop-Ups to Lure Foreign Shoppers for May Holidays
    Korean Retailers Roll Out Payment Perks, Pop-Ups to Lure Foreign Shoppers for May Holidays Korea’s retail industry is mounting an all-out push to attract foreign tourists and spur domestic spending as holiday periods in South Korea, China and Japan overlap into a major early-May shopping peak. With more travelers visiting independently, retailers are emphasizing easier payments and pairing promotions with K-content experiences. According to the industry on April 28, Lotte Department Store will run a “Shopping Week” promotion for foreign customers timed to Japan’s Golden Week (April 29-May 6) and Labor Day holidays in China and Taiwan (May 1-5). Through May 10, foreign customers who spend at least 1,200 yuan via WeChat Pay will receive an immediately usable 50-yuan discount coupon. Customers who pay 200,000 won or more with Line Pay Taiwan at all branches will earn 10% back in Line points. From May 1-6, shoppers paying with UnionPay at the company’s main store and Jamsil store will get an immediate 10% discount and an additional 10% of their tax refund amount. Lotte is also leaning on theme marketing tied to global character intellectual property. From May 1-17, it will hold “Star Wars Day 2026” around the Jamsil Lotte World Tower area, including a large parade. Through May 6, Lotte World Mall will host Bandai Namco’s “Fancy Festa,” described as Japan’s “Disney.” Shinsegae Department Store will run its largest-ever “Global Shopping Festa” through May 10 at its main store, Gangnam, Times Square and Centum City locations, with more than 100 brands participating. It will offer 10% gift certificates by purchase tier and, in cooperation with UnionPay and WeChat Pay, up to 10% instant discounts and cash-back benefits. Working with Global Tax Free (GTF), it will also provide an additional 10% of the refund amount to accelerate visits from greater China. Shinsegae is also expanding its airport outreach. It is taking part in the “Korea Welcome Week” event at Incheon International Airport, distributing vouchers that include discount coupons of up to 10%. At its Busan Centum City store, customers who spend 300,000 won or more will receive a “K-snack package” featuring seven popular ramen varieties. At its Gangnam and main stores, it will roll out a series of K-fashion pop-ups aimed at trend-conscious foreign shoppers. Hyundai Department Store is strengthening digital convenience and fandom marketing. In February, it partnered with UnionPay to introduce a China-only Apple Pay payment service at department stores and outlets nationwide, offering discounts of up to 12% for mobile payments without a physical card. For Japanese customers, it will give mask packs to those who pay with JCB cards at five key stores, including its Apgujeong flagship. The Hyundai Seoul is running an NCT WISH pop-up store through May 3 to capture demand for merchandise. Later in May, it plans to open a foreigner-only space called “Live Seoul” offering K-beauty experiences. Lotte Mart is putting “K-food” front and center. Working with the Japanese platform Konest, it is issuing advance discount coupons, and at key stores such as Zettaplex Seoul Station it will give luggage tags or travel shopping bags to customers who spend 70,000 won or more. It has secured supplies of its exclusive snack “Cheongwoo Chewy Choco Chip Strawberry,” which previously sold out, and is expanding buy-one-get-one promotions on steady sellers such as ramen and mask packs to meet foreign demand. Shinsegae Duty Free has also strengthened tie-in benefits such as mileage accrual by partnering with global airline and hotel chains. “Because holiday periods in Korea, China and Japan overlap, the retail industry has effectively entered a battle to win foreign customers,” an industry official said. “The payment perks and the level of content differentiation each company prepared will determine sales.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 17:53:41
  • Retailers, Travel Firms Target May Holiday Surge as Japan, China Vacations Overlap
    Retailers, Travel Firms Target May Holiday Surge as Japan, China Vacations Overlap From late April through early May, South Korea’s retail and travel industries are gearing up for a three-nation holiday rush as extended breaks in Korea, China and Japan overlap. Japan’s Golden Week (April 29-May 6) and the Labor Day holidays in China and Taiwan (May 1-5) begin at the same time this week, prompting companies to step up efforts to attract visitors to Korea. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization said April 28 they expect 80,000 to 90,000 Japanese tourists and 100,000 to 110,000 Chinese tourists to visit Korea during the holiday period. In the first quarter, arrivals from Japan and China totaled 940,000 and 1.45 million, respectively, the highest levels on record. Korea is also expected to see stronger domestic travel and shopping demand, with a string of holidays running from Labor Day on May 1 — designated a statutory holiday for the first time this year — through Children’s Day on May 5. The influx of Japanese and Chinese visitors is also being watched for its potential to lift second-quarter retail conditions. The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry previously forecast a subdued outlook, with its 2026 second-quarter Retail Business Survey Index at 80, little changed from 79 in the prior quarter, citing Middle East-driven geopolitical risks and prolonged high inflation, a weak won and high interest rates as constraints on domestic demand. Industry expectations have picked up, however, as the Korea-China-Japan holiday overlap coincides with the phased rollout of the government’s “high oil price damage relief payments,” which could add to consumer spending power. Department stores and duty-free shops are rolling out promotions aimed at foreign shoppers, including discount coupons and point rewards. Big-box retailers are expanding K-food promotions — a staple on many visitors’ shopping lists — and adding more convenient payment benefits to encourage spending. Restaurants, convenience stores and other offline retailers are also preparing broad discount events and securing inventory, betting that relief-payment spending will translate into stronger purchasing power in neighborhood commercial districts. “By capturing both foreign tourist demand and domestic demand boosted by the oil-price relief payments, the industry could move beyond simply protecting second-quarter results and deliver a meaningful rebound,” an industry official said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 17:52:16
  • LG H&H says AI-aided study finds hair-growth compound from cnidium extract
    LG H&H says AI-aided study finds hair-growth compound from cnidium extract LG Household & Health Care said it has developed a new scalp and hair-care ingredient combination that significantly improves hair growth speed and durability, based on a compound extracted from the herbal medicine cnidium. The company said April 28 that its research institute used artificial intelligence to identify “cnidium-derived ferulic acid” and combined it with NMN, described as a key ingredient for extending skin longevity, to create the new formulation. The findings were published in the latest issue of Scientific Reports, a sister journal of Nature, the company said. Researchers said they have focused on cnidium since 2009 after traditional medical texts, including Donguibogam and Bencao Gangmu, described it as helping improve stagnant circulation, suggesting potential to improve the scalp environment. In the latest work, the team applied AI and molecular modeling and found that ferulic acid in cnidium activates estrogen receptors in dermal papilla cells, which it described as a key factor in hair growth. Based on that, the researchers combined ferulic acid and NMN at an optimized ratio and ran human hair-follicle culture tests. The company said the combination promoted proliferation of dermal papilla cells and helped activate mitochondrial function inside the cells. It said the mechanism boosts cellular energy metabolism needed for new hair formation and growth, maximizing hair-growth effects. In comparative tests using cultured follicles, the company said the new combination showed a higher hair growth-phase retention rate than minoxidil, a widely used hair-strengthening ingredient, demonstrating a strong hair-growth promoting effect. “This research will serve as a turning point for continuing to develop materials that can help us approach hair-growth technology that makes hair thicker and stronger,” said Kang Nae-gyu, LG Household & Health Care’s chief technology officer. He said the company will advance research on hair growth and improved volume by confirming the potential of cnidium-derived ferulic acid and expanding its work to combinations with NMN.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 17:13:52
  • Hyundai Duty Free Opens New Incheon Airport DF2 Zone, Targets 1 Trillion Won in Annual Sales
    Hyundai Duty Free Opens New Incheon Airport DF2 Zone, Targets 1 Trillion Won in Annual Sales Hyundai Duty Free has begun operations in Incheon International Airport’s DF2 zone, expanding its footprint to three of the airport’s six duty-free areas: DF2, DF5 and DF7. The company said it is now the airport’s largest duty-free operator and the only one there offering every major category, from luxury and fashion to cosmetics and liquor. The company said Tuesday it started full-scale business in DF2 across the airport’s Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. The DF2 zone covers 4,571 square meters (about 1,382 pyeong). A total of 287 brands have moved in, including cosmetics and fragrance labels such as Chanel Beauty, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent and Estée Lauder, and liquor, tobacco and food brands including Ballantine’s, Johnnie Walker, Hennessy and CheongKwanJang. The operating term runs through June 30, 2033, and can be extended by three years to as late as April 2036, for up to 10 years in total. Stores are open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., with some cosmetics, liquor and tobacco shops operating 24 hours. Hyundai Duty Free said its existing DF5 and DF7 zones already host the airport’s widest selection of luxury brands, including Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci, Loewe and Burberry. With DF2 added, the company said it is positioned to capture a broader range of high-end shopping demand. Targeting overseas travelers, the company has also set up a “K-cosmetics zone” near Gate 248 on the third floor of Terminal 2’s duty-free area. It features about 40 Korean beauty brands, including Medicube, Torriden, Wellage and Abib, and offers experiences such as AI-based skin analysis and personal color consultations. Hyundai Duty Free said it is considering joint marketing with its parent company, Hyundai Department Store. Plans include a pop-up at The Hyundai Seoul to guide customers on duty-free shopping, and a review of ways to bring Hyundai Department Store fashion, food and intellectual property content into the airport duty-free shops. The company said it posted its first full-year profit last year, seven years after launch, helped by tighter management and a recovery in passenger demand. It said the airport expansion is expected to support continued quarterly profitability and could lift annual sales at Incheon alone to more than 1 trillion won. Chief Executive Park Jang-seo said, “With the operation of the DF2 zone, we have become the largest operator at Incheon International Airport, and we expect to generate more than 1 trillion won in annual sales from the airport alone.” Park added that the company will keep a profitability-first approach at both its airport and downtown stores, while sharpening merchandising and marketing to build a stable growth structure and “lead duty-free shopping trends” as a top player in the domestic market.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 17:01:12
  • Lotte Department Store’s Incheon Branch Completes 3-Year Renovation, Targets 1 Trillion Won in Annual Sales
    Lotte Department Store’s Incheon Branch Completes 3-Year Renovation, Targets 1 Trillion Won in Annual Sales Lotte Department Store’s Incheon branch has completed a sweeping renovation that took about three years, and the retailer said it is aiming to become the first department store in western Seoul metro area to reach 1 trillion won in annual sales. The Incheon store will hold a “grand open” event on May 1, Lotte said Monday, marking the final stage of the renovation that has been carried out in phases since 2023. The overhaul centered on an upscale strategy to match fast-changing local demand. After opening the premium food hall “Food Avenue” in late 2023, the store added a large beauty zone, kids section, and women’s and luxury fashion areas the following year. Despite lengthy construction-related disruptions, the store’s annual sales topped 8.3 trillion won last year, its first time surpassing 8 trillion won. That was up more than 10% from 2022, before the renovation. Sales in the first quarter of this year rose by more than 20%. Lotte also reported a shift in its customer mix. The Incheon branch’s share of its top-tier “Avenuel Black” VIP customers increased, and sales from preferred customers rose about 20% from a year earlier. Food Avenue, built around well-known restaurants to attract younger diners, helped drive new and repeat visits among customers in their 20s and 30s, the company said. Compared with before the renovation, both the number of new customers in that age group and their sales rose about 30%. Total visits to the renovated food hall surpassed 15 million cumulatively through last year. A key addition is the first-floor “Luxury Hall,” completed this month. Starting with Piaget and Bulgari, high-end jewelry brands including Tiffany, Boucheron and Graff have opened in sequence this year. Moncler also reopened in what Lotte said is its largest store in South Korea. With the luxury lineup expanding to more than 50 brands, luxury goods accounted for more than 30% of sales as of the first quarter. Lotte said it is also launching the “Lotte Town Incheon” project to turn the surrounding area into a mixed-use destination combining shopping and culture. With the department store renovation as phase one, the company plans to begin phase two in the second half of this year by modernizing the Incheon Intercity Bus Terminal. The aging terminal, which draws an average of 7,000 visitors a day, will be relocated to a nearby site and rebuilt to improve convenience, Lotte said. The existing site will be redeveloped, with the goal of building a third major “Lotte Town” after Myeongdong and Jamsil. Beginning on the official reopening day, the store will also run a customer appreciation event featuring hands-on programs for families, including a kids art station, a picnic garden and a pop-up liquor shop offering craft beer and traditional Korean alcohol. “Incheon has wrapped up a premium renovation spanning three years and has completed preparations to enter the ‘next 1 trillion-won department store’ tier,” said Jeong Dong-pil, head of Lotte Department Store’s Incheon branch. “Through major innovation in customer experience, we will continue to grow it into a next-generation premium department store with competitiveness that goes beyond the region.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 16:57:26
  • SSM Stores Say They’re Unfairly Excluded From South Korea’s High Fuel Price Relief Vouchers
    SSM Stores Say They’re Unfairly Excluded From South Korea’s High Fuel Price Relief Vouchers “In terms of being neighborhood shops where self-employed owners stake their livelihoods, we’re no different from regular supermarkets. It feels unfair that the vouchers can’t be used here.” A franchise owner in his 50s who runs a corporate supermarket, known as an SSM, in Seoul said he was disappointed by news of the government’s high fuel price relief vouchers. Unlike convenience stores and other franchise outlets, SSMs were excluded from eligible places to spend the support, prompting calls to revisit the criteria because many SSM locations are individually operated franchises. According to the retail industry on the 27th, the government began accepting first-round applications that day for high fuel price relief vouchers worth up to 600,000 won per person. The vouchers are designed for use at small businesses with annual sales of 3 billion won or less. Traditional markets and neighborhood marts, along with convenience stores, are anticipating a bump in sales. The four major convenience store chains — GS25, CU, Seven Eleven and Emart24 — launched broad discounts timed to the payout period, targeting everyday items such as ramen, instant rice, toilet paper and detergent. SSMs, big-box retailers and small merchants selling through e-commerce platforms said they were left out again, as they were during last year’s distribution of consumer coupons for livelihood recovery. Of the 1,457 nationwide stores operated by the four SSM chains — GS The Fresh, Lotte Super, Homeplus Express and Emart Everyday — nearly half, or 721, are run as franchise outlets. GS The Fresh has 471 franchise stores, or 81% of its 581 locations. One SSM owner said, “The franchise bakery or convenience store across the street can take the vouchers, so why can’t we, when we pay franchise fees and run the same kind of business?” Big-box retailers also expressed concern, saying spending is likely to shift toward convenience stores and neighborhood marts where the vouchers can be used. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said that in last year’s third quarter, when consumer coupons were issued, SSM sales fell 1.6% from a year earlier and big-box store sales dropped 10.2%. Seo Yong-gu, a professor of business administration at Sookmyung Women’s University, said limiting vouchers to selected retail channels inevitably creates blind spots and raises fairness concerns. He said the government should restrict only places that clearly should be excluded, such as department stores and large online shopping malls, and allow the vouchers to be used across other everyday retail channels.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 18:22:00
  • Olive Young to Hold Beauty Festa in Japan; Gmarket Taps Director Jang Hang-jun; Lotte Duty Free Signs Deal With Paradise City
    Olive Young to Hold Beauty Festa in Japan; Gmarket Taps Director Jang Hang-jun; Lotte Duty Free Signs Deal With Paradise City Olive Young to hold ‘Olive Young Festa JAPAN 2026’ in Chiba CJ Olive Young said Sunday it will hold “Olive Young Festa JAPAN 2026” from May 8-10 in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. The event is tied to “KCON JAPAN 2026” and will be staged at Makuhari Messe, a convention center in Chiba City, on a 164-pyeong site. A total of 55 brands will operate booths. The walkways will be designed to resemble the streets of Myeongdong and Hongdae to highlight K-beauty’s identity, the company said. Special areas will include a “K-Cosme Ranking Zone” and a “K-Beauty Select Zone,” showcasing Olive Young’s curation strengths. The company will also offer in-store-style experiences for local visitors, including a “quick touch-up” makeup service by Olive Young beauty consultants. Olive Young said the festival, launched in 2019 as the country’s first beauty festival, is expanding overseas this year. It plans to hold an Olive Young Festa in Los Angeles in September. Gmarket names film director Jang Hang-jun as new advertising model Gmarket said Sunday it has selected film director Jang Hang-jun as its new advertising model and will roll out campaign videos in stages. Gmarket said Jang, who recently joined the ranks of directors with 10 million moviegoers with “Wang and the Man,” will be featured in a campaign built around the concept of him taking on a new challenge as a “10 million-view” commercial director. The company said the videos combine Jang’s trademark humor and cinematic style to introduce popular items it recommends buying during its Big Smile Day promotion. Gmarket said “legendary” film actors will also appear, with the cast lineup to be revealed in the main video to be released May 1. The company noted that since last year it has drawn positive responses with its “G-Rock Festival” campaign, in which well-known artists sing signature songs with lyrics rewritten around shopping items. Lotte Duty Free, Paradise City sign MOU to attract foreign VIP visitors Lotte Duty Free said Sunday it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Paradise City to expand efforts to attract foreign tourists. Under the agreement, the two companies aim to build a one-stop consumer experience linking shopping and entertainment. Lotte Duty Free said it will provide Paradise hotel guests with a coupon book offering discounts of up to $121 and benefits such as an upgrade to Gold-tier membership. Paradise City said it plans to offer premium rates to Lotte Duty Free customers. Lotte Duty Free has been stepping up efforts to expand its foreign customer base after resuming operations at its Incheon Airport store on April 17, about three years after it stopped operating there. “Through this agreement with Paradise City, we will be able to provide foreign VIP customers with a premium experience that combines shopping and entertainment,” said Namgung Pyo, head of Lotte Duty Free’s marketing division. “With differentiated marketing that brings together the strengths of both companies, we will contribute to attracting visitors to Korea.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 18:19:10