Uniqlo Reopens Flagship Store in Seoul's Myeongdong
Largest South Korean store to feature all product lines, reopening amidst Myeongdong's economic revival.
Quick Look
- Uniqlo is reopening its largest South Korean flagship store in Seoul's Myeongdong district this Friday, five years after its closure due to the pandemic.
- The event coincides with Myeongdong's economic revival, driven by increased tourism.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Uniqlo closed its Myeongdong flagship store five years ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Myeongdong, a district heavily reliant on foreign tourists, experienced a significant economic downturn during this period. However, the area is now showing signs of recovery, partly due to the growing popularity of Korean pop culture and a rise in international tourist numbers.
SEOUL, May 19 (Yonhap) -- Japanese casual wear brand Uniqlo is reopening its flagship store in Myeongdong, central Seoul, this week, some five years after shuttering the outlet due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the clothing apparel company said Tuesday.
The three-story, 3,250 square-meter venue, set to open Friday in the shopping and tourism district, will be the largest Uniqlo store in South Korea, featuring all product lineups from the brand, the company said.
Some of the brand's popular items will be sold at a discount through next Monday, as part of a promotional event to celebrate the outlet's reopening, it added.
Myeongdong, which heavily depends on foreign tourists, had faced a severe economic crisis during the pandemic.
The vacancy rate of small-sized stores in the area surpassed 40 percent during the second half of 2021, when the country was under strict social distancing rules, according to data from the Korea Real Estate Board.
But the district has recently shown signs of revival amid the growing popularity of Korean pop culture.
A total of 1.4 million tourists visited South Korea in February, up 25.7 percent from a year earlier. The figure is a 19.1 percent increase when compared with the same month in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Korea Tourism Organization.
Open Questions
- What specific discounts will be offered on popular items?
- What are the exact operating hours of the new flagship store?
- Will there be any special events or activities planned for the reopening beyond discounts?
- What is the expected impact of this reopening on local businesses in Myeongdong?
