Swedish furniture retailer IKEA announced on 17 March that its first store in Seoul will open on 17 April in the southeastern district of Gangdong. This will be IKEA's fifth location in South Korea, following its initial store launch in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, in 2014. The company currently operates offline stores in Goyang, Giheung, and DongBusan, alongside its e-commerce platform.
Photo: Dreamstime.
The new outlet will be housed within the Gangdong IPark The River complex, occupying the first and second floors with a total area of 58,711 square metres, including parking. Unlike IKEA's traditional standalone "blue box" stores, this will be the first in South Korea to be located within a multi-use shopping mall. The complex will also include a large supermarket, a cinema, and various food and beverage outlets.
IKEA Korea CEO Isabel Puig stated, 'The IKEA Gangdong store is our first in Seoul and the first in this new format. It will offer an inspiring home furnishing experience close to the city centre and be a key part of our strategy to combine online and offline shopping.' She added, 'I hope visitors enjoy creating homes that reflect their personal style and improve their lives.'
Source: www.chosun.com