Sightseeing in Japan and Duty-Free Shopping... Major Corporations' 3 Duty-Free Shops Engage in Unprecedented Discount War

First International Sightseeing Flight to Begin on the 12th
Government Grants One-Year Temporary Approval
Passengers Enjoy $600 Duty-Free Benefit
Lotte, Shilla, Shinsegae Duty-Free Launch Domestic Marketing

Lotte Duty Free Myeongdong Main Store Exterior View

[Asia Economy Reporter Minyoung Cha] Starting December 12, passengers can enjoy the first international sightseeing flight along with the pleasure of duty-free shopping. Recently, the government temporarily allowed non-landing international sightseeing flights for one year, enabling passengers to purchase duty-free goods up to $5,000, the same limit as regular travelers, and receive duty-free benefits up to $600.

Lotte Duty Free, Up to $110 Benefits When Purchasing with KakaoPay

According to industry sources on the 8th, Lotte Duty Free is launching a promotion for domestic customers to commemorate the implementation of non-landing international sightseeing flights. In exclusive partnership with KakaoPay, customers who pay with KakaoPay at Lotte Internet Duty Free can receive benefits up to $110 depending on the purchase amount, and those who purchase with KakaoPay (Money) at physical stores can receive benefits up to 150,000 KRW.

Additionally, all customers who purchase over $300 at Lotte Duty Free physical stores will receive LDF Pay benefits up to 70,000 KRW based on their purchase amount. At Lotte Internet Duty Free, customers can earn reward points up to $170 depending on the purchase amount. Customers who purchase with BC Card at Lotte Duty Free physical stores will receive discounts up to 250,000 KRW based on their purchase amount, and those who pay with L.PAY and Toss at Lotte Internet Duty Free will receive discounts up to $110 depending on the purchase amount.

Customers using the non-landing flight products can also enjoy the benefits of Lotte Duty Free’s winter season-off discount event, which has been ongoing since last month. This winter season-off discount event, held both online and offline across all stores, features participation from over 110 brands, offering various products such as bags, clothing, sunglasses, and watches at discounts up to 80%.

Shilla Duty Free, Up to 80% Drastic Discounts on Luxury Brands

Exterior view of Shilla Duty Free Seoul branch

Shilla Duty Free is holding a 'Red Sale' at its Seoul store, offering discounts up to 80% on brand products. This event includes over 50 brands covering luxury fashion, watches, sunglasses, and health supplements, running from December 10 to January 6 next year. Fashion brands such as Givenchy, Bally, Coach, Kenzo, and Tumi, as well as watch and jewelry brands like Montblanc, Hamilton, Mido, Oris, Swarovski, and Pandora, offer discounts up to 50%, while sunglasses and health supplements are discounted up to 80%.

The Seoul store is also running an event offering up to 525,000 S Rewards points. Starting with 8,000 points for purchases over $100, customers can receive up to 500,000 S Rewards points based on their purchase amount. For purchases over $4,000, customers receive a base of 500,000 S Rewards points, and if paid with KakaoPay, an additional 25,000 S Rewards points are granted.

Shilla Internet Duty Free is conducting a promotion linked with its own simple payment system, 'Shilla Pay.' Payments made with Shilla Pay receive an immediate discount of up to 17% with no limit on usage frequency, and depending on the payment method and amount, Internet Duty Free S Rewards points, usable like cash on the internet duty-free site, are accumulated. Additionally, from December 11 to January 31 next year, customers paying with KB Kookmin Card can receive an additional discount of up to 100,000 KRW. New Shilla Pay subscribers will also receive 4,000 Internet Duty Free S Rewards points.

Shilla Duty Free’s own travel brokerage platform, Shilla Trip, will start selling tickets for non-landing sightseeing flights from December 10. When purchasing flights through Shilla Trip, customers earn up to 1.5% basic Internet Duty Free S Rewards points usable at Shilla Internet Duty Free. Special benefits to commemorate this non-landing international sightseeing flight will also be provided.

Shinsegae, Up to 40% Discount in Partnership with Jeju Air

Shinsegae Duty Free is conducting a special promotion in partnership with Jeju Air for customers boarding international sightseeing flights. The promotion targets all customers boarding Jeju Air’s non-landing international flights from December 12 to January 2 next year. Customers who enter the random number provided at the time of international flight reservation on the event page of Shinsegae Internet Duty Free will receive benefits.

All boarding customers will receive up to 20% discounts online and offline within a 600,000 KRW limit, which can be combined with Shinsegae Duty Free’s membership discounts for benefits up to 40%. Additionally, smart prepaid cards usable at all offline stores will be given up to 100,000 KRW. These can be combined with ongoing BC, NongHyup, and KakaoPay card promotions at offline stores, allowing customers to receive card paybacks increased up to 860,000 KRW.

Special benefits will be provided for the first flight on December 12. All boarding customers will receive a Shinsegae Duty Free travel kit containing a mask, eco bag, and umbrella. Through Jeju Air’s social network service (SNS) event, Chanel caviar card wallets and necklaces will also be given away. Furthermore, during the event period, 16 boarding customers will be selected through in-flight events to receive prizes such as Shinsegae gift certificates and Starbucks gift cards. A lottery will be held for this. Regardless of the flight boarded, 10 customers who board international non-landing sightseeing flights in December and purchase at Shinsegae Duty Free will be drawn to receive vouchers worth 500,000 KRW usable at The Westin Chosun Hotel Seoul, The Westin Chosun Hotel Busan, and Grand Chosun Hotel Busan.

A Shinsegae Duty Free official said, "In a situation where overseas travel has become virtually impossible, we hope non-landing flights become a small but precious joy," adding, "We hope customers enjoy the pleasure of duty-free shopping, an essential part of travel, with abundant benefits." A Shilla Duty Free official also stated, "Along with domestic sales of inventory duty-free goods, we expect this non-landing international sightseeing flight duty-free shopping to revitalize domestic duty-free shopping."