[Report] Visiting Emart24 Fully Smart Store... "Automatic Payment for Items Inside Bags"

QR Code Entry for Up to 12 People
27 Cameras Track Movement Paths
AI Voice Chatbot Provides Item Location Guidance

On the 8th, Emart24 and Shinsegae I&C opened a fully smart store at Starfield COEX in Seoul.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chunhan] "Even if you cover your face with an umbrella or secretly put products into your bag or pocket, automatic payment will be processed. The cameras inside the store recognize everything, even if you throw items outside the store."

On the 8th, Emart24 and Shinsegae I&C opened a fully smart store, a "Korean-style Amazon Go," at Starfield COEX in Seoul. Upon entering the store, kiosks and a gate-like entrance immediately caught the eye. To use the convenience store, customers must obtain an entry QR code via SSG Pay or the Emart24 application (app), or go through an authentication process using their phone number and credit (or debit) card at the kiosk to receive a QR code. The store is 43.63㎡ (13.2 pyeong) in size and can accommodate up to 12 people. One QR code allows up to four people to enter together.

The biggest difference from a typical convenience store is that a total of 27 cameras, including 21 AI cameras and 6 LiDAR cameras, are operating. The cameras inside the store recognize customers and track their movements individually. A Shinsegae I&C official explained, "More advanced technology has been applied compared to the Emart24 Gimpo DC store introduced in 2019," adding, "As the technology level has improved, the number of installed cameras has decreased."

Weight recognition sensors are attached to the shelves, so even if a product is not captured by the cameras, purchase information is accurately read and automatic payment is processed. When a chocolate cream-flavored snack was picked up and then placed on the adjacent milk cream-flavored shelf, the AI voice chatbot "Sparos" immediately issued a warning, saying, "Please put the product back in its place." Ignoring this, the chocolate cream-flavored snack on the milk cream-flavored shelf was taken and carried out of the store shortly after. The payment was accurately processed for the chocolate cream-flavored snack.

Sparos also provided various guidance services such as product location, promotions, and related products. When standing in front of the chatbot screen and calling "Sparos," it immediately responded, "Yes, please speak." When asked, "Where is Oreo?" it replied, "It is on the shelf shown on the screen," indicating the location.

Emart24 and Shinsegae I&C plan to introduce additional systems in November for ▲identifying abnormal shopping behaviors ▲detecting unusual situations in the store such as emergencies or property damage ▲selling products requiring adult verification such as tobacco ▲and establishing a remote store management system using intelligent Internet of Things (IoT) technology.