Emart to Extend Operating Hours Until 11 PM Starting Next Month

Han Chaeyang CEO "Strengthening Offline Competitiveness"
One Year After Shortening Business Hours in April Last Year, Restored to Original

Emart announced on the 21st that starting from the 1st of next month, it will extend the closing time of 68 stores nationwide from 10 PM to 11 PM, adding one extra hour.

The targeted stores include many with high sales proportions such as Emart Wolgye Branch, Mokdong Branch, Yeongdeungpo Branch, Guro Branch, Jukjeon Branch, Yongsan Branch, Wangsimni Branch, and Yeonsu Branch. However, the decision to extend operating hours for the remaining 60 or so stores has not yet been made.

Interior view of Emart Yeonsu branch. [Photo by Emart]

This extension decision restores the operating hours to their original state after about a year. Previously, Emart had implemented shortened operating hours in April last year to reduce costs such as labor and electricity expenses.

This is interpreted as part of Emart's focus this year on "strengthening core business competitiveness." Since CEO Han Chaeyang took office last year, Emart has been concentrating on enhancing offline store competitiveness by announcing plans for store expansion and renewal.

This has led to improved performance. Emart posted consolidated net sales of 7.2067 trillion KRW and operating profit of 47.1 billion KRW in the first quarter of this year, marking increases of 1.0% and 245%, respectively, compared to the same period last year.