IKEA Opening Its First Store in Seoul, 43% of Employees Are Residents of Gangdong-gu

IKEA Gangdong to Open on the 17th, Creating a Virtuous Cycle of Local Employment
580 Gangdong Residents Hired by 18 Companies in Godeok Business Valley

Nearly half of the newly hired employees at 'IKEA Gangdong,' the first store in downtown Seoul since IKEA's entry into Korea 11 years ago, are residents of Gangdong-gu. Among the 187 newly hired employees at IKEA Gangdong, which officially opens on the 17th of this month, 80 people, accounting for 43%, are Gangdong-gu residents.

Gangdong-gu and IKEA Korea promised and committed to hiring more than 40% of the new employees at the newly opened IKEA Gangdong store from local residents. The photo shows the IKEA Gangdong store recruitment briefing session held in October last year. Photo by Gangdong-gu.

IKEA Gangdong is located on the 1st and 2nd floors of 'Gangdong I-Park The River,' a complex shopping mall within Godeok Business Valley, covering an area of 20,136㎡ (6,364 pyeong). It is IKEA's first store in Seoul since entering Korea in 2014 and the first new store in five years since the Dongbusan branch.

IKEA Korea's large-scale hiring of local residents upon opening Gangdong store is thanks to a win-win agreement with Gangdong-gu. Lee Soo-hee, the mayor of Gangdong-gu, promised job creation including expanding local employment and supporting startups in connection with the development of Godeok Business Valley, known as the economic hub of eastern Seoul, and companies moving in responded by seeking talent nearby when hiring.

In October last year, Gangdong-gu prepared a space at the Gangdong-gu Residents' Hall and held a recruitment briefing session together with IKEA Korea. Since then, IKEA has accepted applications through its official recruitment site, resulting in 80 local residents securing jobs in departments including sales, HR, management, and store design. IKEA Gangdong plans to continue increasing local hires even after opening.

Within Godeok Business Valley, where IKEA Gangdong is located, 'Gangdong I-Park The River' will open 40 stores including IKEA Gangdong, E-Mart, and CGV, as well as 24 shops such as Musinsa, sequentially starting on the 17th of this month. The expected number of employees is about 1,450.

Godeok Business Valley is a commercial and business complex developed in the Godeok-dong and Gangil-dong areas, covering a site area of 234,523㎡, making it a corporate new town. So far, 18 mid-sized companies have purchased land here, built office buildings, and relocated their headquarters. Six companies, including JYP Entertainment, are currently constructing their headquarters.

Excluding IKEA Gangdong, from 2022 when companies began moving in until the end of last year, 580 Gangdong-gu residents found jobs at 17 companies here. About half of them were hired as regular employees in office, research, or technical positions. Engineering firm Dongmyung Technical Corporation relocated its headquarters here in 2023 and hired 112 Gangdong-gu residents, 92 of whom were technical staff. The district office has consistently held job matching days and employment fairs annually and informed residents about tenant companies through job centers.

Public officials have actively supported companies regarding permits related to office building construction and relocation. It is also notable that tenant companies have provided various public spaces for residents and entrepreneurs according to their originally promised community contribution plans. Aju Design Group opened meeting rooms and auditoriums, and iCount made a book caf? and multipurpose education center available to residents. Donghae Comprehensive Technology, RF Tech, and Ilhwa provided youth startup support spaces. Residents can also use book caf?s, libraries, experience centers, and kids caf?s created by companies for free or at low cost.

Mayor Lee Soo-hee said, “We promised to provide good jobs to residents by cooperating with companies and have been continuously consulting with tenant companies, and the results are showing. The population of Gangdong-gu continues to grow due to job creation attracting young people and a pleasant residential environment.”

Lee Soo-hee, Mayor of Gangdong-gu (right in the photo), held a comprehensive countermeasure meeting at the Godeok Biz Valley site on the 8th, ahead of the opening of IKEA Gangdong. She inspected the site, including crowd control measures. Provided by Gangdong-gu.