Jung Dooseon, CEO and Chief Pharmacist of Mega Factory Pharmacy
Rapid Growth Spurs Plans for Overseas Expansion
"I envisioned a pharmacy where consumers could browse a variety of medicines without pressure, and pharmacists would circulate throughout the store to provide medication guidance to those in need. As more people visited and enjoyed the experience much sooner than I expected, I realized my expectations were correct."
Jung Dooseon, the chief pharmacist and representative of 'Mega Factory Pharmacy,' which opened in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province this past June, has extended the store's operating hours from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. starting November 1. Although the initial rush-when people would line up for three to four hours on weekends just to enter the pharmacy-has subsided, word of mouth continues to attract customers from distant areas, as well as office workers who visit later in the evening after work. These customers now have more time to browse and make purchases at their own pace.
The most common scene here is families selecting essential medicines such as digestive aids, headache remedies, allergy medications, and ointments for wounds. They also load boxes of drinks like Panpyrin and Bacchus into their carts, and carefully read the instructions and precautions on the packaging as they choose nutritional supplements and health functional foods for each family member. Except for the fact that the products offered are pharmaceuticals rather than food, beverages, or daily necessities, the store operates in a format familiar to consumers-similar to a large supermarket or Costco-making it easy to establish itself in the market.
Recently, even foreign tourists have started visiting after seeing videos of the pharmacy on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, coming to buy patches and supplements. The store displays more than 2,500 types of medicines, including over-the-counter drugs, quasi-drugs, health functional foods, and veterinary medicines, with an average of seven to eight pharmacists on site at any given time.
Jung explained, "Because the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act in Korea is highly regulated and strict, we thoroughly comply with these rules while also selling new medical devices and health products that traditional pharmacies could not offer. As a result, a new market is being created that benefits both consumers and producers."
He plans to expand not only to other regions in Korea but also to overseas markets. While the focus has been on medicine sales so far, the pharmacy will soon begin filling prescriptions from nearby hospitals and clinics. Jung Dooseon said, "Korean consumers now want to see and choose their medicines themselves. In line with this trend, both the pharmaceutical distribution market and pharmacies must adapt and evolve."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
