Shinsegae Department Store Joins Forces with Duty Free and Korea Tourism Organization to Attract More Foreign Tourists

Three-way MOU Renewed Following Last Year
Joint Development of Korean Cultural Experience Programs Planned Again This Year

Shinsegae Department Store announced on the 24th that it will continue its collaboration with Shinsegae Duty Free and the Korea Tourism Organization to attract foreign tourists to Korea.

The three parties collaborated in various areas last year by linking up with K-content, including the joint production of promotional materials for Korean tourism and cooperation on overseas digital marketing. Through VISITKOREA, the official integrated tourism platform of the Korea Tourism Organization, they communicated with foreign tourists in about 200 countries and 8 languages. Leveraging major hubs most frequented by foreign visitors such as Myeong-dong, Gangnam, and Busan, Shinsegae offered K-beauty, gastronomy, and lifestyle experience content along with discount benefits. They also actively participated in various overseas expos, including the Osaka Expo in Japan and the Singapore Luxury Travel Fair, to attract more visitors to Korea.

View of Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam Branch. Shinsegae

As a result, Shinsegae Department Store and Shinsegae Duty Free have been reborn as must-visit K-shopping hotspots for foreign tourists visiting Korea. Shinsegae Department Store recorded approximately 650 billion won in sales to foreign customers last year, setting a new record for its highest-ever annual sales, and in January this year it also achieved more than 90 billion won in sales, marking the highest monthly sales in its history.

With the three parties agreeing to extend the MOU into this year, Shinsegae has decided to develop a wide range of new K-content to attract foreign tourists. It plans to jointly develop K-culture experience programs in connection with its Main Store’s The Heritage, its cultural academy, and other in-house platforms. In addition, it will work to vitalize regional tourism by linking these efforts with its “Local is Shinsegae” project, which discovers and introduces hidden local attractions and culinary culture across Korea. The company will also more than double its participation in overseas travel fairs such as roadshows and travel marts that can broadly promote Korea abroad, compared with last year.

Shopping benefits will also be strengthened. Focusing on K-fashion, beauty, and food, which are highly preferred by tourists visiting Korea, Shinsegae will offer monthly discounts and coupons. At Shinsegae Duty Free, VISITKOREA members will receive an exclusive welcome pack and shopping vouchers based on purchase amount. After signing up for VISITKOREA membership and downloading the coupons, customers can receive them by showing the “My Page” screen on the VISITKOREA website or app at the customer centers of Shinsegae Department Store and Shinsegae Duty Free Myeong-dong Branch. The promotional benefits are available at Shinsegae Duty Free Myeong-dong and Incheon Airport branches, as well as Shinsegae Department Store Main Store, Gangnam Branch, Centum City, and Times Square Branch.

Lee Sunghwan, Executive Vice President in charge of Sales Strategy at Shinsegae Department Store, said, “Shinsegae Department Store has established itself as a must-visit shopping and cultural destination for foreign visitors to Korea, and following last year, many international customers are visiting again this year,” adding, “Through this collaboration, we will provide more advanced services and content for foreign visitors and help make Korea a world-class tourism destination.”