Korea-based travel retailer Lotte Duty Free has reopened its Jeju departures store after a three-month refurbishment project at the airport, as sales climb 385% compared to March.

The departures store spans 544sqm and offers cosmetics, perfumes and liquor products. 

As reported, Lotte won the contract to operate the departures duty free business in January 2023. 

It commenced operations in March, before embarking on the store refurb from July. 

A commemorative event to mark the opening took place on 26 October. Those in attendance included Kim Joo-nam, CEO of Lotte Duty Free; Kim Hee-hyun, Vice Governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province; Son Jong-ha, Director of Jeju Airport, Jeju Customs; Kim Kyu-jin, Jeju Tourism Association General Manager; and other officials.

Brands available in store include international names La Mer, SK-II, and Chung Kwanjang. Singapore’s Basha Coffee is available for the first time in offline duty free channels. 

Jeju specialties including Basalt and Slow Jam are also represented. Brands listed to target younger shoppers include Huayu, Chasing Levitt, Zanmang Luffy and Teenieping.

An eco-friendly concept is said to reflect Jeju Island’s nature through store design. The space also makes use of “future-oriented” technology. 

Jeju departures store celebrations

To mark the event, Lotte is running a series of promotional discounts, with 20% off brands including Estée Lauder and Jo Malone. Shoppers can also take advantage of 15% off all liquor products. 

Lotte is also inviting travellers to upgrade Lotte Duty Free membership levels. 

Future campaigns aligned with Jeju Airport are planned to “create synergy” and appeal to international customers. 

Passenger traffic from Jeju currently stands at around 60% of pre-pandemic levels. In August, the airport handled 77,000 international departing travellers.

“The grand opening of the Jeju Airport branch symbolises the resumption of free overseas travel,” said Kim Joo-nam, CEO of Lotte Duty Free (from translation).

“Lotte Duty Free will strive to provide a world-class shopping environment to foreign customers visiting Jeju, Korea’s representative tourist destination.”

Earlier this month, Lotte shared details of its new airport stores at the expanded Changi Terminal 2.

A spokesperson confirmed to TRBusiness that the T2 North Wing openings would commence later in 2023 continue into 2024.