The Shilla Duty Free (Shilla) has soft-opened its new duty free store at Jeju International Airport on 1 March.

The store comprises 60 brands across the perfume and cosmetics and liquor and tobacco categories.

These are housed in temporary shops within a 114sq m retail space.

A grand-opening is scheduled for June, by when the duty free area will expand to 409sq m and the brand assortment will reach 70 labels.

Shilla secured the five-year contract in December 2017 and takes over from previous incumbent Hanwha Galleria (trading as Galleria Duty Free) which exited the concession.

The retailer said “powerful synergies” were expected between its downtown Jeju store and new airport outlet.

A Shilla spokesman said: “Shilla’s unrivalled airport duty free know-how proven at superb locations such as Seoul Incheon, Singapore Changi and Hong Kong International was highly commended along with our significant contribution to the Jeju island local community.”

CELEBRATION TIME

To celebrate the opening, Shilla gave away special “Jeju tangerine chocolate” gifts to the first 301 customers.

In addition, the first 5,000 customers to spend in excess of $30 can participate in a “Fortune cookie” promotion until 7 March.

Prizes range from KRW500,000 Shilla gift-cards to mask-packs which will be randomly distributed.

In the meantime, Shilla will continue its contribution to the island’s tourism industry.

Shilla parent company Hotel Shilla, has been running Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities on the island for some time.

The most high-profile initiative, “Tasty Jeju” has been operational since February 2014 and gives restaurants which struggled at the outset a second chance.

These restaurants benefit from Hotel Shilla’s food and beverage know-how. So far, 19 establishments on the island have been granted reprieves and become popular with travellers.

A further “Dream maker” CSR concept (a programme by Hotel Shilla and Jeju Office of Education) has helped local high school students formulate career plans. As part of the programme, students have been assigned mentors for four years from 2014.

The spokesman added: “Now that we operate both the airport and downtown duty free stores on the island our responsibility to the local community becomes even greater.”