Swedish furniture giant IKEA said on March 17 that its first outlet in Seoul will open on April 17 in the southeastern district of Gangdong. This will be IKEA’s fifth store in South Korea, following the opening of its first store in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province in 2014. The company currently operates four offline malls in Goyang, Giheung, and DongBusan, in addition to its e-commerce platform.
The new outlet will be located in the Gangdong IPark The River complex, covering the first and second floors, with a total area of 58,711 square meters, including parking. This will be the first time IKEA has opened a store in a multi-use mall here, as its previous stores in South Korea have been large standalone “blue box” outlets.
The Gangdong IPark The River will also feature a large supermarket, a movie theater, and various food and beverage outlets.
IKEA Korea CEO Isabel Puig said, “The IKEA Gangdong store is our first in Seoul and the first in this new format. It will offer an inspiring home furnishing experience close to the city center and be a key part of our strategy to combine online and offline shopping.” She added, “I hope visitors enjoy creating homes that reflect their personal style and improve their lives.”
