Apple's first official retail store in South Korea is set to open just before the end of the year on Saturday, December 30, reports Korean site ETNews [Google Translate].
Much of the work on the upcoming store in Seoul's Gangnam district was finished in November, and the construction company that renovated it says that Apple's plan is to open it up on December 30. Barring any special problems at the last stage of construction, the store is likely to open up on that date at 10:00 a.m. local time. Hiring and training for the store has also been completed.
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Apple retail store chief Angela Ahrendts is rumored to be planning to attend the opening of the first Korean Apple Store, which ETNews says features the same modern design that's been introduced in many Apple Stores around the world over the course of the last couple of years.
Specifically, the site says there's a wide glass front and 18 product tables showing off iPhones, Apple Watches, iPads, and MacBooks. This is a two-floor store, and other areas like the "Today at Apple" meeting place and the Genius Grove may be located upstairs.
The store is located in the upscale Garosugil shopping district in Gangnam, which houses ritzy restaurants, cafes, and high-end stores.
Apple has recently opened several new locations in Asia, including Taiwan and Singapore. This particular store in South Korea could be Apple's 500th store, so long as no additional Apple Stores open before December 30.
Apple currently has 499 Apple retail stores around the world, not counting Apple Watch boutiques and taking into account the recent closure of the Simi Valley Apple Store. Apple's new Visitor's Center at Apple Park was the 498th store, while the 499th is the new store located in Downtown Brooklyn, which opened in late November.
Update: The upcoming Apple Store in South Korea did not open on December 30 as stated by ETNews. It is still under construction and will open at a later date.
Top Rated Comments
Their 500th store opening in Samsung’s home country... What a time.
That could be a hard sell..... in the lion's den so to speak. Selling higher-priced Apple goodies to Samsung loyalists, right on the turf of the hometown heroes..... :eek::(Personally I see this as a HUGE waste of resources and effort by Apple. Anyone have the revenue figures for Apple in Korea’s?!
What are you basing your speculations on? If you watch Korean pop tv shows you will see a lot of the younger crowds use iPhones. I also know a lot of them use macs as well.Apple have stores in China that does tremendously well. So what makes you or anyone else thinks it would not do well in Korea?
Lets hope Kim next door doesn't hear about American corporations setting up camp nearby. He'll get real itchy if he sees this article...
Right wouldn’t that be crazy? Next thing you know they’ll have McDonalds, Starbucks, Taco Bell, Dunkin Donuts, Krispy Kreme, Pizza Hut, KFC, Shake Shack, Cinnabon, Dairy Queen, Popeyes, Hollister, A&F, Yankee Candle, New Balance, Banana Republic... oh, wait..[doublepost=1513514478][/doublepost]
What an ignorant post. Samsung products in Korea are more expensive than the US and on par with Apple products. Also, like already mentioned, Apple products are doing well there and are pretty common. You may be surprised at how Koreans perceive Samsung...
Indeed. Not everyone in the US drives a Ford just because they are a domestic brand, why would people assume the same about Koreans and Samsung?You know nothing about Korea.
Most of the Apple resellers in Korea try to mimic the Apple Store feel, including Willy’s, KMUG, and Neptune.There's already a hugely successful chain of unofficial Apple stores in Korea called Frisbee. They look just like an Apple store and act just like the Apple stores in the US. Apple is just making their official entry into Korea.
What are you basing your speculations on? If you watch Korean pop tv shows you will see a lot of the younger crowds use iPhones. I also know a lot of them use macs as well.
Shh, don’t use logic in here.Apple have stores in China that does tremendously well. So what makes you or anyone else thinks it would not do well in Korea?