Shinsegae Group has officially announced their plan to open a duty free shop in Jeju.
The group has purchased properties and is now working on going through necessary administrative clearance for traffic impact assessment.
When the shop opens, it will be the third one on the island run by a major conglomerate.
Meanwhile, Seoul has suspended the decision on a request by another major conglomerate, as Jeju province had previously opposed increasing duty free shops on the island.
Joseph Kim reports.

[slug] Yeon-dong, Jeju City

A sign on a hotel building in Yeon-dong, Jeju City reads "closed".

[slug] Building owner applies for traffic impact assessment

The building is owned by an educational foundation.
It applied for a traffic impact assessment for a duty free shop to the province a few months ago.

[slug] Real applicant for traffic impact assessment: Shinsegae Group

However, the real applicant for the assessment is the (신세계) Shinsegae Group.

[slug] Shinsegae declares plan to open DFS in Jeju

Representatives of the Shinsegae Group visited Jeju and officially declared that it has concluded a real estate purchase contract to buy the hotel building, and preparation to open its duty free shop is underway.

INTERVIEW
An Ju-yeon / Representative, Shinsegae DF
The holder of a duty free business license has to open its shop within a year after the license is issued according to regulations. That's why we are preparing for the opening even before the license is issued.
<인터뷰 :안주연/신세계디에프 언론홍보팀장>
"(면세점)특허가 취득이 되면 1년 안에 오픈을 해야 돼요. 그래서 만약에 하게 된다는 가정 하에 만약에 하게 되면 준비 기간이 부족할 수도 있으니 사전 준비를 해놓는 게 좋지 않겠냐고 해서…."

[slug] Province points out lack of parking spaces
The province pointed out a lack of parking spaces and concluded that the traffic impact should be reassessed once the group's plan for traffic flow is amended.
Representatives of the group say that it is making up for the plan to get the green light with the traffic impact assessment.

[slug] Shinsegae complementing traffic flow plan

Meanwhile, Seoul suspended its decision on the conglomerate's application for opening a DFS in Jeju

[slug] Seoul suspended decision on DF business approval in 2018

as the province opposed the opening last year.

[slug] Eyes are on Seoul's decision

Eyes are on Seoul's decision on whether it will grant the business license to Shinsegae.

The group is cautiously proceeding step by step for opening its Jeju shop while waiting for the decision.

[Reporter] Joseph Kim
[Camera] Park Byeong-june

Meanwhile, controversy was raised as Shinsegae hid behind the owner of the property to receive administrative clearance for the traffic impact assessment.

Joseph Kim, KCTV