Petty Trick
IKEA, which starts its business in Korea in December, is said to be planning to open not a furniture store but a shopping mall. This could affect the regional economy to a significant extent.
“IKEA built two buildings in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, and leased one of them to Lotte Shopping,” said Democratic United Party lawmaker Hong Ik-pyo on October 13, adding, “A Lotte outlet housed in the IKEA building signifies a shopping town, which is a business trick.” He continued, “IKEA is exempted from the obligatory shutdown applied to major supermarkets, and small businesses and owner/operators could be affected.”
Some say that the Swedish furniture retailer is planning to neglect its duty to cooperate with the local community. According to plans previously submitted to Gwangmyeong City, it will provide an exhibition space for local small businesses in its store and hire 300 residents in the region on a preferential basis. However, the exhibition space has been found to be located near the parking lot, which is less accessible, and the 300 workers will have close to part-time schedules. “It has been found that the cooperative measures are just face-saving ones,” the lawmaker criticized.