Tag: Korea

  • ​Samsung Pay available at Korean department chain Shinsegae after delay

    ​Samsung Pay available at Korean department chain Shinsegae after delay

    Samsung Pay will now be available for franchises in South Korea owned or run by Shinsegae, which owns its own brand of department stores, Samsung Electronics has announced.

    The mobile payment service will be available in Starbucks — the coffee chain is run by Shinsegae in South Korea — and famous brands such as E-mart, Shinsegae Food, Shinsegae Dutyfree, and Every Day Retail.

    Samsung said the delay was caused by the difficulty in providing consumers with discounts, points, and membership services.

    Shinsegae has been resisting allowing Samsung Pay in its franchises to promote its own counterpart SSG Pay.

    Samsung Pay hit 2 trillion won transaction as of August and is among the most popular mobile payment services provided by a handset manufacturer. Samsung controls over 70 percent market share in South Korea, its home country.

    It supports all credit cards except Citi’s in South Korea. Support for Citi will begin in the first half of next year, Samsung said.

  • Samsung Galaxy On7 Launched In South Korea

    Samsung Galaxy On7 Launched In South Korea

    In order to recover their profit lost due to Galaxy Note 7 issues, Samsung decided to launch the Galaxy On7 in South Korea. The phone is 55-inch and is packed with 3GB Ram and a 16GB memory. It is metal framed and comes with an 8-megapixel front camera and 13-megapixel back camera.

    The Samsung Galaxy On7 is available in two different colors of Black and Gold. It is priced at 399,000 won, which is more or less $399. The phone is available with features similar to its flagship models, like the F1.0 aperture that allows filming even on a low light setting. It is also available with fingerprint recognition and many more.

    It should be remembered that the Galaxy On5and the Galaxy On7 were launched last year in India, but they were restricted in most South Asian countries. On the other hand, the Galaxy On7 is going global after it was launched in China last September and India just last month.

    When it comes to features, the Galaxy On7 does not disappoint. It comes with 5.5-inch touchscreen display and in 1920 x 1080 pixels. The one that was launched in South Korea is available with a 1.6GHz processor, while the Indian and Chinese versions come with Snapdragon 625 chips.

    When it comes to its camera feature, the phone can take impressive selfies as well as video chats. Both front and back cameras come with f/1.9 apertures. The Galaxy On7 runs in Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow and operates with 4G LTE connectivity. It also comes with a metal body that never fails to add a touch of class.

    LG and Apple, the two known rivals of Samsung, were able to experience great sales in South Korea with their models V20 and iPhone 7 respectively. The said boost of sales is blamed to the Note 7 dilemma.But with the coming of the Galaxy On7, Samsung hopes it can make up for the loss profit.

  • Tesla Motors Opens First Showroom In South Korea’s Largest Mall

    Tesla Motors Opens First Showroom In South Korea’s Largest Mall

    Teslarati reported on November 28 that Tesla Motors is all-set to open its first showroom inside South Korea’s largest shopping mall, the Starfield Hanam Complex. The store is expected to open today. However, the news didn’t do much to the stock as TSLA declined 0.41% during after-hours trading on Monday.

    The company’s latest store in Gyeonggi Province would be its first retail outlet in South Korea. With its entry, Tesla may provide tough competition to the region’s largest automaker; Hyundai Motor. The latter is also expected to open a store in Starfield. Moreover, the company is expected to launch its competitively priced Electric Vehicle (EV) before the year-end.

    Moreover, executives of Starfield Hanam indicated that they were notified about the store’s opening date. However, they believe that the date may be delayed, depending on the company’s preparations.

    Teslarati reported: “While the Silicon Valley-based automaker takes aim at expanding its retail presence in South Korea, the company is also busy with laying the ground work for the build out of its Supercharger network across the country.” The company is also reportedly viewing its plans of building supercharging stations around Seoul.

    The report further mentioned that TSLA has also invested in constructing another showroom within the country’s high-end Gangnam district. The district is also considered as the Rodeo Drive of South Korea. Earlier in September, the company had signed a $439,059 lease to get its hands on a three-story upscale commercial building in the district. The store is expected to be surrounded by Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Bentley showrooms. Moreover, neighboring stores will also include Cartier, Dior, and Hermes.

    Wall Street analysts have assigned a PT of $225.13 with a 14.8% upside over the last closing price. Analysts’ ratings include 3 Buy, 1 Overweight, 9 Hold, two Underweight, and four Sell.

  • Under Armour Korea flagships planned

    Under Armour Korea flagships planned

    Under Armour Korea plans to open flagship stores to make the most of its growing popularity in the Asian market.

    The US-headquartered sports brand says it has opened an office in South Korea to operate its business directly from next year, after taking over distribution from local partner Hyosung Galaxia.

    “Under Armour will strengthen its marketing, distribution and retail efforts, providing Korean consumers with the best brand and shopping experience,” said David Song, country manager of Under Armour Korea.

    “We will open our flagship store in southern Seoul in January. The brand will also continue to connect with athletes directly and promote sports, fitness and healthy living through its connected fitness platform, which is the world’s largest digital health and fitness community.”

    Song said Korea is a “pivotal component” in the company’s international growth plan.

    “Through design, innovation and our Under Armour connected fitness platform, we look forward to forging long-term relationships directly with athletes at every level in the country.”

  • Cebu Pacific opens office in Seoul

    Cebu Pacific opens office in Seoul

    Local carrier Cebu Pacific opened Tuesday its regional office in South Korea as part of its regional promotion and expansion.

    In a statement, CEB said its office is located at 7th floor, Section B, Sesomunro 106, Jung-Gu, Seoul, Korea.

    CEB’s Korea branch office will provide tickets sales, reservations services and customer support. It will aid in boosting the airline’s promotion and marketing strategies in Korea.

    “CEB continuously looks for opportunities to expand services and target markets in the most convenient way. With the opening of CEB’s Korea branch office, we make ticket purchase and reservations more accessible to travelers while cultivating Cebu Pacific’s operations in the region. We remain committed to offering the most affordable air fares between the Philippines and Korea, and to contributing to the trade and tourism agendas of the communities we cater to,” said Michael Szucs, CEB Chief Executive Adviser.

    Currently, CEB operates daily to and from Incheon-Manila/Kalibo/Cebu, and twice weekly to and from Busan-Manila utilizing 180-seater Airbus A320 aircraft. The A320 is a proven and reliable aircraft with low operating costs, which means lower fares for our customers.

    CEB flew over 250,000 passengers between the Philippines and Korea from January and September 2016. Passengers from Korea can use CEB’s extensive network to visit the Philippines’ popular domestic destinations such as Boracay, Coron, Davao and Puerto Princesa via easy flight connections through Manila.

    CEB currently offers flights to a total of 36 domestic and 30 international destinations, operating an extensive network across Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and USA. Its 57-strong fleet is comprised of six Airbus A319, 36 Airbus A320, six Airbus A330, eight ATR 72-500, and one ATR 72-600 aircraft. Between 2016 and 2021, CEB expects delivery of 32 Airbus A321neo, two Airbus A330, and 15 ATR 72-600 aircraft

  • South Korean department stores set to smash sales record

    South Korean department stores set to smash sales record

    South Korean department stores are tipped to chalk up sales of more than 30 trillion won (US$25.6 billion) for the first time this year.

    That would make if 86 years since the country’s first department store opened in 1930.

    Industry commentators say the figure reflects the retail category’s emergence from “years of stagnation” to return to growth as they pursue new alliances, an expanded food offer and eCommerce.

    Lotte, Hyundai and Shinsegae account for 80 per cent of the Korean department stores market with Galleria, AK Plaza and smaller brands hold the remainder.

    Just seven years ago, department store sales surpassed the 20 trillion won barrier – this year’s projection is 31 trillion, a remarkable growth rate by any measure, especially considering sales stagnated at 29 trillion won for the last four years.

    “Despite the prolonged economic slowdown and changing consumption trend, the domestic department store market is expected to post growth this year thanks to new concept stores and the expansion of online channels,” a Shinsegae Department Store official said.

  • Hard half-year for Luk Fook Holdings

    Hard half-year for Luk Fook Holdings

    Revenue plunged by 21.5 per cent for jeweller Luk Fook Holdings (International) to reach HK$5.5 billion (US$709 million) for the six months to September 30.

    Its interim results also show a drop of 31.5 per cent in overall same-store sales for the period.

    However, its overall gross margin improved by 5.3 points to 28 per cent as a result of a relatively high gold price and higher gemset jewellery sales mix. Because of this, the gross profit decreased by only 3 per cent to HK$1.5 billion.

    Mainland China accounted for 54.6 per cent of total profits, an increase of 12.8 points.
    With a lacklustre market, retail revenue in Hong Kong plunged by 33.4 per cent to $2.642 billion, while the wholesale business shot up by 51.1 per cent to $361.6 million because of an increase in scrap gold sales as well as wholesale rough diamonds.

    Luk Fook says a relatively high gold price saw gold sales fall more than expected.

    During the six months, the group added 27 Lukfook shops worldwide, including 24 in China (nine of them licensed shops), a self-run shop in both Macau’s casino district and New York,and  a licensed shop in Seoul. This brought its total to 1455 Lukfook shops (up from 1412 at the same time last year), spanning Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Korea, Macau, Singapore and the US, as well as nine 3D-Gold shops (up from four) on the mainland.

    The group says it has been striving to diversify its product mix, and since 2010 has been trying to expand its mid- to high-end watch business. At the end of September is was the authorised dealer of 34 watch brands including Audemars Piguet, Bulova, Burberry, Bulgari, Emporio Armani, Eterna, Frederique Constant, Longines, Omega, Oris, Rado, Tag Heuer, and Victorinox Swiss Army.

    For the six months, the watch business contributed revenue of HK$104.49 million down from HK$119.39 million for the same period last year, representing 1.9 per cent of the group’s total revenue, a 12.5 per cent decrease.

    Looking ahead, the group aims to continue to develop its eCommerce business and to further strengthen cooperation with eCommerce platforms in China. At the end of September, the group had 15 online sales platforms in China, including JD.com, Suning.com, Tmall.com and VIP.com.

  • Korean food companies move into direct retail

    Korean food companies move into direct retail

    Korean food companies are reaching out to consumers through face-to-face encounters at their own branded cafes and restaurants.

    And they are reaping the rewards: upgrading their company image, testing new products and increasing sales.

    Binggrae gave its Banana-flavored milk, a product that has survived for 40 years, a new twist in March by opening a cafe in downtown Seoul that sells beverages and ice cream based on the milk. Opened in collaboration with Hyundai Department Store that hosts the cafe at its downtown outlet, Yellow Cafe is making monthly sales of some 100 million won (US$85,178), company officials said.

    yellow-cafe

    Binggrae also worked with Olive Young, a health and beauty store chain, to sell body care products based on its milk brands. Last month, it opened a soft ice cream shop at a Lotte Department Store branch in southern Seoul.

    Company insiders say the moves are market tests for Binggrae, which is interested in starting a restaurant business.

    Orion, synonymous with its most popular snack Choco Pie, is operating a dessert cafe, Lab O, in southern Seoul. As its name suggests, the store serves as the company’s research center for dessert products, getting consumer reactions to different flavors and foods tweaked from its mainstream brands.

    Haitai Confectionery & Foods, which recently landed a smash hit with its honey-flavored potato chips, Honey Butter Chips, runs cafe Haitai Ro at two locations in Seoul. The stores sell desserts, as well as character figurines and stuffed animals that enjoy the company’s snacks. Officials at the firm say the cafes are more like “antennae shops” that catch consumers’ preferences.

    Lotte Confectionery has Guylian Cafe at the Lotte Department Store’s Lotte World branch that sells desserts made with the Belgian chocolate. Lotte took over the brand in 2008. Lotte separately operates exhibition booths for its own products in southern Seoul.

    Food companies likewise are working their way directly to consumers through restaurant-style shops.

    SPC Samlip has adopted “grocerant” as its concept store, mixing a grocery store with a restaurant. Its Glucks Schwein, which sells premium processed meats, has German sausages and beer on its menu. The company’s noodle line Hi-myon, launched in 1974, is being marketed at its noodle specialty restaurant Hi-myon Udon. Company officials say they are planning to open 20 Glucks Schwein franchises by 2018 on top of 10 noodle restaurants by the end of next year.

  • Boom time for Korean convenience store sector

    Boom time for Korean convenience store sector

    The Korean convenience store sector is experiencing rapid growth as heavyweights battle for market share.

    The number of convenience stores in South Korea surpassed 33,000 as of the end of October this year, marking a rapid growth since the opening of the first store 27 years ago, according to industry data.

    That’s a significant increase from the 28,994 counted at the end of last year.

    CU had the most with 10,634, followed by GS25 with 10,486 and 7-Eleven with 8486. Japan-affiliated brand Mini Stop had 2326, and With Me, a chain operated by Shinsegae Group, had 1615. There are some 100 others that are not part of franchises, according to the Korea Association of Convenience Store Industry.

    South Korea’s first convenience store opened in southern Seoul in May 1989.

    The rising number of single-person households and aging society are funneling consumers to convenience stores that are near their homes and sell small portions, industry watchers say. Convenience stores have been quick to adapt to such a customer base, expanding from conventional shelf goods, such as snacks and beverages, to lunch boxes and other kinds of meals for singles who don’t want to cook, as well as services, including delivery and financial transactions.

    The sector grew 11.4 per cent last year, visibly comparable with 1.2 per cent growth in 2013 and 4.7 per cent in 2014. Sales increased from 12.8 trillion won (US$10.96 billion) in 2013 to 13.8 trillion won in 2014 and to 17.2 trillion won last year.

    Industry watchers expect sales this year to exceed 20 trillion won, with room for more growth until 2030, considering that South Korea’s per-store sales is only about one-fourth of that in Japan. Japan currently has about 55,600 convenience stores.

  • Smith & Wollensky restaurants going global

    Smith & Wollensky restaurants going global

    US steakhouse Smith & Wollensky, famously described by the New York Times as “the steakhouse to end all arguments”, is expanding its global presence, setting its sights initially on such cities as Bangkok, Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei and Tokyo, as well as Dubai and Mexico City.

    This follows Irish investment company Danu Partners acquiring Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group (SWRG) from Bunker Hill Capital this year. Its first overseas restaurant was opened in London.

    “Our teams in the US and London have worked closely together to build a robust infrastructure, and this is a perfect platform on which to build a global business,” says Leonard Ryan of Danu Partners. Joining the team will be international development executive Oliver Munday, who in the past 20 years has worked at growing US restaurant brands internationally.

    “Having completed transactions in more than 30 countries with multiple restaurant brands including Hard Rock, Margaritaville and Planet Hollywood, Oliver brings the contacts and expertise needed to allow us to reach our full potential on the international stage,” says SWRG president/CEO Michael Feighery .

    “Smith & Wollensky occupies a special place among the great US fine-dining restaurant brands, and there is global demand for such a classic American steakhouse experience,” says Munday. “We will be entertaining only a handful of select markets … but interest is already strong.”

    Since Danu Partners bought Smith & Wollensky it has embarked upon a program of reinvestment, which as well as expansion includes upgrades of its restaurants in the US.

    Established in 1977 with its headquarters in Boston, Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group has seven locations in the US. The restaurant has received such accolades as the Grand Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator and an Award of Excellence from Distinguished Restaurants of North America.

    An investment holding company based in Dublin, Danu Investment Partners was founded in 2009 and covers a range of business sectors, with a focus on the hospitality sector.

  • Singapore Sovereign Fund Invests $136 Million in Korean Retail Complex

    Singapore Sovereign Fund Invests $136 Million in Korean Retail Complex

    Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, GIC Real Estate Pte Ltd, has acquired GG-Square, a Seoul-based retail complex, for $136 million.

    The complex was completed in 2014 and is spread over an area of 238,248.43 square meters. It has 28 stories and is located in the heart of Anyang, a bustling metropolitan area in the southern part of Seoul. The complex is strategically located as it offers direct access to the city’s subway. Besides retail outlets, G-Square also has offices, spread over an area of 34,681 square meters.

    The complex is operated by one of the largest retail operators in South Korea, Lotte Shopping Co. However, after acquisition, it will be managed by IGIS Asset Management, a leading real estate management company in South Korea.

    GIC has been showing interest in the real estate, of late. Earlier in 2016, the sovereign wealth fund entered into an agreement with Shingsegae Inc., a South Korea-based department store franchise, to develop a retail mall based in Songdo.

  • South Korea’s LPG sales jump 17% to 6.4 mil mt over Jan-Sep on strong petchem demand

    South Korea’s LPG sales jump 17% to 6.4 mil mt over Jan-Sep on strong petchem demand

    South Korean LPG providers sold 6.4 million mt LPG in the domestic market over January-September, up 17.4% year on year, amid lower retail prices and stronger demand for petrochemical production, company officials said Friday.

    The rise outpaced the 0.8%-increase seen for full-year 2015 sales, when the suppliers sold 7.52 million mt, up from 7.46 million mt in 2014.

    Of the total 6.4 million mt LPG sold over the first nine months, SK Gas, the market leader, sold 2.83 million mt, up 49.7% from 1.89 million mt a year earlier.

    Its market share also increased to 44.3% for the period, up from 34.6% in the same period last year.

    In May, SK Gas started commercial production at its propane dehydrogenation plant that converts LPG into propylene.

    The PHD plant uses 700,000 mt/year of propane as feedstock to produce 600,000 mt/year of propylene.

    SK Gas is run by SK Group that also owns the country’s biggest oil refiner SK Innovation.

    Sales of second-largest supplier E1 Corp. rose 14.1% year on year to 1.54 million mt over January-September, up from 1.35 million mt in the year-ago period.

    E1 Corp. and SK Gas provide LPG to the domestic market through imports, while the country’s four oil refiners produce domestically.

    LPG sales by South Korea’s second-largest refiner GS Caltex fell 8.5% year on year to 741,000 mt over January-September, from 810,000 mt a year earlier.

    Top refiner SK Innovation’s LPG sales also dipped 10.1% year on year to 569,000 mt for the first nine months, from 633,000 mt in the same period last year.

    Third-largest refiner S-Oil Corp. sold 445,000 mt of LPG over January-September, up 3.7% from 429,000 mt, while smallest refiner Hyundai Oilbank’s sales dropped 20.3% to 177,000 mt, from 222,000 mt a year earlier.

    “LPG demand for petrochemical making soared 90% over the first nine months from a year earlier, while demand from industry use jumped 31% year on year in the period, driven by lower domestic prices,” an SK Gas official said.

    But LPG demand for transport has been on the decline over the past few years, falling 4%-7% year on year over January-September due to fewer LPG-powered vehicles while consumption by households and commerce edged down 0.7% from a year earlier, the official said.

    RETAIL PRICES FALL IN Q3

    Retail propane prices averaged Won 1,651 ($1.39)/kg in the third quarter of 2016, down 8.3% from Won 1,801/kg a year earlier, according to state-owned Korea National Oil Corp.

    Retail butane prices also fell 8.1% to average Won 1,863/kg in the third quarter, down from Won 2,028/kg in the year-ago period.

    According to KNOC, which provides data on barrels basis, South Korea consumed 28.83 million barrels of LPG over July-September, up 22.2% from 23.59 million barrels in the same period last year.

    The third-quarter growth slowed compared with a 29.4% rise seen the second quarter when the country consumed 20.11 million barrels of LPG, KNOC said.

    For the first nine months, LPG consumption increased 21.8% year on year to 79.21 million barrels, KNOC said.

    “LPG demand is likely to keep rising later this year unless retail prices rebound,” the SK Gas official said. To meet strong domestic demand, South Korea’s LPG imports jumped 34.1% year on year to 59.18 million barrels over January-September, compared with 44.14 million barrels a year earlier, according to KNOC.

    LPG imports from the US, the biggest supplier, soared nearly three times to 27.83 million barrels for the first nine months, from 9.68 million barrels in the year-ago period.

    South Korea’s LPG demand was sluggish in previous years. The country consumed 89.87 million barrels of LPG last year, unchanged from 89.58 million barrels in 2014, which was down 3.7% from 93.06 million barrels in 2013.

    Amid weak demand, South Korea’s LPG imports fell 2.3% year on year to 62.71 million barrels last year, compared with 63.53 million barrels in 2014, according to KNOC.

    -Charles Lee

  • Tesla to open its first Korean showroom on November 29th

    Tesla to open its first Korean showroom on November 29th

    The U.S.-based electric carmaker Tesla Motors will open its first Korean showroom at the Starfield Hanam shopping mall in Gyeonggi Province, Nov. 29.

    A Starfield Hanam official said he received an in-house notice of the Tesla showroom opening date.

    “However, the opening date may be moved up or delayed depending on Tesla’s preparations,” he added.

    Starfield Hanam, which had its grand opening on Sept. 9, is the largest shopping complex in Korea built as a joint venture between retail giant Shinsegae and U.S.-based shopping mall management company Taubman’s regional affiliate Taubman Asia.

    Before the grand opening, Tesla said Aug. 31 in a press release it would open its first Korean showroom on the second floor of the mall.

    The showroom is currently under construction, covered with a screen to hide the interior. However, Tesla has reportedly completed the ground construction for a charging station on the mall’s second-floor parking lot.

    The showroom will present Tesla’s Model S 90D, a full-size all-electric five-door luxury sedan.

    When the model was introduced in 2012, it received a perfect 5.0 from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) car safety rating. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) official range for the 2012 Model S equipped with an 85kWh battery pack is 426 kilometers.

    Tesla’s official webpage said the current Model S 90D’s range is 512 kilometers.

    Tesla has already received approval for emissions and noise standards from the Ministry of Environment, and is preparing for another approval with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT). It is expected to take about two weeks to get MOLIT approval.

    Tesla is also preparing to open its second Korean showroom in Gangnam, southern Seoul.

    It reportedly signed a lease to rent a building in Cheongdam-dong on Sept. 1. It will use the building’s basement, first and second floors until Aug. 31, 2021.

    The Gangnam showroom is also currently under construction and Tesla officials visited the site last week to monitor the construction process.

    Tesla also announced last week via an email interview with ZDNet Korea, an IT-focused online newspaper, its plan to establish charging infrastructure in Korea.

    “Tesla is reviewing its plan to build a few supercharging stations in Seoul,” Atsuko Doi, Tesla’s head of communications for Asia Pacific, was quoted as saying.

    “We are discussing how to rent the sites for the charging stations.”

  • Under Armour opens office in Korea

    Under Armour opens office in Korea

    U.S. sports brand Under Armour said Thursday that it has opened an office in Korea to operate its business directly next year. So far, its clothes, shoes and sports equipment have been imported, marketed and sold through business partner Hyosung Galaxia.

    The company said it decided to bring its products directly to Korean consumers as the country’s sports and fitness market continues to grow.

    “Under Armour will strengthen its marketing, distribution and retail efforts, providing Korean consumers with the best brand and shopping experience,” said David Song, country manager of Under Armour Korea. “We will open our flagship store in southern Seoul in January. The brand will also continue to connect with athletes directly and promote sports, fitness and healthy living through its connected fitness platform, which is the world’s largest digital health and fitness community.”

    Song said driving deeper growth in Korea is a pivotal component of the firm’s comprehensive international growth strategy. “Through design, innovation and our Under Armour connected fitness platform, we look forward to forging long-term relationships directly with athletes at every level in the country.”

    Under Armour Korea plans to open premiere retail shops and carry out robust marketing campaigns to tell its unique brand story, as well as invest in the next generation of Korean athletes to exemplify its brand.

  • GIC snaps up a Korean shopping mall

    GIC snaps up a Korean shopping mall

    It invested $192.4m in the 28-floor retail complex. Singapore’s state-owned investment firm GIC invested $192.4m (USD 136m) in G-Square City Retail Complex in Seoul Korea.

    Tha complex, which was completed in 2012, spans 238,248 sqm across 8 floors. The building is well-situated in a prime location in the centre of Anyang City, a metropolitan area of Southern Seoul. It has a direct access to a subway line.

    “A 34,681 sqm office tower is also part of the complex, and is one of the preferred office buildings within the Anyang city district given its landmark status and building quality,” GIC said.

    The said mall is operated by Lotte Shopping Co. With the aquisition, it will be managed by IGIS Asset Management, one of the country’s largest real estate management companies with a good track record of managing retail assets.

    GIC Real Estate Chief Investment Officer Lee Kok Sun said G-Square is in line with the group’s strategy of acquiring income-generating assets.

    “As a long-term investor, we remain confident in the continued growth of the Korean economy and its retail sector,” Lee said.

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