Amore and Shinsegae Inter's Emergency Response to Novel Coronavirus: "Employees Returning from China Business Trips to Work from Home Temporarily"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] As fears of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) spread, domestic fashion and beauty companies are also on high alert, preparing countermeasures in response to the situation's development.

On the 28th, Amorepacific decided to implement remote work for employees who traveled to major outbreak areas of Wuhan pneumonia (China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan) during the Lunar New Year holiday, following a series of confirmed novel coronavirus cases.

Amorepacific has one corporation and one production research facility (factory, research center) each in Shanghai, China, and the number of offline stores of its five mega brands?Sulwhasoo, Laneige, Mamonde, Etude House, and others?in China reaches about 1,800 (including road shops and department stores).

Amorepacific has decided to refrain from sending Korean employees on business trips to China except in unavoidable cases, and is also discussing measures such as disinfection at offline stores in Korea.

An Amorepacific representative said, "We are replacing business trips with video conferences, emails, and phone calls," adding, "Hand sanitizers and masks have been placed on every floor and entrance of the Amorepacific headquarters, as well as at major commercial area stores such as Myeongdong."

Since the 21st, Amorepacific has been enforcing mask-wearing for all employees, placing thermometers, and controlling access at its Shanghai production research facilities. Store employees in China have been instructed to work or stay on standby at home according to local government measures.

An Amorepacific representative said, "We have established an emergency contact network in China and set up a continuous response system to monitor emergency situations during the Lunar New Year period."

Shinsegae International has also decided to temporarily close its Shanghai corporation for the time being. Shinsegae International has been closing the offline stores of Tomboy and BOB in Wuhan, China, since the 24th.

A Shinsegae International representative said, "The reopening schedule for offline stores in Wuhan is currently undecided," and added, "We plan to send masks from Korea to local store employees in China later."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.