Gwangju 'COVID-19' Cumulative Confirmed Cases Reach 9... Direct Hit to Distribution Industry

Lotte and Shinsegae Department Stores Show Negative Growth Rate Compared to Last Year

Thorough Prevention Measures Including Employee Temperature Checks and Frequent Shopping Cart Disinfection

As COVID-19 spreads nationwide, the distribution industry in the Gwangju area has been directly hit. The photo shows the quiet appearance of Gwangju Shinsegae Department Store.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Shin Dong-ho] In the Gwangju area, the 'COVID-19' that had quieted down has spread nationwide due to confirmed cases from the Daegu Shincheonji group, delivering a direct blow to the retail industry where many people gather.

Even on weekends, which could have been a special opportunity, foot traffic has stopped, causing sales to decline simultaneously. If the spread of COVID-19 continues, store owners of department stores and restaurants, who are already struggling with business, are increasingly anxious about when they might have to close their doors.

According to Gwangju Shinsegae Department Store on the 24th, sales during the weekend (7th to 9th) when the 16th confirmed COVID-19 patient, the first in the Gwangju area, was identified, dropped by about 30% compared to the same period last year.

Then, during the period of relative calm from the 14th to the 16th, sales rose by 5%, but on the weekend (21st to 23rd) when COVID-19 began spreading centered around the Daegu Shincheonji Church, sales plummeted again by 30%.

Although specific sales figures cannot be disclosed, it is clear that there was a significant impact on sales, according to officials.

As COVID-19 has started to spread nationwide again, Gwangju Shinsegae has installed fever detectors for employees to check their temperature when coming to and leaving work to minimize the impact.

They also frequently disinfect areas that customers often touch, such as escalators, restrooms, entrances, and shopping carts.

The situation at Lotte Department Store Gwangju branch is even more serious. Due to the combined effects of the so-called 'No Japan' movement and COVID-19, sales have hit rock bottom.

During the weekend (21st to 23rd) when COVID-19 began spreading, Lotte Department Store showed a -40% growth rate compared to the previous year, and the supermarket showed -45%.

Lotte Department Store also checks employees' temperatures daily and has placed hand sanitizers in customer contact areas on each floor.

They frequently disinfect handles, entrances, shopping carts, elevators, and more, but as the nationwide atmosphere of avoiding crowded public facilities spreads, a decline in sales seems inevitable for the time being.

Department store officials said, "We are concerned that negative growth rates will continue until the spread of COVID-19 returns to normal levels."

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