Three Additional 'Smart Super' Stores Opened in Anyang, Chuncheon, and Ulsan

Manned Operation During the Day, Unmanned at Night
Collaboration with Local Governments to Introduce 800 Units Annually from Next Year, 4,000 Units by 2025

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Cheol-hyun] The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (Minister Park Young-sun, hereinafter referred to as the Ministry) announced on the 28th that it will open three additional 'Smart Super' stores in Anyang, Chuncheon, and Ulsan. The Smart Super support project was piloted this year to strengthen the competitiveness of neighborhood supermarkets amid the expansion of non-face-to-face consumption due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), with the first store opening on September 1 (Sadang, Seoul) and the second on November (Yeouido, Seoul).

Smart Super is a hybrid store operated with staff during the day and unmanned at night, introducing smart technologies and equipment such as unmanned entry devices, unmanned checkout counters, and security systems, based on digital management, creating a new model for neighborhood supermarkets. Since opening, the average daily sales increased by 25.4% at the first store and 18.6% at the second store. In the case of the second store, the owner operated it alone, often having to quickly eat lunch and rarely able to use the restroom, but the transition to Smart Super resolved these issues, improving quality of life.

After operating the pilot Smart Super stores this year, the Ministry plans to collaborate with local governments from next year to foster 800 Smart Super stores annually, aiming for 4,000 by 2025. Bae Seok-hee, head of the Small Business Management Support Division at the Ministry, said, "We hope that more neighborhood supermarkets can enjoy increased sales and a more comfortable life through the adoption of smart technologies amid the difficulties caused by COVID-19. We also plan to soon identify companies possessing smart technologies and equipment and provide information to neighborhood supermarkets."

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