Convenience Store Sales Reveal Cheongwadae and Yongwadae Commercial Areas: "Ice Cream in Jongno, Lunch Boxes in Yongsan"

Citizen-Open Cheongwadae Becomes Similar to Amusement Park Commercial Area
CU Sales of Some Items Increase 230% Year-on-Year
Beverages, Ice Cream, Ice, etc. Rise

Yongsan Office Relocation, Office Commercial Area Trend
Lunch Boxes, Triangle Kimbap, etc.
Convenience Food Sales Increase

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] The relocation of the presidential office is reshaping the commercial landscape. The Cheongwadae (Blue House) in Cheongunhyoja-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, has become a popular spot for the public, and as the presidential office moved to Yongsan-gu, changes in the nearby commercial areas have been directly reflected in convenience store sales. While the area near Cheongwadae now shows sales trends similar to those of recreational commercial districts, the vicinity of the presidential office in Yongsan has strengthened its typical office district characteristics.

According to the distribution industry on the 8th, convenience stores near Cheongwadae, which was declared fully open to the public, have recently shown sales patterns similar to those of recreational commercial areas. According to CU, operated by BGF Retail, from May 10 to 30, after Cheongwadae was opened, sales of major items at convenience stores in Cheongun-dong and Hyoja-dong near Cheongwadae increased by up to 230% compared to the previous year. By item, tea beverages rose 232.6%, iced drinks 164.5%, desserts 124.1%, and ice 129.1%, showing a significant increase in beverage sales enjoyed by visitors.

Other convenience stores showed similar trends. GS25, operated by GS Retail, reported that during the same period, sales of frozen desserts increased by 101%, ice by 78.1%, and beverages by 51.1%. Emart24 also saw sales growth centered on frozen desserts (341%), cup ice (272%), bottled water (225%), and carbonated drinks (203%) at two stores near Cheongwadae.

The industry analyzed that this sales change occurred as more visitors came to the previously less frequented area near Cheongwadae. As the weather warmed, a pattern similar to summer recreational commercial districts appeared, where people buy a drink to walk or rest. Before the presidential office moved, Cheongunhyoja-dong’s commercial area was centered around restaurants and pubs. According to the Small Business Commercial Area Analysis System, the floating population here was 73.6% on weekdays and 26.4% on weekends, mainly serving Cheongwadae officials on weekdays. However, since Cheongwadae opened in May, a different sales pattern has emerged. A nearby convenience store official said, "With more visitors on holidays and weekends, weekend customers have increased," adding, "In the future, the floating population ratio will shift even more toward weekends."

In Hangangno-dong, Yongsan-gu, where the presidential office relocated, the increase in floating population including Cheongwadae officials led to growth in ready-to-eat meal sales. This strengthened a sales pattern typical of office districts, where many office workers quickly grab meals. Sales of menu items such as lunch boxes, triangular kimbap, and rolled kimbap increased significantly. CU’s lunch box sales rose 51.4% year-on-year, triangular kimbap 47.7%, rolled kimbap 33.9%, sandwiches 39.6%, and desserts 44.8%. GS25 reported a 37.4% increase in ready-to-eat meals at five stores near the presidential office during the same period. As more people bought office supplies, sales of phone accessories like chargers surged by 471%.

Hangangno-dong is the location of Yongridan-gil, a commercial area recently gaining popularity mainly among the MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z), but it has long had many companies nearby, with a weekday floating population ratio of 75.6%, higher than weekends (24.4%). In this context, the increase in weekday visitors stopping by due to the 'Yongwaedae' (Yongsan Presidential Office) relocation is analyzed to have boosted ready-to-eat meal sales.

The distribution industry views these changes in major convenience store sales items as signaling a major future transformation of the commercial landscape in these areas. An industry official said, "The changes in convenience store sales near Cheongwadae in Jongno-gu and near the presidential office in Yongsan-gu are indicators of the future direction of the commercial districts," adding, "Going forward, Cheongunhyoja-dong will develop food and cafe businesses targeting visitors to the now-open Cheongwadae, while Yongsan will see growth in commercial areas catering to office workers."

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