What: Lotte Mart, a Korean supermarket chain, is now planning to have foreign-friendly zones in its stores.

Why it is important: the purpose is to appeal to tourists, which is no longer the single prerogative of local luxury and fashion boutiques as well as department stores.

Lotte Mart, a prominent supermarket chain in South Korea, is introducing special "Must-Haves of Korea: K-Food" shopping zones tailored for foreign visitors. Initiated at its Seoul Station branch, which saw about 30% foreign footfall this year, the 20-meter-long zone is set to expand to eight other outlets near tourist hotspots by year's end. This includes locations at Gimpo International Airport, Lotte World Tower, and the Jeju island. This initiative responds to the increasing number of foreign travelers, particularly since the endemic and the revival of Chinese group tours. The Seoul Station branch also offers luggage storage, currency exchange machines, and has restarted its thrice-weekly international shipping service since May.

Lotte Mart is now preparing for the return of tourists