[Exclusive] “Foreigners are also a convenience store owner”

In the convenience store industry, where people with Korean nationality used to be franchisees, foreign countries such as overseas Koreans are also in full swing. Previously, only Koreans have been selected as a store owner due to issues such as reliability investigation and lack of information on merchants. As domestic convenience store stores enter the stagnation period due to sluggish domestic demand, it is noteworthy that expanding merchants to overseas Koreans and foreigners will help to open a breakthrough.

According to the industry on the 30th, BGF Retail, which operates CU, opened the first door of the CU convenience store operated by Koreans in Gwanak -gu, Seoul. This is the first time that Koreans of Russian nationality start a business as a convenience store owner in Korea. The owner holds an overseas Korean (F-4) visa.

In May, BGF signed a business agreement (KGN) to expand its participation in economic activities in Korea, and attracted Korean merchants. Based on this agreement, BGF Retail plans to continue to increase the number of Korean merchants. In particular, Koreans exempted about 35%of the franchisees to alleviate the initial burden and paid separate subsidies. Korea Inin Global Network is planning to recruit start -ups for Goryeo.

In the long term, BGF will also be actively attracting foreigners as well as foreigners (D-8 visas) as well as overseas Koreans. In particular, the company plans to recruit merchants from various classes by promoting business agreements with foreigners and overseas Korean -related organizations. In addition, the company plans to hold a start -up briefing session for foreigners and overseas Koreans to provide start -up information and consulting customized.

In the meantime, Koreans have often become franchisees due to problems with the reliability investigation of the franchisees and access to information. There were cases where Koreans and permanent residences of Koreans founded a convenience store, but they were very rare. This is the first time that the headquarters has led the headquarters through the agreement, such as the BGF.

The attempt of the BGF Retail is in line with the change in the demographic structure. According to the National Statistical Office, the proportion of domestic multicultural families is steadily increasing every year to 7.2%in 2021, 9.1%in 2022, and 10.6%in 2023. In line with this trend, it is interpreted as a strategy to provide convenience store start -up opportunities to members of overseas Koreans and multicultural families and secure franchise resources. For example, there are about 500,000 Koreans in Asia, with about 120,000 residents in Korea alone.

The movement to attract foreigners is also related to the convenience store industry. According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the total number of convenience stores nationwide in July this year was 4,8003, down 700 from 4,8724 in January. Since April, the number of stores has declined. For convenience stores, there is a new road that can recruit another merchant owner.

https://n.news.naver.com/article/009/0005567579