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Contradicting local media speculation, Lotte Department Store officials have denied rumors of In-N-Out Burger's planned entry into the South Korean market. Despite previous successful pop-up events in Seoul, no formal talks or agreements have been confirmed.
The local media even claimed that officials of the American fast-food chain have recently visited the country and held meetings with retailers. They especially mentioned Lotte Department Store and stated its officials met with the management team of In-N-Out Burger to discuss business while presenting its proposed terms.
However, as per Korea Joongang Daily, Lotte Department Store shot down the speculations. The company reportedly refuted the claims of business meetings with the officials of In-N-Out Burger for the opening of stores in the country.
An official of the department store chain personally told Korea Joongang Daily on Thursday, June 22, that the report is not true. He further explained they had not met with any of the fast-food chain’s executives. Likewise, Shinsegae Department Store declined to confirm the report as well.
Koreans have been familiar with the burger joint since it has opened pop-up stores in Seoul since 2012. On May 31, In-N-Out Burger operated its fourth pop-up in the region after four years.
The Korea Times previously reported the event drew in a very large crowd, with many people lining up several hours earlier than the announced opening time. Moreover, the pop-up store was only open for four hours - from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. - but the burgers prepared for the day were sold out despite the short time.
At that time, Lewis Hernandez, the In-N-Out’s manager from the Irvine, California HQ, said that the pop-up store in Seoul was part of a global tour to promote their burger brand. He added that there is no concrete plan, but they are reviewing the possibility of entry to the country as the pop-up events were always very successful.
Photo by: Kevin Lanceplaine/Unsplash
