The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Fri, August 12, 2022 | 03:37
Business
IKEA to expand parking lot
Posted : 2015-01-07 19:04
Updated : 2015-01-07 19:18
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
Gwangmyeong city will monitor the measures' effectiveness over weekend

By Park Si-soo

IKEA Korea said it will expand the outdoor parking lot of its outlet in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, as part of measures to ease traffic congestion that put the store at risk of a business suspension.


It will raise its parking capacity to cater for 3,500 vehicles, up from current capacity of 2,000.

The Swedish furniture retailer will also significantly reduce free parking time ㅡ from five hours to three ㅡ and let more employees work for time-efficient parking and departure.

"That's all we can do for now," an IKEA spokeswoman told The Korea Times by phone. "We finalized the solution after IKEA executives had a meeting with Gwangmyeong officials Tuesday."

She said the suggested measures will help ease severe traffic congestion on roads surrounding IKEA's first mall in Korea.

Gwangmyeong will monitor the measures' effectiveness over weekend and then decide whether to withdraw its threat of a business suspension, officials said.

The first IKEA mall opened on Dec. 18. It has since been pressed to come up with a "dramatic solution" for the problem by Gwangmyeong. The city warned the outlet would be shut from Jan. 15 unless it provides a breakthrough by Wednesday.

But few seem to believe that the measures will significantly improve traffic conditions. Although the outlet's parking lot will be expanded, its capacity still falls short of accommodating daily visiting cars on average. Gwangmyeong said an estimated 8,500 cars daily use the parking lot on average.

Critics say it's also uncertain how much the reduction of free parking time will help improve road conditions.

"Perhaps it will have a limited impact," a Gwangmyeong resident said. "IKEA will need to work closely with Gwangmyeong to come up with a more fundamental solution."

Many citizens say Gwangmyeong is not free from the criticism. They lashed out at the city for giving approval for business to IKEA without a thorough study of possible traffic congestion.

The IKEA spokeswoman refused to comment on the issue.

Meanwhile, Gwangmyeong is pressing the central government to revise a law governing the retail business to have IKEA registered as a large-scale discount mall. The outlet is now registered as a mall specializing in furniture.

If it is re-categorized as a discount mall, IKEA will have to shut twice a month on weekends, a decision taken two years ago to ensure co-prosperity of big and small retailers.

Proponents of the move say the IKEA outlet threatens small and medium-sized domestic furniture makers, forcing them to slash prices to survive.

They said that although major furniture companies such as Hanssem, Hyundai Livart and Ace Bed seemed to be little affected, they would soon feel the pressure.

IKEA will open four more outlets around Seoul by 2020.

Emailpss@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
LG
  • Hydrogen bus trial service begins in Busan, Ulsan, South Gyeongsang Province megacity
  • Vacationers warned not to buy marijuana cookies in Thailand
  • Seoul City to phase out semi-basements as dwellings
  • Korean firms asked to consult with indigenous peoples prior to searching for renewable energy resources
  • Convenience stores offer unconventional products for Chuseok
  • Defense minister refutes China's claim on THAAD
  • Internet banks perform poorly in board gender diversity
  • Korean builders desperate for oil money
  • Yoon holds first meeting with USFK chief since inauguration
  • Solo Leveling artist's death sheds light on webtoon creators' working condition
  • Interactive News
  • With tough love,
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • A tale of natural wine
    • 'Good Doctor' director to debut Netflix's high-strung suspense series, 'A Model Family' 'Good Doctor' director to debut Netflix's high-strung suspense series, 'A Model Family'
    • Death of young webtoon artist sparks controversy over harsh working conditions Death of young webtoon artist sparks controversy over harsh working conditions
    • Musical 'Kinky Boots' tells people to love themselves as they are Musical 'Kinky Boots' tells people to love themselves as they are
    • Crime thriller 'Limit' is about mother's quest to save abducted son Crime thriller 'Limit' is about mother's quest to save abducted son
    • From P1Harmony to Zico, K-pop hotshots to perform in Abu Dhabi next month From P1Harmony to Zico, K-pop hotshots to perform in Abu Dhabi next month
    DARKROOM
    • Ice is melting, land is burning

      Ice is melting, land is burning

    • Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

      Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

    • Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

      Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

    • Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

      Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

    • Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

      Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

    The Korea Times
    CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
    Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
    Tel : 02-724-2114
    Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
    Date of registration : 2020.02.05
    Masthead : The Korea Times
    Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
    • About Us
    • Introduction
    • History
    • Location
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
    • Products & Service
    • Subscribe
    • E-paper
    • Mobile Service
    • RSS Service
    • Content Sales
    • Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
    • 고충처리인
    • Youth Protection Policy
    • Code of Ethics
    • Copyright Policy
    • Family Site
    • Hankook Ilbo
    • Dongwha Group