Ikea to open its second Planning Studio in Seoul

Ikea is opening a second Planning Studio in Seoul, at Hyundai Department Store, Sindorim, western Seoul, next month. Planning Studios are more compact than usual big-box-style Ikeas. [IKEA KOREA]

Ikea is opening its second Planning Studio in Korea next month.

Ikea Planning Studios are miniature Ikea stores oriented toward consultation for urban lifestyles. The first such store opened in April at Hyundai Department Store in Cheonho, eastern Seoul.

The company announced Monday the new location will open on Aug. 27 at the Hyundai Department Store in Sindorim in Guro District, western Seoul.

The 529-square-meter (5,694 square feet) space will include a planning zone for consulting service and five set-up rooms.

“We are very excited to make the IKEA home furnishing experience more accessible and convenient with the opening of IKEA Planning Studio Sindorim,” said Nicolas Johnsson, country commercial manager at IKEA Korea.

“Driven by the IKEA vision ‘to create a better everyday life for the many people’, we at IKEA Korea are transforming to meet the diverse needs of customers in a fast-changing retail environment. By increasing our presence in cities, we look forward to reaching more of the many Koreans, empowering them to create a happier life at home through a more affordable, convenient and sustainable IKEA.”

Ikea reported that its online sales rose in the first half of the year. The company is scheduled to announce full-year results next month. Its fiscal year runs from September to August.

BY JIN MIN-JI