Uniqlo opens first South Korea shops since flare-up with Japan

Fast fashion retailer's sales in South Korea down about 40% in July

South Korea is one of fast Fast Retailing's biggest operations, third by number of Uniqlo stores after Japan and China. © Reuters

AKANE OKUTSU and YOSHIHIRO HARA, Nikkei Staff Writers

August 30, 2019 15:19 JST

TOKYO -- Uniqlo owner Fast Retailing opened two new stores in the Suji district south of Seoul on Friday, its first new shops in South Korea since political tensions with Japan spiked in July.

The Japanese company opened a Uniqlo outlet and a store for sister brand GU in Lotte Mall Suji as planned despite talk that its business faces big obstacles in South Korea.