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(ATTN: ADDS CEO's comments in paras 10, 12)

SEOUL, April 20 (Yonhap) -- IKEA Korea said Monday it plans to open three additional outlets by 2027 as part of its efforts to strengthen its market presence and drive sales growth.

The company currently operates six stores: one in Seoul, three in the surrounding metropolitan area, and two in the regional cities of Busan and Gwangju.

Under the expansion plan, new outlets will be established in Incheon, Daegu and Daejeon, IKEA Korea said in a press release.

IKEA Korea reported that sales for the fiscal year ending August 2025 rose 2.2 percent on-year to 639.3 billion won (US$434 million), supported by its omnichannel strategy encompassing its website, mobile app and phone-based shopping services. Online sales accounted for 13 percent of total revenue.

"As IKEA Korea marks its 11th year in the market, we are focused on strengthening our foundation for future growth," Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Isabel Puig said at a press conference. "By expanding our footprint, enhancing our omnichannel capabilities and improving services, we aim to become more integrated into customers' everyday lives."

The company aims to generate 200 billion won in e-commerce sales this year, up from 50 billion won in 2019, she added.

IKEA Korea noted a growing trend among Korean consumers to research products online -- including via YouTube -- before making purchases in physical stores.

In response, the company opened its first Seoul location, IKEA Gangdong, last year. The outlet, integrated into a shopping mall, departs from IKEA's traditional standalone "blue box" store format.

Four of IKEA Korea's six existing stores follow the "blue box" concept, located in Gwangmyeong, Goyang, Giheung and Busan.

"We know that going to these blue boxes that we have, it takes a little bit of time, effort and planning. That's why, since 2023, we have been running 13 pop-up stores in different formats, places, sizes to find out what is it exactly that Koreans want from IKEA," the CEO said.

To further enhance customer convenience, IKEA Korea said it will introduce a next-day parcel delivery service later this month and expand its home delivery options with more flexible time slots and service choices.

"A life in Korea I learned during the last three years is that (it is) always very busy, and there needs to be a solution -- the delivery needs to be a solution, not a problem. Then we expand, of course this is the very basic (of services)," she said.

This photo, provided by IKEA Korea, shows Chief Executive Officer Isabel Puig outlining the company's expansion strategy during a press conference in Magok, western Seoul, on April 20, 2026. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
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