Apple to Open First Store in South Korea on December 30 [Updated]

[szw-mapple fan]

Personally I see this as a HUGE waste of resources and effort by Apple. Anyone have the revenue figures for Apple in Korea’s?!

That could be a hard sell..... in the lion's den so to speak. Selling higher-priced Apple goodies to Samsung loyalists, right on the turf of the hometown heroes.....

Where there are vocal loyalists, there will always be vocal rebels. Besides, Apple isn’t exactly struggling in South Korea. It’s market share has been around 30% for some years now.

 

[macs4nw]

What an ignorant post. Samsung products in Korea are more expensive than the US and on par with Apple products. Also, like already mentioned, Apple products are doing well there and are pretty common. You may be surprised at how Koreans perceive Samsung...

Does apple not have a 30% share? They seem to do fine

.....Not everyone in the US drives a Ford just because they are a domestic brand, why would people assume the same about Koreans and Samsung?

Where there are vocal loyalists, there will always be vocal rebels. Besides, Apple isn’t exactly struggling in South Korea. It’s market share has been around 30% for some years now.

Didn't expect such a loud response to what I thought was an innocuous, tongue-in-cheek response that was meant to poke a little fun at Apple getting a little more aggressive on Samsung's home turf.

Of course they're going to do well, and that first store which will no doubt be followed by others in South Korea, will I'm sure, be welcomed by the many Apple product owners in the immediate vicinity who need advice, service, replacements, repairs, etc.

Perhaps I picked the wrong emojis..... Have a great day y'all.

 

[madoka]

Personally I see this as a HUGE waste of resources and effort by Apple. Anyone have the revenue figures for Apple in Korea’s?!

You know nothing about Korea.

There's already a hugely successful chain of unofficial Apple stores in Korea called Frisbee. They look just like an Apple store and act just like the Apple stores in the US. Apple is just making their official entry into Korea.

 

[makr]

Personally

Exactly.
I'm sure Apple already did this calculations and decided to open a store there.

 

[Breaking Good]

You may be surprised at how Koreans perceive Samsung...

Just out of curiosity, how do Koreans perceive Samsung?

I ask because I am in the United States and I use a Samsung Galaxy S8 plus as my personal smartphone.

 

[DeepIn2U]

Where there are vocal loyalists, there will always be vocal rebels. Besides, Apple isn’t exactly struggling in South Korea. It’s market share has been around 30% for some years now.

where did you find such a valuation?

 

[thl0103]

Just out of curiosity, how do Koreans perceive Samsung?

I ask because I am in the United States and I use a Samsung Galaxy S8 plus as my personal smartphone.

You gotta look at it as how people in United States perceive Apple, some love it or hate it, but the thing is Samsung isn't just an electronics maker in Korea, they don't call Korea republic of Samsung for nothing, it's family owns and operates high end department stores, hotels, insurance, auto etc...

I live in San Jose and travel to Korea for work reasons and to see my family about three times a year and Samsung is definitely more "premium" than in US. They obviously have better and more product line ups than what we see in US.

But Apple does great, despite them only having apple online store and resellers to compete with Samsung and LG being in every corner f the street.

I feel my motherland's people are really status oreitend(especially in 'Gangnam') and this first store definitely found it's spot at one of the most expensive streets in Gangnam.

 

[960design]

Apple's first official retail store in South Korea is set to open just before the end of the year on Saturday, December 30...

Very nice. I used to live in Yongsan 2 ga-dong, just north of there.

 

[wesley96]

You know nothing about Korea.

There's already a hugely successful chain of unofficial Apple stores in Korea called Frisbee. They look just like an Apple store and act just like the Apple stores in the US. Apple is just making their official entry into Korea.

Most of the Apple resellers in Korea try to mimic the Apple Store feel, including Willy’s, KMUG, and Neptune.

 

[Appurushido]

Wait till Samsung builds a larger store to the left and the right of the Apple store haha. A "Sampple" sandwich lol.

 

[tim_o_teus]

I can confirm first hand that the Apple Store on Garosu gil Road is NOT opening today (Dec 30). Work onsite is progressing - they have for example today removed the blue ”wall” from the front of the building - but one of the construction crew confirmed that the store is not yet opening, and he had no date to give (or he was not in position to tell... ). Shame, since I would have been happy to witness the launch.