[Distribution Hot People] "Half a Lifetime with GS25"... 30-Year Veteran Store Owner

A Convenience Store Found by Chance Through an Acquaintance
Confident It's an Industry Bound to Grow
"I Would Choose Convenience Store Startup Again"
The Store Is Bustling with Foreigners
"I Try to Treat Customers Like Family"

In 1994, Kim Seon-wook (63), an ordinary office worker, visited a convenience store by chance through an introduction from an acquaintance and experienced a "fresh shock." The emergence of stores where one could purchase everything from simple meals to daily necessities 24 hours a day even changed Kim's career. In June of the same year, Kim opened the GS25 Masan Sanho branch in Masan, Gyeongsangnam-do, followed by the opening of the Sacheon Industrial Complex branch in 2009.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Kim's convenience store operation. Kim is the 7th longest-serving operator of a single convenience store brand at GS25. Among GS25 store owners operating outside the metropolitan area, he holds the longest record.

In a recent interview with Asia Economy, Kim said, "I worked hard for about five years at a manufacturing company and had many concerns, but I was convinced that convenience stores would not grow in the future, so I decided to start a business." He added, "Having operated GS25 for nearly half my life over 30 years, I feel a special sentiment as both myself and the GS25 brand have achieved pleasant growth together."

At the 30th anniversary long-term operation ceremony of GS25 Sacheon Industrial Complex Store owner Kim Seon-wook, Kim Seon-wook (third from the left) is taking a commemorative photo with GS Retail executives and employees. Photo by GS Retail

As Kim anticipated, convenience stores have experienced rapid growth in Korea. When Kim started his convenience store in 1994, there were only about 1,500 stores nationwide, but recently the number has surpassed 50,000, increasing 34 times. Kim said, "If I went back 30 years, I would still choose to start a convenience store."

Operating a convenience store for 30 years has not been without difficulties. Kim said, "Managing store sales and profits has been the biggest concern and most important task both 30 years ago and now." He added, "I still study ways to operate better by trying new products first and directly interacting with customers."

The Sacheon Industrial Complex branch that Kim currently operates is bustling with foreign regular customers. They are foreign workers from nearby industrial complexes. Kim has taken on the role of a helper assisting those unfamiliar with Korean culture and life to settle in Korea. During the Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays, he even holds events at his own expense to share bread and drinks with foreign workers who remain alone. Kim said, "I try to live like family with customers who visit the convenience store by exchanging hearts," calling it his "philosophy of operating a convenience store for 30 years."

The most memorable moment was an elderly part-time worker over the age of sixty. About 20 years ago, an elderly gentleman came to the convenience store and earnestly requested, "Please let me work." Usually, Kim hired part-time workers in their twenties, but after much consideration, he gladly accepted. The elderly man worked hard for half a year and, long after quitting, wrote a thank-you letter to the convenience store. Kim said, "I later heard that the gentleman had run a fairly large company but suddenly faced difficulties and worked part-time at the convenience store," adding, "I had forgotten about it, but receiving the letter made me feel relieved that he was doing well."

On the 27th of last month, GS25 held a long-term operation commemorative ceremony and presented Kim with a 30th-anniversary plaque and a commemorative plaque made of 10 don of pure gold. Kim said, "Honestly, I did not attach special meaning to the 30th anniversary or being the longest-serving operator," but added, "I was grateful and deeply moved that many executives and employees from headquarters personally came to congratulate me." He added, "I hope to continue the life of a GS25 operator by running the Sacheon Industrial Complex branch well for 40 or 50 years."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.