In the future, duty-free shops (bonded sales stores) will not need to go through the patent review committee when expanding their patent area.
The Korea Customs Service announced on the 11th that it held the third bonded sales store patent review committee and approved the 'customs office head's discretionary approval standards improvement plan for changes in bonded sales store area.'
With this improvement plan, if the increase in the bonded sales store area is 50㎡ or less, discretionary approval is possible regardless of the original store size. Previously, discretionary approval was only possible when expanding within 110% of the originally patented store area.
As a result, the administrative burden on small and medium-sized duty-free shops, which operate relatively small stores, is expected to be eased. The Korea Customs Service plans to revise the related public notice based on the resolution of the committee.
Additionally, at this committee, the renewal of the Grand Tourism Hotel's patent for the Gimpo International Airport arrival hall duty-free shop was approved. The Grand Tourism Hotel can continue to operate the Gimpo International Airport arrival hall duty-free shop for five more years.