Product Code Database
Emart Inc. () is the largest retailer in South Korea. The retailer was founded on 12 November 1993, by Shinsegae, as the first discount retailer in South Korea. 이마트‥국내1위 할인점 넘어 글로벌기업 도약 -hankyung, 2007-04-16 There were 160 stores across the Country as of December 2016.
Emart is South Korea's oldest and largest discount store chain, with a total sales volume exceeding US$9.4 billion in 2009. It was the first South Korean retailer to open a retail store in China, opening 27 stores 易买得 before exiting the country in 2017. Emart has another brand Emart-traders. It is almost same with Costco.
On July 7, 1995, the third Ansan branch (closed in December 2012 이마트 설립 뒤 첫 ‘폐점’ 나와 한겨레 - 2012년 12월 18일 기사) opened. On December 1, 1995, the fourth Bupyeong branch (closed on June 28, 2018). On November 22, 1996, the fifth store opened in Jeju City; on November 30, 1996, the sixth store opened in Bundang. On April 29, 1997, the company opened its eighth Namwon branch, its ninth Anyang branch on August 14, 1997, and its tenth Seobusan branch on August 29, 1997. On October 1, 2004, Emart opened an Internet shopping mall. 「할인점 1위」이마트, 인터넷 쇼핑몰 진출 - ZDNet Korea, 2004년 9월 30일 기사 In May 2006, Walmart acquired Walmart Korea, converting 16 Walmart stores into Emart stores. Walmart Korea was accepted and changed to Shinsegae Mart, and in 2008, Walmart Korea was merged entirely with Emart. For a period of time, Emart implemented a "lowest compensation system" that gave gift certificates worth 5,000 won if items were more expensive than other discount stores but ended the promotion in 2007, saying that "some advertisements are false hype". 이마트, 내달부터 최저가보상제 폐지 - 머니투데이, 2007년 7월 16일 기사
In September 2007, the Korea Food and Drug Administration announced that chlorphenapir, a pesticide component, was detected above the standard in Emart's first water powder green tea sold under its own brand.
On November 28, 2008, the Agricultural Quality Management Agency restricted Emart's Namyangju branch marking the country of origin as U.S. on the top of the meat package, but double marking as Australian was found on the barcode below.
As of September 2009, Emart has 127 and 4 distribution centers in South Korea. 신세계 사업현황 - 신세계닷컴, 2007년 8월 19일 읽어봄 On May 13, 2011, Emart acquired Kim's Club Mart. 이마트 "킴스클럽마트 인수가 비쌌다" On April 8, 2016, the "Mart" experience center was opened in Busan, Kizania, and on July 28, 2016, it was opened in Ulaanbaatar. company Good Food Holdings, Inc., parent of Bristol Farms, was acquired in 2018 by Emart for $275 million. In December 2019, Endeavour Capital announced that it would be selling the grocery chain New Seasons Market to Emart, specifically to its subsidiary, Good Food Holdings, in a sale transaction that was finalized in early 2020.
On May 16, 2018, the Gyeongsan branch and Bupyeong branch closed due to poor performance and overlapping commercial districts with the Gyeyang branch, Shizikolong Skychae was built after demolition, and the Bupyeong branch was built in Bupyeong Jewell. In addition, the company closed its Ulsan Hakseong Branch, Goyang Duck Branch, Incheon Branch, Gwangju Sangmu Branch, and Seobusan Branch '정용진의 남자' 강희석 대표, 이마트 '구원투수' 될까 - 아이뉴스24 and sold all of Costco Korea's shares to Costco's Washington headquarters. 이마트, 코스트코 지분·임대 부동산 모두 매각 - 뉴시스
In January 2022, Emart acquired a majority stake (80.01%) in eBay Korea, which it renamed "G-Market". EBay retained a 19.99% stake in the company.
In 2021, Emart24 convenience stores expanded to Malaysia to directly compete with CU, which Emart24's first Malaysian store opened in 2021. In December 2022, Emart24 launched in Singapore with the launch of the first two outlets on Christmas Holidays. During the launching event at Jurong Point outlet, chief executive Andy Choi has planned to launch 300 stores within the next five years.
In June 2025, Emart24 signed a trademark license agreement with Jung Brothers Hospitality, formally entering the India market. In August, its first store will open in Pune. October will see the opening of a second store. Emart24's arrival is anticipated to transition the retail industry, which is dominated by Kirana store devoid of contemporary amenities and technology. The brand's expansion is also expected to be aided by the Korean Wave's enormous appeal. Along with its unique No Brand line, the store will feature prepared meals like tteokbokki, gimbap, and Hot dog, cosmetics, a Korean-style self-service photo booth, and lifestyle items.
| + As of February 2025 !Shareholder ! Shareholding (%) | |
| Chung Yong-jin | 28.56% |
| National Pension Service | 8.68% |
| Naver Corporation | 3.00% |
| The Vanguard Group | 2.30% |
| Federated Hermes | 2.20% |
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