Lotte, Doosan and Shinsegae Groups have been selected as the operators of three duty-free stores in downtown Seoul as the stores' existing operating licenses expire this year.
 
Lotte has lost the license for one of its two duty-free stores each in Sogong-dong and the Lotte World Tower in Jamsil, southern Seoul. It will keep the store in Sogong-dong while Doosan has newly acquired the right to open a duty-free store.
 
Shinsegae has also replaced SK Group as a new operator.
 
As a result, the Lotte Duty Free Shop in the World Tower and the Walkerhill Duty Free Shop in Gwangjang-dong will no longer be in service.
 
A Doosan duty free shop will newly open in Dongdaemun and one by Shinsegae will debut in the shopping district of Myeongdong.
 
Shinsegae has also maintained the license for its existing duty free store in the southern port city Busan.
 
The selected firms will operate the stores for five years.
 
The four winners were selected during a final two-day deliberation by 14 officials of the Korea Customs Service.
 
The customs service said that factors such as corporate managerial ability, coexistence with small and medium firms, contributions to society and the stores' surrounding environment were considered in the decision.
 
However, it said that details of the appraisal and names of the judging panel can not be disclosed.