# Jakob, a Danish who recently visited Korea, was the first to visit an optician in downtown Seoul. ..

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# Jakob, a Danish who recently visited Korea, was the first to visit an optician in downtown Seoul. He said he heard from a friend, “If you wear glasses in Korea, you can receive the product in a short time, and the quality is good and the price is reasonable.” Mr. Jakob took less than 20 minutes from an eye exam to making and purchasing glasses. He said he would match two glasses on his next visit to Korea.

The domestic eyewear market is popular. Following the global box office success of Gentle Monster, emerging brands such as Blue Elephant are rapidly growing. Among foreign tourists, optician has emerged as an essential tourist course.

According to the industry on the 24th, iCombind, which operates Gentle Monster, is on the verge of exceeding KRW 1 trillion in annual sales. It recorded 789.1 billion won in sales and 238.8 billion won in operating profit on a consolidated basis last year. Global demand is strong enough to account for 40% of total sales overseas.

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Launched in 2011, Gentle Monster has gained popularity by forming a showroom in the form of a unique exhibition hall, focusing on social networking services (SNS), and has secured recognition by collaborating with popular global celebrities such as Black Pink’s “Jenny.”

The growth of the Blue Elephant, called the “second Gentle Monster,” is also noteworthy. Last year’s sales amounted to KRW 30 billion 15.74 million, more than five times higher than the previous year (5.75 billion won). Operating profit increased more than 10 times to 12.82 billion won and net profit to 11.33 billion won, respectively. This year, it aims to generate 80 billion won in annual sales.

On the 29th, the Blue Elephant Space Seongsu will be opened on Yeonmun-gil in Seongsu, Seoul. The success of overseas stores is also a key factor in growth. Following the Harajuku store in Japan in July, the opening of the Beverly Hills flagship in LA is scheduled next year.

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In fact, it is also confirmed that demand for “glasses shopping” is increasing rapidly, especially among tourists visiting Korea. A “glass garden tour product” for foreigners has also emerged. According to travel platform Creative Trip, transactions of optician products increased by about 1608% from June to October compared to the previous five months.

The key factors in popularity are speed and price. In the country, production, which takes up to two weeks, is possible within 30 minutes from ophthalmology to receipt in Korea. In addition to technology such as the thickness of eyeglasses, the price is also low, so high-quality products can be purchased at a reasonable price.

An industry official said, “Eyewear is a product that was originally appreciated because its cost ratio is lower than that of the fashion sector,” adding, “The growth of Gentle Monster and Blue Elephant will continue with the unique ‘experiential store’ and trendy design of Korean brands.”

The official said, “Korean glasses are equipped with fast production, sophisticated design, and reasonable prices at the same time,” adding, “Foreigners are increasingly taking time to visit during their travel schedules.”