Emart24 Inc. announced on Monday that it will open a store in Pune, India, becoming the first Korean convenience store brand to enter the massive market.

The company signed a brand licensing agreement with Jung Brothers Hospitality, led by Peter Jung, a first-generation Korean entrepreneur in India. Local real estate developer Solitaire Group joined as a partner.

The agreement grants Jung Brothers the right to use Emart24 ’s intellectual property, including its brand, in exchange for royalties. Unlike a master franchise deal, the licensee is not permitted to recruit franchisees.

The first Indian store is set to open in August at the Solitaire Business Hub in Pune, Maharashtra. The two-story outlet will span 182 square meters on the first floor and 82 square meters on the second, offering in-house brand goods and a range of Korean products.

The first floor will feature 36 indoor and 32 outdoor dining seats, alongside retail areas for No Brand items and counter food. The second floor will include a Korean-style self-photo booth and a cosmetics section. Counter food refers to convenience store meals served in a food-court-style format.

The Pune store plans to offer Korean snack dishes such as tteokbokki and gimbap, as well as hot dogs.

In Pune, Peter Jung operates more than 20 franchise outlets including Café Peter, while Solitaire Group has led over 40 real estate development projects across residential and commercial sectors.

Emart24 aims to leverage Jung’s retail experience and Solitaire’s property assets to expand its footprint, with a second store planned for October.

The company entered Malaysia in June 2021 and Cambodia in June 2023, where it now operates 100 and five stores, respectively.

Emart24 cited India’s youthful demographics—47 percent of the population is under 25—and the limited development of modern retail formats as key factors in its decision, along with the growing appeal of Korean pop culture.

“India is a young country with an average age of 28 and tremendous growth potential. We are very pleased that Emart24 is the first Korean convenience store to enter the Indian market,” said Emart24 Chief Executive Officer Choi Jin-il. “We are committed to a successful market entry and are also reviewing future master franchise arrangements and expansion into additional countries.”

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