Hungarian prime minister’s visit to Second Lotte World

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is taking a three-day visit to Korea. By taking time out of his tight schedule in Korea, he visited the Second Lotte World theme park in southern Seoul on Thursday, the first day of his visit.

The reason behind his visit to the Second Lotte World is "Gerbeaud," a café located on the second floor of Avenuel World Tower. Gerbeaud, a high-end café in Budapest that opened in 1858, attracts more than 200,000 people every year. Famous for its dessert and coffee, Gerbeaud opened the third store in Seoul last month after those in Budapest and Tokyo. Premier Orban took a 30-minute tour to the café, accompanied by Hungarian Ambassador to Korea Csaba Gabor, and ruling Saenuri Party lawmaker Kim Tae-hwan.

As Korean retail companies have recently introduced shops of world-famous brands and have often hosted events under the theme of traditional food and culture, distinguished visitors from foreign countries are frequenting such stores. The purpose of such visits is to expedite exchange with Korea and promote their goods and culture.

Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb visited an exhibition of Finland’s kitchenware brand "Iittala" at Lotte Department Store’s main store on last Wednesday. Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin also visited the exhibition venue, and held friendly chat with Prime Minister Stubb.

Foreign ambassadors to Korea are more proactively participating in events hosted by retailers. Spanish Ambassador to Korea Gonzalo Ortiz Diaz-Tortosa attended the opening party for the "Spanish Food Fair" held at Hyundai Department Store’s Apgujeong branch on last Friday. The party, which was also attended by top managers of the department store, featured a seminar on Spanish food, and performance of traditional Spanish dance.

The "French Gourmet Festival," which Hyundai Department Store has been hosting since last year, has constantly attracted high-level French government officials. French Food Industry Minister Guillaume Garot took part in the first event in November last year, while French ambassador to Korea Jerome Pasquier attended the second event in May this year.

Large discount stores are also proactively maintaining cooperative ties with foreign embassies in Korea. Lotte Mart held a New Zealand goods fair at its major stores across the nation on November 12. In a related move, New Zealand ambassador to Korea Patrick Rata, who visited the exhibition at Lotte Mart branch in World Tower, met with customers in person and promoted New Zealand.

“Customers want to know exotic goods, and foreign embassies seek to introduce goods from their countries,” a source at Lotte Mart said. “Hence, diplomats are proactively participating in events in the distribution sector.”