CJ Olive Young (hereinafter Olive Young) said on the 9th that it will invest 123.8 billion won in 2026 to open new stores and renovate existing ones outside the greater Seoul area, and to strengthen logistics infrastructure. The company aims to boost local commercial districts and expand youth employment at the same time.
This year's investment is more than triple that of 2023, when the country entered the endemic phase. In particular, investments related to building stores, which are highly effective for revitalizing local economies and creating jobs, will increase 36% from a year earlier.
The investment reflects a commitment to drive qualitative growth in commercial districts outside the capital region while expanding youth employment in those areas. Olive Young plans to focus its budget on upgrading stores that serve as key outlets in each region to strengthen their role as so-called "anchor tenants." In addition, by expanding and optimizing operations at the Gyeongsan Center and local MFCs (micro-fulfillment centers), the company plans to grow a region-based consumption ecosystem.
First, of the 78 large-format stores of 3,300 square feet or more slated for new openings or renovations this year, Olive Young will place 43 outside the capital region. It plans to build "K-beauty landmarks" nationwide that combine region-specific designs with experiential elements to attract not only local customers but also foreign tourists.
In major tourist hubs such as Busan, Jeju, and Gyeongju, the company will create "global specialty stores," while concentrating large hub stores in older downtowns and new towns across the Gyeongsang, Jeolla, and Chungcheong regions. Recently, it expanded logistics facilities at the Gyeongsan Center to strengthen delivery within 24 hours in the Daegu–North Gyeongsang region, and it also plans to develop specialized fast delivery services for Jeju residents within the year to improve shopping convenience for local customers.
Olive Young also plans to hire about 600 new employees outside the capital region this year alone. Each town store employs an average of 55 people, serving not just as a retail space but as a hub that concentrates local employment.
Olive Young is also stepping up efforts to build a system that helps young people grow into experts in beauty and wellness. As of 2025, more than 90% of store employees converting to full-time positions have experience as part-time Crew members, establishing a hiring structure in which on-site experience leads to a career.
An Olive Young official said, "Expanding investment outside the capital region strengthens the self-sufficiency of local economies while laying the groundwork for young people to grow into K-beauty experts," adding, "We will continue to build a co-prosperity ecosystem in which regions, young people, and small and medium-sized brands grow together."