Five Guys burger joint is coming to Gangnam in June

Korea's first Five Guys burger joint will open in June in Gangnam District, southern Seoul. Hanwha Galleria, the Korean operator of the chain, decided on a location near Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station for the first branch, an area with...

The first Five Guys branch will open in Gangnam District in southern Seoul by June. [GALLERIA]

Korea's first Five Guys burger joint will open in June in Gangnam District, southern Seoul.

Hanwha Galleria, the Korean operator of the chain, decided on a location near Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station for the first branch, an area with some of the highest foot traffic, to introduce and familiarize the brand to the domestic consumers.

Construction begins Wednesday.

The first branch will have two floors and some 150 seats. The store will begin hiring employees from this month, some of whom will be sent to receive training in Hong Kong for culinary and customer services for six weeks.

Kim Dong-seon, head of new business strategies at Hanwha Solutions’ retail affiliate Galleria, is overseeing the entire project. The company aims to bring the brand’s originality, from its cooking to its service, to Korea.

Galleria plans to launch at least 15 Five Guys branches in five years.

The department store signed a licensing agreement with Five Guys Enterprises International last October to operate the burger chain in Korea.

Five Guys is currently operating some 1,800 branches across 23 countries in the America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Korea marks the sixth Asian region for the American hamburger brand, after launching in Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Malaysia and Macau.

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]