
Business Daily
Business Daily
South Korea: Why are more stores going staff-free?
April 9, 2025
18 minutes
Available for over a year
A shortage of workers is leading some retailers to forgo hiring altogether. The number of unmanned, or staff-less stores in South Korea has grown rapidly in recent years - from ice cream shops to bustling cafes and bars.
We explore how these unmanned stores operate and if they can offer a solution to the country’s demographic problems. Is this the answer for business to keep things running when there aren’t enough people to work?
Producer/presenter: David Cann
(Image: An unmanned bar in Seoul, South Korea)