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Episode details

World Service,09 Apr 2025,17 mins

South Korea: Why are more stores going staff-free?

Business Daily

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)

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