What is the purpose of Lotte Department Store removing Chinese slogans?

On the 25th, placards written only in Japanese and English were erected at the main store of Lotte Department Store in Jung-gu, Seoul. The Chinese placards that were everywhere a month ago have recently been removed. An article in South Korea's "Asia Economy" on the 26th described this scene.

On March 26, South Korea’s Lotte Group, which was in dire straits, began to send friendly signals to China, eager to win back the hearts of Chinese tourists. Starting from March 24, in business districts such as the Lotte Department Store and 7-11 convenience stores in Myeongdong, Seoul, where many Chinese tourists gather, banners with the words "Because I understand, so I wait" written in Chinese have been posted everywhere.

So what is the purpose of Lotte Department Store removing Chinese slogans? According to Korean media reports, Lotte Group initially adopted a quiet wait-and-see approach, but this approach is changing recently. Kim Dae-soo, head of Lotte Department Store's marketing department, said: "We are conducting various promotions to attract tourists from various countries and regions around the world, including Japan, Southeast Asia and the Middle East."

Facing the upcoming epidemic, On Labor Day, reports said Lotte Department Store will be marketing to Southeast Asian and Japanese tourists. A source from Lotte Department Store said that in order to get rid of the tourist policy that mainly focuses on Chinese people, it will change its promotion strategy this Labor Day. In the past, Labor Day, China’s Spring Festival and National Day were representative seasons for Lotte to attract Chinese tourists.

Thinking about it, the patriotic behavior of the Chinese people in resisting the THAAD incident has successfully forced Lotte Department Store to find another way.