CU expands 'Running Station' convenience stores from Han River to Jeju

CU announced Monday it will expand its "Running Station" — the convenience store industry's first running-focused store format — from the Han River to Jeju.

CU opened its first Running Station in February at CU Hangang Yeouido 3, near the Han River in Yeouido, Seoul, and has since grown the concept to 19 locations along the Han River belt. The stores have posted strong results, with sales over the most recent two months — April 1 through May 31 — up 168.9 percent from the same period a year earlier.

Building on that momentum, CU has renovated its Jeju Yongdu Coast branch, located near a coastal road on Jeju, as a Running Station concept store. The ground floor operates as a standard convenience store, while the second floor has been converted into a running base camp with changing rooms, a powder zone, a running-specific product section and a rest area. The store also suggests running courses ranging from 4.1 to 17 kilometers.

CU is also working to build its running community. In April, it launched CU Running Members by linking its PocketCU app with the running platform Runday, and membership surpassed 20,000 within two months. The company will hold two running program events this month for CU Running Members in partnership with global smartwatch brand Garmin Korea.

"We will continue to strengthen our running-related services by expanding Running Stations tailored to local characteristics and collaborating with a variety of brands," said Lee Eun-gwan, head of the CX division at BGF Retail, which operates CU.