South Korea’s fifth largest conglomerate Lotte Group is rebidding for the license to operate duty-free shops at the country’s gateway of Incheon International Airport.

The company returned three of its four business licenses in February - except for the liquor and cigarette business - due to a sharp fall in sales after Chinese tourists to Korea nearly halved last year following Beijing’s ban on group tours to the country in retaliation against Seoul’s installation of U.S. missile shield system.

“We are seriously considering to re-bid, given the significance of the airport presence,” its chief executive Jang Seon-wook said on Wednesday.

The management decision comes as the group is currently without a captain with chairman Shin Dong-bin behind bars since February after the first trial found him guilty of bribery.

The Incheon International Airport Corp. has invited past operators first for new tenders for the openings. It plans to hold a briefing session on Friday and receive bids by April 24.

By Lee Yoo-jin and Lee Ha-yeon

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