MEDIA RELEASE PR35145
GfK Asia Expands into Korea Optics Industry Partnership Network
SINGAPORE, June 22 /PRNewswire-Asia-AsiaNet/ --
GfK Korea, the subsidiary of GfK Asia signed partnership agreement
with Korean Optometric Association (KOA)
11th of June 2009, marks yet another important new beginning for GfK Asia as well as the Optical industry in
Korea. Recognizing the importance to have a neutral party measuring the trends and performance of the optical
market in Korea, the Korean Optometric Association (KOA) and GfK Korea inked the partnership agreement
between both organizations. This partnership will add and build on the partnerships GfK Asia attained in Malaysia
and China. The partners are MAPO - Malaysia Association of Practicing Opticians, SOOA - Shanghai Optometric
and Optical Association.
Mr. Lee Jung Bae, the new President of KOA, is excited by the new partnership with GfK Korea and look forward
to GfK's knowledge on the retail market scene in Korea.
The association will also support GfK by endorsing GfK as the valued partner for the association's members to
cooperate with GfK Korea for the market measurement. Present at the partnership signing session also was Mr.
Kim Dae Hyun, Vice President of KOA, and Mr. Son Min Kyu, Retail Service Manager of GfK Korea. Both parties
expect a fruitful partnership to promote the Optics Industry in Korea.
"Currently besides franchise stores' data, we don't have any statistical or analytical data of the domestic optics
market. Through the partnership with GfK Korea, it would help the association's decisions making and solve the
current issues by analyzing the precise optics market size, characteristics, and retail structure for the good of the
optics industry development." commented Mr. Lee.
Mr. Kwon Moon, Country Manager of GfK Korea, assured KOA, GfK Korea's best effort to provide insights on the
market and would also support other seminars and events hosted by KOA to promote the industry. It is also in KOA
President, Mr. Lee's interest to advice their members to actively use research data from now on as a means to
assist them in developing their business. This is also in line with accelerating the 17th KOA Executive's Work Plan
for escalating optometrist's rights and interest according to Mr. Lee.
For the Korean version of the above content please KOA website shown below.
About GfK Asia Pte Ltd
GfK Asia Pte Ltd (GfK Asia), part of the global GfK Group, is a leading research company with over 20 years
experience in providing reliable Asian retail and technology market data. Our analysts track a broad range of
consumer technology markets, including: consumer electronics, telecommunications, IT, household electrical
appliances (large and small), optics, entertainment, gaming as well as digital imaging. GfK Asia covers more than
55 product groups and over 350,000 models, collecting monthly data from over 6,000 specialist / independent
shops as well as over 170 organized retailers with approximately 15,000 outlets. This disciplined methodology,
together with tight field operational control in every country, allows GfK Asia to produce high quality reports
containing reliable information that our clients can use with confidence.
Based in Singapore, with other offices in India and Japan, GfK Asia offers extensive coverage of the following
countries: China, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Australia.
The GfK Group
The GfK Group is the No. 4 market research organization worldwide. Its activities cover the three business
sectors of Custom Research, Retail and Technology and Media. In financial year 2008, the GfK Group achieved
sales of 1,220.4 million Euros. The Group has 120 companies operating in more than 100 countries. Of a total of
approximately 10,000 employees (as at December 31, 2008) more than 80% are based outside Germany. For
Editors Notes:
-- GfK Asia currently tracks contact lens market in China (3 cities:
Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou), Korea (5 Regions: Seoul, Inchon, Kyonggi, Kyongbuk, Kyongnam),
Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and
Malaysia
-- In November 07 GfK Group took over the optics panel from The Nielsen Company in Japan.
-- In January 2009, GfK Group acquired The Nielsen Company's optics panel
in the USA.
-- Photographs of Korean Optometric Association and GfK Korea are
available with this release. To receive a copy or for further
information, please contact Lisa Williamson at email
lisa@bryantwilliamson.com
Media Contact:
Lisa Williamson
Bryant Williamson Communications
Tel: +65-9100-4097
Email: Lisa@bryantwilliamson.com
SOURCE: GfK Asia Pte Ltd
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