A Paris Baguette bakery store in Shanghai / Courtesy of SPC Group

By Kim Jae-heun

Korean firms operating in Shanghai are concerned, as the city has extended its COVID-19 lockdown to the entire city of 25 million. The Chinese government had been anticipated to lift the lockdown last Tuesday, but it ended up extending it indefinitely, as the spread of the virus has not yet slowed down.

Shanghai has been restricting all residents from leaving their housing compounds since March 28. All public transportation has also stopped operating.

In addition, 230 clothing stores owned by Korean fashion company E-Land are closed, while 130 Paris Baguette bakery stores and 50 BBQ chicken restaurants in the city have also been temporarily shut. Paris Baguette is Korea's largest bakery chain, owned by SPC Group.