Coupang’s luxury shopping service R.lux has partnered with the global e-commerce platform Farfetch to provide high-end products to customers in Korea. This collaboration was announced on June 9, 2025.

Through this partnership, R.lux users can access over 1,400 luxury brands, including Dolce & Gabbana and Ferragamo.

They can also find Korean designer labels such as Ader Error and Wooyoungmi. The products come with free shipping via Rocket Jikgu, Coupang’s international shipping service, which includes customs duties and taxes.

Items purchased through Farfetch will be shipped from partner brands and boutiques worldwide. R.lux will manage the final delivery in Korea.

Typically, delivery takes four to seven days, depending on the shipment’s origin.

Farfetch was acquired by Coupang Inc. for US$500 million in December 2023. The product selection will be featured under the Fashion tab in the R.lux app, with plans for expanding brand and category offerings in the future.

🔗 Source: The Korea Times

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ South Korea’s position as a luxury powerhouse drives strategic partnerships

South Korea represents one of the world’s most significant luxury markets, consistently growing at impressive rates since the early 2010s, with a 12% annual growth from 2006 onward 1.

By 2012, the market had reached approximately $4.5 billion, accounting for 45% of Asia’s luxury demand outside Japan and China 1.

This consistent strength explains why international luxury platforms like FARFETCH are eager to expand their presence in Korea through partnerships like the one with Coupang’s R.LUX.

Cultural factors play a significant role in sustaining this market, as only 5% of Korean consumers report feeling guilty about luxury purchases—far lower than in other developed economies 2.

The country’s luxury market has demonstrated remarkable resilience, maintaining growth even during global downturns, as evidenced by the 16.7% growth in luxury sales through department stores during the 2008-09 financial crisis 2.

2️⃣ Younger consumers reshape luxury consumption patterns

The partnership between R.LUX and FARFETCH reflects a broader trend of younger Korean consumers increasingly driving luxury spending, with shoppers in their 20s and 30s growing from 35% to 44% of luxury department store customers between 2006 and 2009 1.