South Korean department store shares rallied as expectations grew that foreign tourist spending and recovering high-end domestic consumption could extend the sector's earnings improvement beyond year-end. Lotte Shopping rose 6.68% to 119,800 won as of 2:24 p.m. on the 8th, while Hyundai Department Store, Shinsegae, E-Mart, Daegu Department Store and Hanwha Galleria also advanced. Tourism spending averaged 2.1 trillion won per month in the second quarter, up 59.6% from a year earlier, supported by exchange-rate movements, higher per-capita spending by foreign visitors and increased arrivals. Analysts see luxury- and fashion-focused department stores as direct beneficiaries of inbound demand. iM Securities estimates foreign net sales at Shinsegae's Myeongdong flagship will rise 94.8% this year and forecasts the company's department-store revenue at 3.0224 trillion won and operating profit at 559.3 billion won. Domestic high-end consumption could provide another growth engine as semiconductor-related bonuses support purchasing power. Analysts are watching whether same-store growth stays above company-specific profit thresholds, whether new stores support Hyundai Department Store, and whether fourth-quarter performance can prompt upward revisions to next year's earnings estimates. Risks include a weaker outlook for next year's growth and reduced foreign purchasing power if the won appreciates.