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Korea Herald
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
At Lotte Hotel, Kim opens up Seoul's artistic identity
Gallerist Kim Soo-hyun hopes to continue legacy of Bando Gallery at hotel in central Seoul as gateway to Korean art for foreign guests Entering the Lotte Hotel Seoul's executive tower, paintings by Kim Tschang-yeul, whose iconic water-drop paintings are globally known, immediately catch the eye. The artist, who died in 2021 at age 91, expressed his traumatic experiences by painting water drops. He fled from the North to the South during the 1950-53 Korean War. Presenting the paintings at the five-star hotel is gallerist Kim Soo-hyun, who runs The L. Collection located inside the hotel. 'I happened to see Kim's water-drop paintings ― probably in 1997 before I left for Europe for a government-funded group exchange program. They looked so delicate and precise. It felt as if I flicked one, it would burst open and everything would come pouring out,' Kim recalled during an interview with The Korea Herald on July 9. Once she started collecting art, it was a Kim painting that she sought. 'I wanted it so badly ― I was dying to have it,' she said. Other paintings on display inside the gallery include those by Korean contemporary art masters Kim Whan-ki, Ha Chong-hyun and Oh Se-yeol, offering a glimpse of contemporary Korean art history. Before opening the gallery at Lotte Hotel Seoul at the end of 2022, she had been running Showum Gallery in Daegu since 2016. The gallery, housed in a six-story building, has six exhibition halls presenting shows of established Korean artists. The six-story building houses six exhibition halls presenting mostly established Korean artists' shows. Lotte Hotel Seoul is located where Bando Hotel once stood. The hotel, built in 1936 during the Japanese colonial era (1910-45) and closed in 1974, had housed Bando Gallery, one of few Korean commercial galleries after liberation. The story of how Korean modern artist Park Soo-keun made a living by selling works at the gallery is a widely known one. 'I often heard stories about Bando Gallery from elderly relatives. Even now, the name 'Bando' comes to mind when I come here,' she said. When she made up her mind to open a space in Seoul, she had a couple of sites in mind, including Pyeongchang-dong, a northern Seoul neighborhood known as a haven for cultural elites and artists. However, she decided to open the space at the hotel in central Seoul with the legacy of the Bando Gallery, she said. The decision was largely influenced by Kim's experience traveling abroad, witnessing how hotels or accommodations housed art pieces, which naturally exposed her to the culture of the country. 'During those trips, the hotels that have a good sense of artistic identity, whether there are renowned sculptures or famous Picasso paintings on display, remain strong in my memory for a long time. Those images with the space stay with me even after 20 or 30 years. 'That's how the idea of opening a gallery within a hotel first came to me,' Kim said. Looking back on the past decades, she finds South Korea has grown culturally affluent across many fields of art, but she has always thought that five-star hotels here could be better engrained with meaningful art. It is not only about elevating the stature of the space, but also providing cultural experiences for guests in Seoul. In 2022, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stayed at the Lotte Hotel Seoul, she recalled. 'Foreign dignitaries and VIPs, many of them do not have time to visit museums or explore the city. Their schedules are so packed, often flying in and out within a matter of few days. If they are in Seoul, what impression would be left with them beyond business meetings? Visual memory lasts,' she emphasized. In 2023, The L. Collection showed the solo exhibition 'Blossom' of Korean artist Chon Byung-hyun, who has explored traditional mulberry paper, known as hanji, in his works for more than 20 years. After studying in Paris, the artist started to reflect Korean cultural elements in his works, and his artistic process includes using hanji relief and stone power. The artist often uses the theme of white porcelain. Kim said she tries to start from the heart of a collector when organizing an exhibition. 'I make sure to make a purchase of the artist's work beforehand, because I believe I need to experience what it feels like to be a collector of their works, to stand in the client's shoes. If it continues to resonate with me over time, I will move forward with the exhibition, contacting the artist," she said. 'This way, I have never regretted an exhibition that I held, and I would say none of them have ever failed.' Among recent exhibitions in Daegu, the solo show of Yoo Geun-taek was a popular one, she said, with the artist's 48 paintings selling out. The artist, 60, captures everyday scenes such as fountains, infused with traditional Korean mediums. 'I have a deep sense of respect for the artists from the older generation. I often find myself wondering, 'What kind of heart did the artist carry through the Korean War and to the present day?'" she said. "I can feel the artistic sensitivity that captures the spirit of their times in their works.' Kim is planning to show a solo exhibition of Korean painter Oh Se-yeol at The L. Collection at the end of this year, shedding light on how the artist whose intuitive painting style reminiscent of scribbling and scraping-off manner was inspired by experiences from the artist's younger years after the Korean War, when canvases were hard to come by and he drew on blackboards.
Forbes
24-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Lotte Hotel Seoul Has A Hotel-Within-A-Hotel for A Luxurious Stay
Mugunghwa restaurant at Lotte Hotel Seoul Lotte Hotel Seoul Seoul's hotel landscape is highly competitive, with outposts of the world's most established names in hospitality, from Conrad to Four Seasons, peppered throughout the city. There's one name, however, that even the most experienced globetrotters may not be familiar with. With a history dating back to 1973, Lotte Hotels and Resorts is South Korea's most established hospitality brand. Fittingly, Lotte's presence across the peninsula is robust and diverse, ranging from the budget-conscious acccommodations (L7, Lotte City Hotels) to premium options. This is when Lotte Hotel Seoul enters the picture. Opened in 1979—years before South Korea's capital morphed into the cosmopolitan city it's recognized as today—this property has long been cherished by locals for its classic design, convenient address in Myeongdong, and direct access to the famed Lotte Department Store. A Premier Room at Lotte Hotel Seoul's Executive Tower Lotte Hotel Seoul But what many people, even in-the-know Seoulites, may not be aware of is that Lotte Hotel Seoul offers a luxurious hotel-within-a-hotel experience. Unveiled in 2018, the property's Executive Tower offers a more discreet and luxurious stay than the Main Tower. Rather than a crowded ground-floor lobby, you check in at the 14th-floor's serene, lounge-like area, where a welcome beverage and dedicated staff await. The 278 spacious and spotless guest rooms and suites bathed in amethyst and beige, come with high-quality amenities like Evian water that's replenished by the attentive housekeeping staff daily, scented Diptyque toiletries in the spa-like marble bathrooms, and bedside tablets for customizing lighting and temperature. The views, which range from the glittering city below to Namsan Tower, are equally impressive. Perched high on the 38th floor of Lotte Hotel Seoul, Mugunhwa is one of Seoul's best high-end fine dining Korean restaurants. Lotte Hotel Seoul Though the property is home to six distinct dining concepts, including the swanky French Pierre Gagnaire Seoul and La Seine, one of Seoul's best buffet restaurants, it's Mugunghwa — the name comes from South Korea's national flower — that shouldn't be missed. Perched high on the 38th floor, this restaurant specializing in refined prix fixe menus, including one for vegetarians, of nutritious, royal court Korean cuisine promotes a music-free setting so you can fully enjoy your meal and the city views. Standout courses in the Tae Baek tasting menu include 'Platter of Nine Delicacies,' colorful vegetables and tender abalone accompanied by delicate crepes for wrapping, and the simple, but sublime bamboo-steamed rice with assorted banchan and seaweed soup. The staff, too, is just as lovely; manager Sua Lee is warm, knowledgable, and puts every guest as ease. La Cime is Lotte Hotel Seoul's premium lounge for guests of the Executive Tower. Lotte Hotel Seoul To make a stay here even more enjoyable, book an Executive Tower accommodations with access to La Cime, a premium lounge on the 34th floor with dedicated service and all-day culinary presentations. While other hotel club lounges in town can get crowded, especially during evenings, there was always plenty of space to spread out at La Cime. As one of Seoul's best hotel lounges, La Cime offers tantalizing all-day culinary presentations, along with great views of the ciy. Lotte Hotel Seoul As for the food and drink presentations, they rival what you'd expect at any high-end establishment—and more than make up for the price for access to La Cime. Breakfast thoughtfully mixes Korean and Western staples, while afternoon tea is a sweet antedote to the afternoon slump. (You even get a pretty bowl of bingsu, finely shaved ice topped with assorted sweet ingredients like red beans, condensed milk, and chewy rice cakes. Evenings, however, are when La Cime really shines: imagine free-flowing Champagne and whiskey, savory canapés and hot entrees, and daily chef creations like freshly-carved beef—all best paired with the breathtaking views. More From Forbes Forbes What It's Like Inside Signiel Seoul, One Of The World's Tallest Hotels Forbes A Stylish Insider's Guide To Seoul By Acclaimed Designer Teo Yang Forbes After Almost 20 Years, Park Hyatt Seoul Remains The Best Place To Stay In Gangnam
