Latest news with #ShinsegaeDepartmentStore
Korea Herald
11-04-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Shinsegae opens 'The Heritage' where culture, history, and luxury converge in the heart of Seoul
- Shinsegae Department Store unveils a new iconic space after restoring a historical building in Myeong-dong - Featuring Korean craft art and contemporary artifacts, 'The Heritage' offers a unique experience to global customers - With the ultimate luxury boutique on the 1st floor, the building is set to become a cultural hub for history, fashion, and art "Once an old bank, now reimagined as a cultural hub filled with history, fashion, and art. Trend and heritage, past and present, are woven into this newly restored historical building, The Heritage." SEOUL, South Korea, April 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 9th, Shinsegae Department Store presents 'The Heritage,' a new iconic culture house in Myeong-dong•Namdaemun, where Seoul's rich history, luxury, and trends merge in a 90-year-old historical space. Situated in the center of Seoul, Myeong-dong is one of Korea's oldest and most vibrant commercial districts, attracting millions of visitors annually. Named the 'No.1 favorite spot in Korea' among tourists over a decade by Korea Culture & Tourism Institute(KCTI), the area continues to be a global hotspot for shopping and culture. Shinsegae Department Store in Myeong-dong has always been listed as the top 3 most visited spots in Jung-gu—a broader district that includes Myeong-dong—since 2020, according to Korea Tourism Organization(KTO). Last November, Shinsegae's media façade has been recreated as Shinsegae Square which allured one million visitors last winter alone with its spectacular digital signage featuring its Christmas film and K-culture content. Soon after, Shinsegae Department Store won fame for being the most instagrammable spot in Seoul after creating a huge buzz on social media. Founded in 1963 as Korea's very first department store, Shinsegae has been showcasing the trend of Korean lifestyle for the past 62 years not just with their highly curated designer brands but also by adding values to Korean people's lives by pioneering the concept of an in-store-art gallery in the nation. Shinsegae Department Store has been an absolute favorite amongst millions of global customers along with Harrods(UK) and Isetan(Japan), taking the chart of No.1 leading position in the Korean department store industry by far. With its heritage, Shinsegae unveils what was once an old bank for the past decades as a new form of space that intertwines past and present and preserves the historical and cultural value of Seoul. After a decade of meticulous restoration, the 90-year-old historical building, designated as the 71st tangible cultural property of Seoul since 1989, has been transformed into a vibrant cultural hub and is now open to the public. Shinsegae has painstakingly restored every flower-shaped plaster ectype on the ceilings—an enduring masterpiece of modern Korean architecture—as it was almost 100 years ago. Inspired by The Morgan Library&Museum in NYC, a curtain wall has also been added to the building's exterior to incorporate a modern design, creating a harmony between heritage and innovation. In alignment with its name, 'The Heritage' boasts 'House of Shinsegae Heritage' on the 5th floor, a space dedicated to featuring Korean craft art where Shinsegae extends its signature hospitality to visitors. Foreign visitors in particular will be mesmerized by unique Korean traditional arts and the beauty of craftsmanship. On the 4th floor lies a museum where contemporary artifacts and archival photographs are exhibited to portray the story of the Korean retail industry. Digitally restored images of Myeong-dong from the 1930s and 1950s transport visitors back in time, offering a rare glimpse into old Seoul. On the 1 st and 2nd floor, a CHANEL boutique designed by Peter Marino serves as the ultimate expression of modern luxury, blending seamlessly with the building's historical elegance. Shinsegae is the first in the nation to incorporate a luxury brand at a place where heritage lies within the building. Nestled within a historic landmark where Korean contemporary commerce bloomed, 'The Heritage' is to become the opulent heart of Seoul. Through its exhibition filled with Korean beauty and tradition, global customers can immerse themselves into the journey of old and new, past and present.
Korea Herald
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Ajeo-chic? How middle-age became cool in the eyes of Korean youth
Korean term 'ajeossi' reborn as middle-aged men redefine 'cool' with unfiltered authenticity, mature personalities Yoo Jae-hoon, 30, vividly remembers the first time he was called an "ajeossi." "I was at a cafe when a little girl, maybe 4 or 5 years old, accidentally spilled her juice on my pants. Her mother turned to her and said, 'Say sorry to ajeossi.' I was still in my 20s, and I was so shocked to be called ajeossi that I barely even noticed the juice," Yoo recalled. Typically used for middle-aged men, often married with children, the Korean term carries a connotation of being outdated and uncool — essentially the opposite of an eligible bachelor. But that perception of ajeossi may soon be challenged by a new wave of "cool" ajeossi gaining a following. Enter Choo Sung-hoon, a 49-year-old Korean-Japanese fighter and TV personality who is making waves on YouTube. His channel, launched about three months ago, doesn't attempt to showcase the fierce fighter he once was. Instead, his profile photo features him in a pink spa headband, and his channel description proudly states, "I am ajossi" — the Korean title is intentionally misspelled. It now boasts over a million subscribers and counting. His content is unpolished — he eats snacks from convenience stores, shows off his round chubby belly. His videos consistently go viral, dominating YouTube's trending lists. In one video, he visits a small restaurant in Japan. Soon after, Korean tourists flock to the spot, and on his next visit, the owner has added a special menu item named after him in gratitude for the promotion. The video that truly catapulted him to viral fame — garnering over 9.3 million views —was titled 'Choo Sung-hoon Living in a Rented Room in SHIHO's House.' Rather than tidying up for the camera, Choo let viewers see his home as it is: messy. 'He revealed his house without even cleaning up a little bit. It felt like he was just like, 'Oh? I have to film a YouTube video? Should I just do it at home?' and then did it,' read a comment with over 11,000 likes. "This video will soon hit 10 million views. That means 1 in 5 people in Korea have visited Choo Sung-hoon's house," another commenter said. Fans told The Korea Herald that his casual, unpretentious demeanor is precisely what makes his channel special. 'I always saw Choo Sung-hoon as a well-trained athlete, the dad of Sarang (Choo's daughter). But on YouTube, he's just an ajeossi — laid-back and a little chaotic. It's hilarious and makes him feel more relatable,' said Min Hye-won, 34. 'I only knew him as a fighter from 'Physical: 100', but on his YouTube channel, he's so down-to-earth and funny. He really feels like the ajeossi next door,' said Lee Eun-sun, 28. And Choo isn't the only one exuding that 'ajeossi next door' appeal. Last year, another YouTuber in his 40s, Chimchakman, surprised many with his pop-up event at Shinsegae Department Store. The event featured exclusive merchandise and a life-sized recreation of his streaming room, drawing fans eager to immerse themselves in his world. The demand was undeniable. All 20,000 pre-booked tickets for the pop-up sold out almost instantly. Each day, fans waited up to 12 hours for on-site reservations. According to a Shinsegae department store official, the pop-up attracted a broad demographic-- 10 percent were teenagers, 70 percent were in their 20s and 30s, and 20 percent were over 40. A temporary Instagram account created just for the event even surpassed 24,000 followers. Shinsegae spokesperson Do Young-gwang explained that Chimchakman's pop-up event was successful because of his devoted fan base — comparing the enthusiasm to Pokémon. 'We printed 40,000 photo cards in the initial batch, and they completely sold out. Usually, such high demand for photo cards is reserved for Pokemon or sports stars, but Chimchakman's fandom made it possible,' he said. Much like Choo, Chimchakman's appeal lies in his unfiltered, unscripted personality. 'I like how he just says whatever comes to mind,' said Shim Seo-yeon, 35. 'He doesn't try to please people.' Park Ju-young, 29, added, 'I started watching him in 2019. He's witty, but beyond that, he offers really interesting insights into social issues. Also, as a former webtoon artist, his imagination and perspective make you see things differently.' Song Ji-hoon, 27, said, 'Lotteria (a fast-food chain) offered to sponsor his video after he ate a lot of their food on a livestream, but he turned it down. Chimchakman said he enjoys being able to speak honestly about what he eats. Not many influencers would reject a deal like that.' Pop culture critic Kim Hern-sik agreed that the image of ajeossi is changing among younger generations. 'In the past, if someone was labeled an ajeossi, they were automatically considered uncool,' said Kim. 'But young people, particularly those in their teens and 20s, don't seem to think that way anymore.' Kim pointed to a key factor driving the appeal of middle-aged YouTubers is their approachable, unpretentious demeanor. 'Take someone like Choo Sung-hoon, for example. Despite his image as a fighter, he has an unexpectedly human and pure side. That makes him more appealing to fans,' he said. He also noted that Korean society lacks mentors, and middle-aged YouTubers are filling that gap.
Korea Herald
17-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Innocean pioneers digital storytelling with cutting-edge displays
Korean marketing company Innocean is strengthening its presence in the digital outdoor advertising sector by showcasing location-tailored content, supported by creative storytelling and cutting-edge video technology. The Hyundai Motor Group's advertisement unit announced Monday that it is broadcasting customized content on a massive digital board in the heart of Seoul, offering immersive, illusory visuals to visitors. Originally known for its multiaward-winning advertisements, Innocean has evolved into a media provider, managing the digital board since November and curating its content. The 1,292-square-meter screen — about the size of three basketball courts — is mounted on the over half-century-old Shinsegae Department Store in central Seoul, filling the expansive square facing Myeong-dong, one of Seoul's busiest districts, with captivating visuals. The content, including in-house productions, had attracted approximately 1 million visitors by the end of last year, driven by its viral online popularity with its striking aesthetics. For its in-house content, Innocean has focused on the historical significance of the location, incorporating Korean cultural heritage into its displays. Since January, Innocean has showcased a video featuring the real wall of the Shinsegae Department Store — the first department store in Korea, built in the 1960s — adorned with illusory images representing both the store and Korean culture. One standout display features the pattern of "najeonchilgi," a traditional lacquered mother-of-pearl box inlaid with chrysanthemums. Another notable creation from last year highlights Korea's cultural heritage, showcasing the Bronze Dragon artifact unearthed from a pond at Gyeongbokgung, the main palace of the Joseon era (1392–1910). The video, particularly designed with foreign visitors in mind, dynamically portrays the artifact's restoration, showing it transforming from a damaged relic to a fully restored form. Lifelike flames and animation create an illusion of the dragon bursting out from the digital screen. Additionally, Innocean has produced content reflecting real-time weather conditions, using illustrated animations of the current weather to enhance the immersive experience for pedestrians. "Going beyond commercial content, we aim to create displays that the general public can enjoy, contributing to the development of Seoul's unique brand through digital out-of-home advertising," stated Kim Jae-pil, the head of Innocean's media experience division. With its blend of technology, storytelling and cultural themes, Innocean is establishing itself as a leader in digital out-of-home advertising, offering visitors and locals the opportunity to experience the fusion of digital art and Korean heritage.
