Shinsegae Department Store announced on the 9th that its main store, 'The Heritage,' will open. The newly opened The Heritage is located in the Namdaemun and Myeongdong area, where the history of Shinsegae Department Store began.
According to Shinsegae Department Store, it aims to present a new future of retail where history, culture, and shopping combine in a special space where the past and present harmonize.
The building of the former head office of Chaeil Bank, newly reborn as The Heritage, was completed in 1935 and designated as a Seoul Metropolitan Cultural Heritage in 1989. It features a neo-baroque style building finished with Korean granite, known for having sustained minimal damage during the Korean War, preserving its original appearance.
As the nation's first and only building to inherit modern architectural spaces for shopping and culture, it will cement its place as a new and special space where luxury reinterpreted by Shinsegae, combined with the most Korean elements, allows for an experience of tradition, the future, and a global lifestyle.
The Heritage is filled with luxurious content reinterpreted through Shinsegae's sensibility. In addition to housing global luxury brands, it naturally incorporates Korea's traditional culture with the philosophy that the most Korean things are also the most global.
On the first and second floors, the high-end luxury brand 'Chanel' will open its doors. The Chanel store was designed by Peter Marino, who has long collaborated with Chanel, harmoniously capturing the codes of the Chanel house, the elegance of Paris, craftsmanship, and bold modern elements while preserving the historic architectural features of The Heritage.
The fourth floor will feature a museum displaying the footprints of retail in South Korea and a gallery showcasing high-quality artworks. The museum will digitally convert and showcase various artifacts and documents collected by Shinsegae, which marked the beginning of modern retail in South Korea, for all visitors to freely explore.
The gallery is preparing a photo exhibition that showcases the Namdaemun area, which was the center of Seoul in the 1930s to 50s, along with Shinsegae's history and heritage. Following that, there are plans to introduce artworks from various fields, including installations and exhibitions combining media technology.
On the fifth floor, 'House of Shinsegae Heritage' will be established. The newly introduced House of Shinsegae Heritage will be a space that presents Korean cultural heritage through the lens of Shinsegae, featuring exhibitions that embody Korea's culture and lifestyle, and will be decorated to allow collaboration with artisans and creators to experience various 'Korean things.' Regular classes, expert lectures, and workshops are planned.
On the basement floor, a craft gift shop where customers can find Korean heritage has been established. It is expected to attract significant interest from foreigners who love Korea's traditions and cultures, offering exclusive products created in collaboration with artisans and items that capture the identity of the House of Shinsegae Heritage.
The basement will also feature a range of luxury lifestyle brand shops, including the French luxury crystal brands 'Lalique' and 'Baccarat,' premium tableware brand 'Christofle,' and Denmark's high-end audio specialist brand 'Bang & Olufsen,' all of which will open together.
To ensure a more comfortable service, a new 'The Heritage valet lounge' has been established for customers with a Black Diamond grade. It plans to provide distinguished VIP service alongside 'First Prime Lounge,' which has been newly established at The Estate, and 'Trinity Lounge,' which is reopening after renovations at The Reserve.
With the opening of The Heritage, Shinsegae Department Store will rename its main building, where the history of Shinsegae began, as 'The Reserve,' and the newly opened annex established in 2005 will be named 'The Estate.' The Reserve is scheduled to open in the second half of this year.
Park Joo-hyung, the representative of Shinsegae Department Store, noted, 'We have opened The Heritage by putting all of Shinsegae's capabilities and sincerity into it,' and added, 'Shinsegae Department Store's main branch will become a representative landmark of Seoul where visitors can experience the joy of tourism, the excitement of shopping, and the depth of culture simultaneously.'