The first large-scale complex shopping mall in Gwangju, 'The Hyundai Gwangju,' will begin construction in October.
On the 8th, Gwangju City and Hyundai Department Store Group held a 'The Hyundai Gwangju construction report meeting' in the business room of Gwangju City Hall, where they disclosed the project overview, vision, and schedule. The meeting was attended by Mayor Kang Ki-jeong, Chief Executive Officer Jeong Ji-young of Hyundai Department Store, and Na Won-jung, the head of The Hyundai Gwangju.
This report meeting was arranged on the occasion of the building permit approval for the department store on the 18th of last month. Hyundai Department Store has been developing its design based on the world-renowned architectural design firm 'Herzog & de Meuron' since submitting its business proposal in November 2022. Last year, they established the local corporation 'The Hyundai Gwangju' and have been pushing forward with various administrative procedures.
Jeong Ji-young, CEO of Hyundai Department Store, noted, "In just one year, we have completed all the necessary approval processes and are about to begin construction, thanks to Gwangju City’s strong commitment and prompt administration."
'The Hyundai Gwangju' will cover a total area of 272,955 square meters and an operational area of 100,890 square meters, rising 6 stories underground and 8 stories above ground. It will accommodate 2,652 parking spaces. This mega complex shopping mall, being established in the heart of Gwangju, aims to offer a future-oriented space that is distinct from existing commercial facilities in the region.
The 1st and 2nd floors will feature a 'luxury street' designed with motifs from 19th-century European city centers, providing an open space with a central void of about 60 meters in height. The 2nd floor will house a 'floating garden' symbolizing harmony with nature.
The 3rd to 5th floors will be a complex cultural space blended with vertical landscapes, sculptures, and artistic content, introducing a large indoor botanical garden for the first time in a commercial facility, implementing a new relaxation concept known as 'retail therapy.' The 6th and 7th floors are designed to combine traditional hanok and glass roofs, promising a spatial beauty that fuses tradition and modernity.
Na, the head of the corporation, stated, "The Hyundai Gwangju is Korea’s first and largest future-oriented complex shopping mall," adding, "We aim to foster it as a global landmark that features spatial innovations exceeding those of The Hyundai Seoul and integrates the cultural heritage of Honam."