Vice Chairman Jeong Yong-jin Promotes 'Joseon Palace' on SNS One Week Before Opening

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Chung Yong-jin, Vice Chairman of Shinsegae Group, has begun promoting the 'Chosun Palace Seoul Gangnam, a Luxury Collection Hotel,' which will open on the 25th in Yeoksam-dong, Seoul. He attracted the attention of his followers by posting photos of the Chosun Palace site on his social network service (SNS), while also revealing that he is personally overseeing the final preparations for the opening.

On the 18th, Vice Chairman Chung posted photos on Instagram of the emblem symbolizing Chosun Palace and the hotel's interior wedding hall. The emblem in the photo features the 'J' logo representing Chosun Hotel, along with a crown, lion, and phoenix, and the number 1914 below it represents the history of Chosun Hotel.

Built on the site of the former Renaissance Hotel, Chosun Palace is Chosun Hotel & Resort's first top-tier independent brand hotel. It is the first Marriott 'Luxury Collection' brand introduced in Korea, but the signboard bears the Chosun Hotel name. The hotel has a total of 254 rooms, including 44 suites, and features five gourmet collections: Constance, Itanic Garden, The Great Hongyeon, 1914 Lounge & Bar, and Chosun Deli The Boutique. It also includes a grand reception, three banquet halls including 'The Great Hall' which can accommodate up to 300 people at once, a swimming pool, and fitness facilities.

The day before, Vice Chairman Chung also shared photos showing two staff members standing side by side at the hotel entrance, ready to welcome guests. A month ago, he posted photos on SNS capturing the view from nearby Yeoksam-dong, extending to Lotte World Tower and Gangnam Severance Hospital. He did not disclose the exact location where the photos were taken but left a brief comment saying "Great view." Followers who saw the photos realized they were taken from the upper floors of Chosun Palace and expressed their anticipation. Photos of Itanic Garden, the F&B outlet of Chosun Palace, and its dishes have also appeared several times on Vice Chairman Chung’s SNS.

It is already well known that Vice Chairman Chung has a significant interest and affection for the hotel business. When the boutique brand L'Escape opened in front of the Shinsegae Department Store main branch in 2017, he was directly involved in the hotel concept and has been attempting to expand the hotel business beyond traditional retail into the broader lifestyle sector. The opening of Chosun Palace is considered Vice Chairman Chung’s ambitious project to complete Shinsegae’s hotel lineup, ranging from top-tier luxury to business class.

Aiming to be a top-class luxury hotel, room rates and food and beverage prices are expected to be the highest among domestic hotels. Although the hotel fitness center membership, with a deposit of 150 million KRW and an annual fee of 10 million KRW, has already closed recruitment, it is known that there are hundreds of people on the waiting list.