Shinsegae to Launch 'Starfield Gwangju', the First in Honam Region... Candidate Site is Eodeungsan Area

Shinsegae Property Develops Extended-Stay Authentic Complex Shopping Mall
Shopping, Culture, Leisure, Entertainment, and Relaxation All in One Place
Gwangju Shinsegae Transforms into Landmark Department Store
First 'Erusha' Store in Honam Region

Starfield Gwangju panorama.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Shinsegae Group announced on the 17th that it is promoting the construction of the first Starfield in the Honam region on the site of Eodeungsan in Gwangju Metropolitan City. The existing Gwangju Shinsegae will be significantly expanded and developed into the region's number one store and the country's top landmark department store.

Starfield Gwangju plans to feature over 300 diverse brands in a comfortable store layout, along with an urban water park and experiential sports facilities. The store composition will reflect regional characteristics, customer demand, and the lifestyle of the MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z), and will showcase cultural enjoyment content utilizing information technology (IT).

Shinsegae Property selected the Eodeungsan tourist complex on the outskirts of Gwangju as the candidate site because it offers conditions to create various experiential facilities on a large site. Using a large site on the outskirts of the city is expected to provide more freedom from traffic congestion and parking difficulties.

Lim Young-rok, CEO of Shinsegae Property, said, “We will concentrate our capabilities and know-how to develop a truly stay-type complex shopping mall combined with relaxation, as well as present differentiated content unique to Starfield Gwangju, so that it can become a mecca of regional tourism.” He added, “We will do our best to finalize the site, master plan, and administrative procedures as soon as possible and start construction.”

Gwangju Shinsegae Art and Culture Park.

The Gwangju Shinsegae Art and Culture Park is a future-oriented premium department store that combines the high quality of Shinsegae Gangnam, the mammoth scale of the world-class Centum City store listed in the Guinness Book, and the complex cultural and artistic space of Daejeon Shinsegae, which integrates culture, art, science, and shopping. The total sales area is 132,230㎡ (40,000 pyeong), comparable to the world's largest Shinsegae Centum City store. In addition to the currently operating Gwangju Shinsegae and E-Mart sites, nearby owned land will be added to present a new landmark.

The plan is to enrich the quality of life for local residents by adding galleries showcasing artworks throughout the store, a media art wall, and a large open bookstore filled with a feast of knowledge. The rooftop park, rooftop restaurants, pet park, the urban theme park Bitgoeul rooftop garden, a giant natural light void, and indoor waterfalls are expected to become representative healing spaces for citizens.

For the first time in the Gwangju and Honam region, Erusha (Herm?s, Louis Vuitton, Chanel) will be introduced, and the current 530 brands, including the region's only Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta, Saint Laurent, and Moncler, will be expanded about twice to showcase a total of around 1,000 brands.

Lee Dong-hoon, CEO of Gwangju Shinsegae, said, “Shinsegae, which has repeatedly innovated, is embarking on developing a new landmark in the Gwangju area that combines the luxury of the world-class Gangnam store with the gigantic scale of the world's largest Centum City store.” He added, “As a leading local company that has grown together as a local corporation for 28 years, we will inherit the value of the existing Gwangju Shinsegae and quickly present a landmark filled with differentiated content and brands that local residents desire.”