Apple opened an Apple store in Hongdae District, Seoul, South Korea on Saturday. This is Apple's 100th store in the Asia-Pacific region and Apple's seventh retail store in Seoul. Under the warm reception of store staff, customers can visit Apple products and participate in various activities in the store. These include a Pop-Up Studio collaboration with hip-hop artist Beenzino, who will showcase the inspiration behind his single "Train," an Apple Music exclusive.
Visitors can also use Freeform on iPad to collect ideas, artwork, posters and other media for their own 2024 vision board.
The interior is bustling with people checking out products at tables, with linear lighting on the ceiling and large windows at the back offering unobstructed views of the urban surroundings.
Since the Apple Hongdae store is located in the heart of the university district, the store’s opening specials are centered around education, including discounts on AirPods or Apple Pencil for students who purchase a Mac or iPad respectively.
Photos from the opening showed long lines to enter the store and customers shopping and viewing products inside. In one image, a customer holds up his "trophies" from the grand opening, including a box emblazoned with a stylized graffiti Apple logo.
Deirdre O'Brien, Apple's senior vice president of retail, said: "We are very excited to bring something special to customers in South Korea at the beginning of the new year. This new store combines Apple's latest technology with the creative passion of the local community and will further strengthen our extraordinary connection with Korean customers."