Inside The Heritage: Shinsegae’s Historic Revival Redefining Luxury Retail in Seoul

Source: Shinsegae Department Store

Reported By: Matthew Kennedy

April 13, 2025 — In a city where modernity never stops humming, Shinsegae Department Store is inviting the world to slow down—and look back. Introducing The Heritage, Seoul’s new cultural landmark that transforms a century-old building into a living, breathing dialogue between Korea’s storied past and its fashion-forward present.

Located in Myeong-dong, one of Korea’s most storied commercial and cultural districts, The Heritage officially opened its doors on April 9 after more than a decade of careful restoration. Originally a 1930s bank and recognized as the 71st tangible cultural property of Seoul, the building has been reimagined with reverence for its historical integrity and an eye toward the future.

The space’s meticulous revival includes the painstaking recreation of every flower-shaped ceiling plaster—artistic details that speak to the craftsmanship of modern Korean architecture. A new curtain wall inspired by The Morgan Library & Museum in New York integrates contemporary transparency into the stately façade, creating a quiet but potent tension between tradition and innovation.

Within its walls, The Heritage unfolds as a curated journey through Korean culture, fashion, and design. The fifth floor’s House of Shinsegae Heritage welcomes visitors into a serene gallery of Korean craft art, showcasing refined pieces rooted in tradition yet interpreted through a modern lens. On the fourth floor, a museum offers a time capsule of archival photographs and artifacts, including digitized images of Myeong-dong in the 1930s and 1950s—a rare glimpse into Seoul’s urban evolution.

Luxury, too, has found a home within this storied building. On the first and second floors, a CHANEL boutique designed by architect Peter Marino brings global fashion into direct conversation with Korean heritage. It marks the first time a luxury brand has been integrated into a designated cultural property in Korea—a deliberate blend of legacy and modernity that feels as natural as it is novel.

Shinsegae’s investment in The Heritage speaks to its longstanding role as a cultural steward as much as a retail pioneer. Founded in 1963 as Korea’s first department store, Shinsegae has consistently set the bar for lifestyle curation in Asia. From establishing the country’s first in-store art gallery to developing immersive public spaces like the media-façade-turned-Shinsegae Square, the brand continues to redefine what a department store can be.

With The Heritage, Shinsegae is offering something far beyond retail: a cultural touchstone, a moment of pause, and a beautifully layered experience that feels distinctly Korean—yet universally compelling. As Seoul cements its status on the global luxury map, this new landmark offers visitors a place to reflect, indulge, and connect with Korea’s richly textured identity.

The Heritage is now open to the public in Myeong-dong, Seoul. For global travelers and local residents alike, it is an invitation to walk through time—without ever leaving the center of the city.