What if there’s a place that is wholly created for K-Pop fans? A place where one doesn’t have to endure a 6-hour flight to South Korea just to get a taste of Korean culture ranging from music, food, and fashion?
Well, it’s actually happening.
Thailand-based firm Show DC Corp Ltd. recently announced that it will open the first retail and entertainment mega-complex in the heart of Bangkok’s Rama IX entertainment district by June 2016. With a total investment of USD265 million, the project aims to attract 100,000 visitors a day.
The project, which has a massive 152,000 square metre gross floor area, will include the world’s largest “hallyu town” outside of Korea. Tentatively named “K-Town”, the 6-storey establishment is apparently aiming for completion by the first half of next year.
According to Mr. Chayaditt Hutanuwatra, Chairman of SHOW DC Corp Ltd., 60% of the rentable space at SHOW DC has already been leased. YG Entertainment, home to global K-Pop sensations like BIGBANG and 2NE1, is one of its anchor tenants.
The report said that the Korean entertainment agency is planning to operate a 5,000 square metre rooftop K-Pop culture and entertainment park with hip bars and eateries.
Mr. Chayaditt said:
As part of our emphasis on presenting the richness of Asia, SHOW DC has an expansive 10,000 square metre Asian Food Street dedicated exclusively to restaurants.
Next to that, inside the K-Town are large areas devoted to Korean fashion (K-Fashion), Thailand’s most extensive offering of Korean beauty products and services (K-Beauty), as well as celebrity food and beverage outlets, such as Psy’s “Psy Ramen”, and “After Rain”, inspired by global K-Pop sensation Rain.
Korean entertainment agency Chorokbaem will also take part in the venture.
On the K-Beauty side, South Korea’s major duty-free chain Lotte Duty Free was offered the opportunity to open a branch in the shopping complex in March.
Sources told The Korea Times that K-Towns are also planned for Chiang Mai and Phuket in Thailand and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.
There has been no further details as of yet, but are you excited about this? Where do you think they will build the new shopping complex in KL? Share your thoughts in the comments box below.
Sources: The Korea Times (1) (2), PR Newswire.
