Seoul's largest Apple Store in Myeongdong opens to customers

Apple has opened up its Apple Store Myeongdong in Seoul, South Korea, and has released images of its latest outlet's launch and initial influx of customers.

After teasing the launch of the store in early April and releasing photographs of the storefront pre-opening, the Apple Myeongdong store is finally open for business. On Saturday morning, customers queued up outside the branch, which is located in the heart of South Korea's capital, to become among the first to enter the retail establishment.

Photographs released by Apple showed customers walking through rows of cheering and applauding employees, to look at and buy products on launch day. The first customers are handed a box containing a commemorative tote bag, complete with a customized Apple logo graphic.

Apple limited customer numbers as part of health-related measures, with those attending having previously made a free booking to gain entry.

The two-level store is in the base of an all-new tower in the city, with it featuring landscaped pocket gardens and locally-commissioned sculptures. It also has the first installation of a "horizontally-supported double-height glass facade," as well as a staircase "made transparent through glass risers."

Another first is the inclusion of a dedicated Apple Pickup area in the store, which Apple says is the first of its kind in Asia.

As part of the opening, Apple is holding a Today at Apple event that has users remixing a track by K-pop group Seventeen. The track, "Darl+ing," is an unreleased single from the group, which will be part of the group's May 2022 album.