Apple Hongdae store opens in South Korea

Apple opened its Apple Store in the Hongdae neighborhood of Seoul, South Korea on Saturday, which is both the 100th Apple Store in the Asia-Pacific region and the seventh Apple retail outlet in Seoul itself.

Welcomed by an army of store employees, customers were able to look at Apple's products and take part in activities at the storefront. This includes a limited Pop-Up Studio with hip-hop artist Beenzino, which will show some of the inspiration behind his single "Train," an Apple Music exclusive.

Visitors can also collect ideas, art, posters, and other media for their 2024 vision boards using Freeform on iPad as part of the sessions.

With the store located in the middle of a university neighborhood, the store's launch specials revolve around education, including an offer where students can receive AirPods or an Apple Pencil with a Mac or iPad purchase, respectively.

The photographs of the opening show a large queue to enter the store, along with customers making purchases at the store and checking out the products. In one image, a customer is shown with his "swag" from the opening, including a box featuring the stylized graffiti Apple logo.

"We couldn't be more excited to bring our customers in Korea something special at the start of the year with the opening of the all-new Apple Hongdae," said Deirdre O'Brien, Apple's senior vice president of Retail. "Combining the latest in Apple technology with the creative passion of the local community, this new store will build on the extraordinary connection we have with our customers in Korea."