Palace Skateboards is expanding its presence in South Korea with the opening of a new store inside Seoul’s Lotte World Mall, marking the London label’s third permanent retail space in the country. Located in Jamsil, just moments from the 555-metre Lotte World Tower, the new 142.57-square-metre store arrives with a special collection created exclusively for the launch.
For its latest Seoul outpost, Palace has once again looked to the relationship between British skate culture and Korean architecture. Previous Korean locations have drawn from references including royal palaces and traditional Moon Jars, while elements of London’s Southbank skate scene have also shaped the brand’s retail spaces. This time, the design takes cues from Jongmyo Shrine, one of Seoul’s most significant historic sites.
The influence can be seen throughout the store, with a long, uninterrupted floor plan reflecting the horizontal character of Jongmyo. Rounded concrete columns feature a textured corduroy finish, while stained teak surfaces, mirrored walls and camouflage-patterned marble bring Palace’s more industrial visual language into the space. Elsewhere, the interior is finished with a series of statement installations, including a geometric mirrored skateboard display, a 3D infinity LED tri-ferg, a large video wall and UK DPM camouflage flooring. Palace’s recognisable oversized bulldog sculpture also makes an appearance.
The opening will be accompanied by a Seoul-exclusive capsule designed specifically for the new location. The collection spans technical shell jackets, shorts, hoodies and T-shirts, with graphics drawing from the city’s Olympic heritage and the nearby Seoul Olympic Park in Songpa District.
Palace has also incorporated Lotte World’s instantly recognisable characters into the collection, with Lotty and Lorry, the theme park’s raccoon mascots, appearing across selected pieces.
Palace Skateboards Seoul Lotte World Mall officially opened on Saturday, August 22, alongside the exclusive launch collection, at Lotte World Mall 1F, 300 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul.
