[Issue] "The Hyundai Gwangju" to Break Ground on the 20th... Ushering in Gwangju's First Complex Shopping Mall Era

Groundbreaking at Former Jeonbang and Ilshin Spinning Site After Decades of Vacancy
272,000 Square Meters?1.4 Times the Size of The Hyundai Seoul
Designed by World-Renowned Architects, Targeting 2028 Opening
Gwangju City: "Ongoing Discussions on Coexistence and Youth Employment"

The former Jeonbang and Ilshin Spinning Factory site in Im-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju, is ending its long period of silence and is set to become a new hub in the city center. The Hyundai Department Store Group will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for Gwangju's first complex shopping mall, The Hyundai Gwangju, on November 20, officially commencing construction. The transformation of the 297,500-square-meter site, which had been idle for decades, signals a significant change in the urban structure of Gwangju.

Abandoned Factory Bearing Traces of Industrialization to Become New Urban Axis

The remaining old Ilsin Textile Factory chimney within the planned site of The Hyundai Gwangju. Photo by Song Bohyun

This site was originally established as a textile factory by Japan’s Kanebo in 1935. After Korea’s liberation, Jeonbang Co., Ltd. and Ilshin Spinning took over, playing a key role in Gwangju’s industrialization. However, the decline of the textile industry led to the cessation of production in 2017 and 2019, respectively. Since then, the factories were left abandoned, becoming vacant spaces within the city center.

Full-scale redevelopment discussions began in the summer of 2022, after Hyundai Department Store Group officially announced plans to build a complex shopping mall. The group strategically selected Gwangju, the only metropolitan city without a Hyundai Department Store, as its new location. In the 2023 international design competition, Denmark’s Urban Agency won with its “City for All” concept. In November of the same year, Gwangju City and private operators signed an agreement to provide a total of 589.9 billion won in public contributions (300 billion won in cash and 289.9 billion won in assets).

Jungheung, Hyundai, and Woomee Consortium Construction... Eight-Month Reduction in Approval Process

Aerial view of The Hyundai Gwangju. Provided by Gwangju City

The Hyundai Gwangju will be a complex cultural space with a total floor area of 272,955 square meters, consisting of six basement levels and eight floors above ground. The design is by Swiss architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron, and the scale is about 1.4 times that of The Hyundai Seoul. Hyundai Department Store Group aims to complete construction by the end of 2027 and open in the first half of 2028.

The construction will be carried out by a consortium of Jungheung Construction, Hyundai Engineering & Construction, and Woomee Construction. The groundbreaking ceremony was initially targeted for the end of October, but selection was delayed due to construction cost adjustments, and the ceremony is now scheduled for November 20. The selection of a contractor for the residential-commercial complex development on the same site is still underway.

The Gwangju City government has formed the “Complex Shopping Mall Vitalization Administrative Council” to establish a one-stop support system. The approval process, which usually takes more than 19 months, was shortened to 11 months, reducing the time by eight months. The traffic impact assessment was conditionally approved in June after two rounds of revisions. Conditions include road donation, coordination of bridge installation timing, and management of vehicle access and egress.

The groundbreaking ceremony, organized by Hyundai Department Store Group, will be a public event open to all citizens. Gwangju City plans to deploy staff for traffic guidance and safety management at the site.

Expectations for Local Economy and Youth Employment... Full-Scale Discussion on Coexistence

The former Jeonnam Textile and Ilsin Textile site where The Hyundai Gwangju complex shopping mall will be built. Photo by Song Bohyun

The local business community expects The Hyundai Gwangju to revitalize the stagnant downtown economy. An official from the Gwangju Employers Federation stated, “It should become a complex cultural space where young people gather and grow together with the region,” adding, “A space that can attract outside visitors, like The Hyundai Seoul, is needed.” The official also emphasized that the estimated 2,000 to 3,000 permanent jobs expected after opening should be given priority to local youth.

Additional proposals for coexistence include regular job fairs, cross-usage of loyalty points, joint marketing, improved welfare for brand employees, shared parking facilities, and the operation of local agricultural product sales centers. The official noted, “Execution is more important than declarations when it comes to coexistence,” and highlighted the need for institutional improvements and local-level monitoring.

Gwangju City has held more than 20 meetings with small business owners to gather opinions and plans to continue in-depth discussions through the “Complex Shopping Mall Coexistence Development Council,” which will include large corporations, small business owners, and experts.

In relation to this, a representative from The Hyundai Gwangju stated, “Specific details on employment plans and coexistence measures can be shared as the opening date approaches.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.