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Tag: Starfield

  • Shinsegae Backs Paramount Takeover of Warner Bros with $1 Billion

    Shinsegae Backs Paramount Takeover of Warner Bros with $1 Billion

    South Korea’s Shinsegae Group said Tuesday it is investing $1 billion into Paramount Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery to bring Hollywood entertainment franchises into its retail destinations.

    The capital injection gives the retail operator direct access to global entertainment properties, including Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Mission: Impossible and Star Trek.

    Joining Ellison and RedBird Capital

    Shinsegae Property, the conglomerate’s real estate arm, committed the funds alongside Paramount Skydance Chairman and CEO David Ellison and US investment firm RedBird Capital Partners in the takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery.

    Plans call for deploying these studio assets across physical developments and digital ecosystems. The group intends to introduce themed entertainment zones and branded experiences directly inside its retail network. This includes Starfield, Starfield Market and Starfield Village complexes across South Korea.

    Bringing Studio IP to Korean Malls

    Traditional department store sales and standard retail leasing models continue to face pressure from e-commerce platforms. Large mall operators in Asia now rely heavily on experiential entertainment, food concepts and exclusive attractions to maintain foot traffic.

    Instead of negotiating one-off licensing agreements for individual mall events, the retailer is taking a direct equity stake at the studio ownership level. That direct involvement reduces third-party licensing friction. Still, it concentrates substantial capital in a volatile global media sector facing heavy streaming transition costs and box office swings.

    Starbay City and Streaming Tie-Ups

    The studio franchises will anchor attractions within the planned Starbay City mega-development in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. Securing Warner Bros. And Paramount titles provides the project with established global film properties capable of drawing international tourists across East Asia.

    Digital integration forms the second leg of the strategy. Shinsegae plans to explore bundling streaming services HBO Max and Paramount+ with loyalty and membership tiers run by its hypermarket chain E-mart and other retail subsidiaries.

    Group leadership also outlined plans to co-produce and license Korean original content for worldwide streaming distribution through the studio partnership. It seeks to capitalise on export demand for domestic drama and film productions.

    “This investment will serve as a stepping-stone for Shinsegae Group to diversify into new business areas that combine entertainment, going beyond a simple equity investment,” the group said.

    The Road Ahead

    The consortium structured the transaction to complete on Tuesday, clearing the path for integration planning between the media conglomerates and the retail property developer. Shinsegae will next begin drafting master plans to integrate studio-themed zones into upcoming Starfield locations and the Starbay City development schedule.

  • Shinsegae, Taubman Asia open Starfield Anseong

    Shinsegae, Taubman Asia open Starfield Anseong

    The new Starfield Anseong, the second joint venture between Taubman Asia and Shinsegae Property, opened today in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. The one million square foot, modern shopping, entertainment, and dining destination is Taubman Asia’s fourth successful development project. It will serve as the primary mall for Anseong, one of the fastest-growing areas of South Korea. This press release features multimedia.

    The new Starfield Anseong mall in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea Starfield Anseong is nearly 100 percent leased, with over 90 percent of tenants open, and is expected to be fully occupied by year-end. The mall is anchored by Shinsegae Factory Store, E-Mart, Toy Kingdom, and successful entertainment concepts, including Aquafield, Sports Monster, and Megabox, an upscale cinema. Starfield Anseong also offers 280 of the most in-demand fashion, dining, and entertainment concepts. In response to the global pandemic, the mall has implemented a wide variety of enhanced safety protocols in accordance with legal requirements.

    “Starfield Anseong represents the best of the collective expertise of Shinsegae Property and Taubman Asia,” said Paul Wright, president, Taubman Asia. “We are pleased to offer this impressive assortment of retail, dining, and entertainment experiences to customers in Gyeonggi.” “Starfield Anseong will serve customers in the southern region of Gyeonggi and will meet the high expectations of the local residents following the successful opening of Starfield Hanam and Starfield Goyang,” said Young-rok Lim, president, Shinsegae Property.

    “With a high priority on customer safety, we are certain our customers will experience a true shopping theme park previously unseen anywhere in the region. Starfield Anseong’s diverse offerings such as children’s education, entertainment, and food and beverage facilities, which have proven popular in other Starfield facilities, have been strengthened and together with other popular brands making their regional debuts, are all gathered in one place.” Shopping & Dining Starfield Anseong’s wide variety of prominent international brands includes Zara, Nike, Uniqlo, H&M, Vans, COS, Guess, Adidas, BMW, Patagonia, Camper, Polo Ralph Lauren, Lacoste, West Elm, and Under Armour.

    Popular national brands such as SPAO, Genesis, Beanpole, Studio Tomboy, Jaju, Casamia, Wonder Place, and Hanssem are also featured. Approximately 100 of the mall’s brands are the first store of the kind in this region of Greater Seoul. The mall has dedicated 113,000 square feet to dining options, including Gourmet Street’s eight restaurants and the Eatopia food court featuring 21 unique food kiosks, optional outdoor seating, and views of the neighborhood park. City Market, anchored by No Brand Supermarket, offers 15 additional casual dining options, a deli, and nine specialty food concepts that include a wine shop, a butcher, and a bakery.

    Other dining destinations include Sanghaeru, Tokkijung, Lobster Bar, No Brand Burger, and Mansukjang. Entertainment & Experiences Starfield Anseong offers many entertainment options and experiences, including a 48,000 square foot Megabox cinema with seven screens, a 28,000 square foot Sports Monster sportsplex with everything from rock climbing to basketball, and a 98,000 square foot Aquafield indoor/outdoor water park and spa. Concepts focused on children’s entertainment includes Champion 1250X and Sang Sang Sketch Play.

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  • Starfield Korea opens dog lounges for shoppers

    Starfield Korea opens dog lounges for shoppers

    Starfield, a shopping and theme park franchise operated by South Korean retail giant Shinsegae Group, has opened the country’s first ‘dog lounges’ for customers and their pets. The dog lounges offer specially designed sofas for pets as well as their owners, restrooms for pets, and dog hooks where customers can temporarily leave their pets when they have to go to the restroom themselves.

    The lounge also provides separate resting areas for customers and pets divided by a glass wall. Resting areas for pets have house-shaped sofas, authentic grass floors and restrooms.

    “Starfield was South Korea’s first shopping mall chain to allow pets, but we were always aware of the lack of convenience facilities for customers and pets,” said Choi Jae-kyun, operations manager at Shinsegae Property.

    “Now, we can proudly present ourselves as a pet-friendly shopping mall that both customers and pets can enjoy.”

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