Southeast Asian riches seeking to build Hallyu town in Thailand: sources

SEOUL/BANGKOK, Sept. 16 (Yonhap) -- A handful of Southeast Asian millionaires are looking to create a large commercial complex in Thailand comprising shops and restaurants that cater to the fans of Korean pop culture, also known as K-pop, industry sources here said Wednesday. They are trying to set up a Hallyu Town in Bangkok, where customers will be able to enjoy and consume Korean culture ranging from music, food and fashion in one place, according to local duty-free officials familiar with the matter. Show DC, a Thailand-based firm that has been leading the project, held a business presentation earlier in the day to attract investors, they said. Tentatively named "K-Town," the 152,000 square-meter, six-story establishment is apparently aiming for completion by the first half of next year. Lotte Duty Free, a major duty-free chain run by South Korean conglomerate Lotte Group, was offered the opportunity to open a branch in the shopping complex in March, mainly selling cosmetics. YG Entertainment, one of the top entertainment companies in Korea, is considering opening a Korean restaurant there through its food and beverage affiliate YG Food. The group that's been pushing the K-Town project plans to expand it to other regions in Thailand such as Chiang Mai and Phuket, and Malaysia, the sources said. (END)