Aman, the ultra-luxury hospitality brand behind retreats from Amangiri to Amanpuri, is heading to South Korea for the first time. The project, Aman Seoul, will rise in Cheongdam-dong, one of the capital's most prestigious districts, on a prime plot overlooking the Han River in the heart of Gangnam.
The resort-and-residences concept is being developed under a newly announced strategic partnership between Shinsegae Group and OKO Group, the US-based real estate firm founded and led by Vlad Doronin. Aman will operate the property, which is owned by Shinsegae. Once complete, Aman Seoul is expected to combine a hotel, a limited collection of branded residences and a global Aman Club — the members' tier that Aman has been rolling out across its portfolio.
The design brief leans into Seoul's dual character. The property is conceived as a retreat above the city: private, quiet and removed, yet still plugged into the energy, culture and creativity that define contemporary Seoul. That balance — sanctuary on one side, Gangnam's galleries, boutiques and dining on the other — is essentially the pitch. For Aman loyalists, it also fills a notable gap, placing the brand in a market where interest in high-end wellness-led travel has been growing fast.
No opening date or room count has been given yet, so treat this as an early heads-up rather than a bookable trip. But if it follows the pattern of recent Aman urban openings, expect the usual formula: serene, minimalist design, a destination spa, and prices firmly at the top of the city's hotel ladder.
Why it matters: Cheongdam-dong and nearby Apgujeong are already where Seoul's fashion and beauty worlds concentrate, and a property like this gives luxury travellers a credible reason to base themselves south of the river rather than in the usual Gangnam or Jongno hotel clusters. Combine a future stay with the Han River parks, the galleries of Samcheong-dong and a proper Korean barbecue crawl, and you have a city break with real range.
Story via Bangkok Post Life.
