Hanwha M&S President Kim Dong-seon hosted Loro Piana CEO Frederic Arnault at Galleria’s flagship store in Seoul last week, in a show of hands-on leadership since Hanwha Group carved his businesses into a new holding company.
Kim, the youngest son of Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn and head of future strategy at Hanwha Machinery & Service Holdings, guided Arnault through the department store’s holiday collaboration with the Italian label in Apgujeong on Friday, Hanwha M&S confirmed Sunday.
A son of LVMH Chairman Bernard Arnault, Frederic Arnault took the helm of Loro Piana in June 2025 after running TAG Heuer and LVMH’s watch division.
"Kim and Arnault toured Loro Piana’s Christmas tree at Galleria’s flagship store and the label’s recently renovated boutique," a Hanwha M&S official said. "They then visited a Benson store in person, sampled the ice cream and discussed various issues."
The outing marked Kim’s first encounter with the LVMH family at Galleria since Hanwha M&S launched in August to oversee businesses under his watch, including Hanwha Galleria, Hanwha Hotels & Resorts and Ourhome.
Galleria’s flagship sits at the heart of that portfolio. Hanwha Galleria plans to pour about 900 billion won ($670 million) into rebuilding it over roughly seven years starting in 2027.
The two heirs’ visit to Benson held special weight for Kim, who personally championed the brand’s launch.
The premium ice cream brand, which opened its first shop in May 2025, now heads for a national rollout under Ourhome and its nationwide cold-chain network. Kim earlier brought American burger chain Five Guys to Korea, but Benson marks his first attempt to franchise a homegrown brand.
Aside from Galleria, Arnault also toured LVMH’s major brand boutiques at Shinsegae Department Store’s Gangnam branch and Myeong-dong flagship, though he reportedly met no Shinsegae executives there.
minmin@heraldcorp.com
