Justin Bieber arrives in Seoul with wife Hailey as SKYLRK pop-up draws overnight queues
In short
Justin Bieber, 32, entered South Korea through Incheon International Airport on 23 October with his wife Hailey Bieber, his first visit since a 2013 concert, according to five Korean outlets. His fashion brand SKYLRK is running its first Korean pop-up store in Seoul's Seongsu-dong from 22 to 25 October, where queues formed from about 01:00 on opening day. Whether he will visit the store has not been confirmed.
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Justin Bieber, 32, arrived in South Korea in the early hours of 23 October through Incheon International Airport, accompanied by his wife, Hailey Bieber, according to Korea Economic Daily, Hankook Ilbo, Newsis, Maeil Business and Chosun Ilbo (via OSEN). Korea Economic Daily said he wore a hooded jacket from his own brand, brown trousers and sneakers, while Hailey wore a blue long coat and black trousers. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
On 23 October Bieber posted "Made it to Seoul" on social media with several photos, including views from a car and a selfie, according to the outlets. Korea Economic Daily said the post was on Instagram. The outlets say this is his first visit to Korea since his first concert there in 2013, about 13 years ago. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
The trip coincided with the opening of the first Korean pop-up store of his fashion and lifestyle brand SKYLRK. The pop-up, called SKYLRK Seoul, runs from 22 to 25 October in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul. Maeil Business said it includes Seoul-exclusive clothing and a collaboration space with the table tennis brand STIGA. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
Newsis reported on 22 October that, according to social media posts, queues began forming before dawn. A user posted that 50 people were waiting at 01:00, and a video later showed more than 200 people at about 06:00, ahead of the 10:00 opening. Korea Economic Daily, citing Newsis, said visitors queued through the night. [ 1 , 2 ]
Newsis said SKYLRK released its first collection last year in July. It said this was the first fashion business Bieber ran on his own after parting ways in April last year with Drew House, which he co-founded in 2019. The brand sells clothing, shoes, sunglasses and audio products. In Korea it gained attention through photos of K-pop idols such as Sion of NCT Wish, Felix of Stray Kids, Sohee of Riize and Keonho of Cortis wearing its hoodies. [ 1 , 2 , 5 ]
Newsis said SKYLRK held pop-ups in Tokyo last December, at Coachella in April and in New York in July. Bieber met fans in person at the Tokyo store. Korea Economic Daily, citing Vogue Business, said Coachella-related sales reached $15 million, about 19.8 billion won, including $5.04 million in the first weekend. It said the brand confirmed the figure and that it is not annual revenue or operating profit. [ 1 , 2 ]
Maeil Business said it had not been confirmed whether Bieber would visit the pop-up or what his schedule would be. Hankook Ilbo and Korea Economic Daily said attention was on whether he would appear. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
Why it matters
The coverage ties the visit to the opening of the brand's first Korean pop-up, which drew queues before opening. The documents give no basis to judge wider significance beyond fan and retail interest.
Key facts
- Bieber arrived at Incheon International Airport in the early hours of 23 October with his wife Hailey Bieber. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- On 23 October he posted "Made it to Seoul" on social media with photos of the city seen from a car. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
- Outlets describe it as his first Korea visit since his 2013 concert, about 13 years ago. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The SKYLRK pop-up, called SKYLRK Seoul, runs from 22 to 25 October in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu, and is the brand's first in Korea. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- Newsis reported that, according to social media posts, about 50 people were queuing at 01:00 on 22 October and more than 200 by about 06:00, before the 10:00 opening. [ 1 ]
- SKYLRK sells clothing, shoes, sunglasses and audio products. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Bieber entered Korea through Incheon International Airport on 23 October with his wife Hailey Bieber. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Bieber posted "Made it to Seoul" on social media on 23 October. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
- His last visit to Korea was for his 2013 concert. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- SKYLRK's first Korean pop-up store runs from 22 to 25 October in Seongsu-dong, Seoul. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- Queues formed before the pop-up opened on 22 October. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- K-pop idols including Sion of NCT Wish, Felix of Stray Kids, Sohee of Riize and Keonho of Cortis are reported to have worn SKYLRK hoodies. [ 1 , 2 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Bieber will visit the Seongsu-dong pop-up. Maeil Business said his visit and schedule had not been confirmed; the other outlets said only that attention was on whether he would appear.
- The queue figures of about 50 people at 01:00 and more than 200 at about 06:00. Newsis took them from social media posts, not from its own count or the organisers.
- Sales of about $15 million for Coachella-related SKYLRK merchandise. Korea Economic Daily cited Vogue Business and said it was a brand-confirmed festival figure, not annual sales or profit.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- On 22 October, a social media user reported about 50 people queuing at the Seongsu-dong pop-up. [ 1 ]
- On 22 October, a video showed more than 200 people waiting. [ 1 ]
- The SKYLRK Seoul pop-up opened on 22 October. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Korea Economic Daily published its report that Bieber arrived early on 23 October with his wife. [ 2 ]
- Maeil Business published a report saying Bieber's visit to the pop-up had not been confirmed. [ 5 ]