Students from the Asia Elite Business Scholars group recently visited a bank branch renovated into a cultural space in Seoul run by South Korea’s KB Kookmin Bank.

Located in Hongdae in western Seoul, the four-story building known as KB Rock Star Youth Lounge had been selected as AEBS’ exemplary case for transforming a space of business into one with cultural and artistic functions.

AEBS comprises students from seven prestigious universities across Asia: Peking University, Fudan University, National Taipei University, University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Seoul National University and National University of Singapore.

Built in 1968, the then-bank branch was renamed to the KB Rock Star Youth Lounge in April this year, after undergoing a refurbishment project sponsored by the bank and architecture professors at the adjacent Hongik University.

Now, the lounge features seminar rooms, a performance stand, an academic room and a multiuse exhibition space. Since it reopened, the space does not operate as a bank branch.

KB Rock Star Youth Lounge was one of the places in Seoul that 33 participants -- member university students of AEBS -- visited during AEBS’ 10th global exchange program hosted by prestigious Seoul National University. The group of students also visited offices of entertainment giants CJ E&M and S.M. Entertainment during the program.

The 10th program marked the second global exchange program to take place in Seoul.

By Son Ji-hyoung 
(consnow@heraldcorp.com)