Nike to Release the Air Jordan III ‘Seoul’ in South Korea

This new model was created by Tinker Hatfield and Dan Sunwoo as part of a special project in Nike’s Innovation Kitchen, according to the company’s news release.

The Air Jordan III Seoul will commemorate the 30 year anniversary for when Seoul hosted the Summer Olympics, which took place in the country’s capital in September 1988. This new line of sneakers will also commemorate the time when Michael Jordan, who was playing for the Chicago Bulls then, won the 1988 Slam Dunk contest over his opponent Dominique Wilkins of the Atlanta Hawks.

“I grew up a sneakerhead in Seoul and I wanted to create a shoe that pays homage to the creative energy of the city. Now is the perfect time, building on the momentum of the winter games and the love Korean consumers have for Jordan Brand,” Sunwoo said.

Design-wise, the new brand of sneaker is deeply inspired by the Taegukgi’s (Korean Flag) color scheme. It carries the “taekguk” symbol that is expressed through the lining and collar’s blue and red and the white upper color, which represents peace and purity as it does on the country’s flag.

On the left inner tongue of the shoe, you’ll see the word 서울 (Seoul) printed on it while the motto used for the 1988 Summer Olympics 화합과 전진 (Harmony and Progress) is featured on the right inner tongue. The heel also reads “Nike Air,” which is a clear nod to the original Nike brand Air Jordan III.

To those who’d like to buy the new sneakers, Nike will begin selling it on its official site nike.com.kr and at the first-ever Jordan Brand store that opened in Seoul last August: Jordan Hongdae.

Images via Instagram / jordans_daily