The wives of the team’s players embarked on a pilgrimage of their own — to the hallowed grounds of K-beauty retail mecca Olive Young. (Photo: a screenshot from Instagram)
SEOUL, Mar. 19 (Korea Bizwire) – As the Los Angeles Dodgers kicked off their MLB World Tour in the South Korean capital, the wives of the team’s players embarked on a pilgrimage of their own — to the hallowed grounds of K-beauty retail mecca Olive Young.
On Thursday afternoon, a group of around 10 wives, including Dasha Outman, spouse of outfielder James Outman, and Cara Smith, wife of catcher Will Smith, made an unscheduled visit to the Olive Young store near Eonju Station in Seoul’s upscale Gangnam District, according to industry officials on Friday.
The spontaneous shopping excursion, rather than a coordinated brand invitation, allowed the players’ spouses to indulge in the vast array of Korean cosmetics and skincare products for which Olive Young has become renowned among tourists.
The Eonju location’s relative proximity to the team’s hotel in Yeouido, also on Seoul’s subway Line 9, likely factored into their chosen destination. After their beauty haul, the group reportedly stopped by a nearby dermatology clinic for skincare treatments.
Cara Smith shared photos of the shopping outing on Instagram, depicting the beaming wives proudly brandishing Olive Young’s signature green shopping bags outside the storefront. “Korean skincare is the best!” proclaimed Dasha Outman on social media.
Notably absent was Mamiko Tanaka, the wife of baseball’s biggest star, Shohei Ohtani, whose presence was not captured in the shared images.
Olive Young’s unique appeal lies in its diverse offerings — from renowned Korean labels to niche indie brands — all available for testing and purchase under one roof. (Image courtesy of CJ Olive Young)
The Dodgers wives’ excursion follows a similar pilgrimage by Savannah James, spouse of NBA icon LeBron James, during her recent private visit to Seoul. In a video posted to Instagram, James’ entourage was seen leaving an Olive Young store laden with bulging shopping bags filled with Korean beauty products.
Olive Young’s unique appeal lies in its diverse offerings — from renowned Korean labels to niche indie brands — all available for testing and purchase under one roof. This one-stop K-beauty shopping experience has solidified the retailer’s reputation as a must-visit destination among global tourists.
The surging popularity is reflected in Olive Young’s sales figures from its Myeongdong district flagship: foreign visitor spending soared a staggering 590% year-over-year in 2023. In response, the company has unveiled a dedicated storefront tailored to international clientele in the iconic Seoul neighborhood.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers arrived in South Korea ahead of their 2024 MLB season-opening two-game series against the San Diego Padres on March 20 and 21 at the Gocheok Sky Dome — marking the first-ever regular season MLB games played in the country. The team traveled on a chartered flight, with players accompanied by one guest, typically a spouse or partner. The historic games will be broadcast on the Coupang Play streaming platform.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
