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The Air Jordan 3 is an integral part of the Air Jordan lineage, as it was the first model in the series designed by the legendary Tinker Hatfield. It is often credited as the sneaker that saved the Air Jordan line. Michael Jordan wasn’t happy with the direction of his signature sneaker line after the Air Jordan 2, and he contemplated jumping ship to another brand, but he fell in love with the design of the AJ 3, and the rest is history. Over its nearly 40 years on the market, it’s been given plenty of iconic makeovers, with the Seoul colorway honoring South Korea making a return in 2025.
In 2018, Tinker Hatfield and Dan Sunwoo came together to create the Air Jordan 3 Seoul, a special colorway that celebrated the 30th anniversary of the 1988 Summer Olympics, which took place in Seoul, South Korea. During these Olympic Games, MJ could not play as FIBA had a rule that no professional athletes could participate at the time. This eventually led to the creation of the 1992 Olympic Dream Team and its stacked, legendary roster when the rule was changed in 1989.
When the sneaker was first released, it was extremely limited; it was only available in Korea via the Nike SNKRS App and Jordan Hongdae store. However, two years later, Jordan Brand relaunched the elusive colorway as a women’s exclusive with more pairs available, though once again, it was exclusive to Korea. This new iteration follows the same Korean flag-inspired color palette, including the flag embroidered on the tongue.
Slight changes to the color palette and the introduction of new materials make this pair decidedly different, as there are pre-aged details on the TPU eyelets, a blue quilted fabric on the collar, and a satin lining for the red sockliner, and an updated elephant print. Here, we see a mixture of grey and dark green, while the original featured a traditional elephant print. Finishing the sneaker is the aged rubber midsole and a grey rubber outsole.
The Air Jordan 3 Retro Seoul 2.0 will release in May 10, 2025, in Korea. A US release will take place on May 17. They will be available via Nike, the SNKRS app, and select Jordan Brand retailers online and in-store. In men’s sizing, the retail price is $200. Download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.
Air Jordan 3 Retro Seoul 2.0
Images via Nike
Images via Sneaker Politics
Images via Nike Seoul h/t le.syndrome
Images via sneakergoodsmiami
Image for reference only. Final product may differ.
Images via jhope
Images via kicksdong
Image for reference only. Final product may differ.
Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. When not writing for Sole Retriever, I enjoy watching films and discovering music. Follow me on Letterboxd @nickvlah For tips, reviews, or any shoes in a size 13, email nick@soleretriever.com
