Photo: SM TOWN’s life style store “SUM”
They are calling;
find all you need at these one-stopshops in Korea!
Located in various suburbs of Seoul, mega shopping
malls are reinventing themselves through continued innovation to keep
pace with the ever-changing tastes of domestic and foreign consumers.
These places are breaking away from the traditional role of shopping
malls that simply meet the basic needs of shoppers; they are designed
to cater to a broader array of services, such as fine dining, a
wide-range of entertainment, and much more! These huge
recreation-integrated shopping malls are truly a one-stop destination
for all, and have been fervently welcomed by people of all ages and
backgrounds.
Getting in tune with the latest trend of
“malling,” the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) carefully selected four
outstanding malls that are setting the standard. Two of them, Parnas
and COEX Mall of Gangnam, have been seeing a dramatic rise in
popularity among both domestic and international visitors through their
multinational fashion brands and premium food and beverage outlets.
In addition to Parnas and COEX Malls,
Famille Station, conveniently located between Shinsegae Department Store
(Gangnam Branch) and Seoul Express Bus Terminal, carries an upscale
feel suited to high-end consumers and has been gaining a reputation
among many.
Yeouido IFC Mall, the largest mall in
Korea, is situated in the west end of Seoul. After the recent
renovation that included a variety of newly opened brands, IFC is now
setting the latest malling trends through successfully launching their
“total mall experience,” a concept that promotes visitors from all over
the world to not just do their shopping, but also find high quality
restaurants, entertainment centers, and a wide range of cultural
experiences all under one roof.
Last but not least, AK Mall (AK
Plaza Department Store - Suwon Branch), located in Seoul’s suburb of
Suwon, has been recently nicknamed a “shopper’s paradise” for its
perfect integration of first-class premium shops and large discount
stores.
Photo: Kakao Friends Flagship Store in COEX Mall
Pop-up shops, brand collaborations, and premium
outlets draw the attention of those hunting for an impressive
atmosphere and a trendy shopping experience. The most popular food and
beverage outlets in Gangnam and Shinsegae Department Stores are part of
these popular malls in order to entice shoppers.
One of the best parts is that these
mega malls are all indoors, meaning good weather is no longer required
to have fun all year long. Decorated with an assortment of themes,
these malls have garnered considerable popularity even among window
shoppers. Why not give yourself some time and go venturing out to these
hotspots for the upcoming weekend?
Life is unfolding at COEX Mall
Photo: Main gate of COEX Mall (top left) / Inside view of COEX Mall & Pororo Park Flagship Store
Recently added to the list of Seoul’s landmarks,
COEX Mall has been the heart of international conventions. Now the mall
is entering a new era on a larger scale, equipped with assorted
cultural facilities that are sure to please everyone’s taste. After
twenty months of renovation, it has been turned into more than just an
art and exhibition hall; it has created a multi-layered concept of
shopping, tourism and entertainment, dubbed a “culture platform.”
The venue’s foot traffic now has a more optimized
flow and is set to offer a refreshing cultural experience for shoppers
who frequent the Gangnam area.
Establishing itself as Gangnam’s top shopping
mecca, COEX Mall extends itself more to fashion, accessories, beauty
and lifestyle brands that meet the global standard. It is also
conveniently connected to the nearest major transportation hubs City
Airport Terminal and Samseong Subway Station, as well as
InterContinental Hotel, Hyundai Department Store, ASEM Tower, COEX
Artium, and more.
More info
- ☞ Address: 513 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
- ☞ Directions: Samseong
Station (Seoul Subway Line 2) Exit 5 or 6. Enter COEX Mall through the
connecting passageway. / Bongeunsa Station (Seoul Subway Line 9) Exit
6. Cross the road and walk left (south) for 120 m to reach COEX Mall.
- ☞ Hours: 10:00-22:00 / Open all year round (Hours may vary by store)
- ☞ Brand information: Zara Home, Jaju, Mamas & Papas, Lounge P, Kakao Friends, and more
- ☞ Website: www.coexmall.com (Korean, English, Chinese)
- ☞ Nearest attractions: COEX Artium, COEX Aquarium, Megabox COEX
- ☞ Inquiries: +82-2-6002-5300
- ☞ 1330 Korea Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
Parnas Mall, Asia’s largest underground shopping center
Photo: Shops and connecting passage at Parnas Mall
Parnas Mall, located in the underground level of
the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas Hotel, features culture,
shopping and a mass of good eats. In 2003, it claimed the title of
largest underground shopping mall in Asia, and with its re-opening in
October of 2014 with the renovations at neighboring COEX Mall, it now
has extended its scale, being composed of dozens of shops carrying
global fashion brands that were previously only available in duty free
stores
Parnas is directly connected to
Samseong Station, COEX Mall, a casino, and Hyundai Department Store,
The mall claims to be a premium casual mall complimented with a
sophisticated interior design, not to mention a luxurious and stylish
atmosphere Also, cultural events are held regularly in the halls of
this complex, which keep visitors pouring in.
More info
- ☞ Address: 521 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
- ☞ Directions: Samseong
Station (Seoul Subway Line 2) Exit 5 or 6. / Bongeunsa Station (Seoul
Subway Line 9) Exit 6. Cross the road and walk left (south) for 120 m
to reach COEX Mall. Follow signs through connecting passageway to
Parnas Mall.
- ☞ Hours: 10:00-22:00 / Open all year round (Hours may vary by store.)
- ☞ Brand information: [Fashion] Allsaints, Il Bisonte, Parsons. W, Millefiori, etc. / [Food and beverage] Junior’s Bakery & J’s Coffee, KuKuRuZa Gourmet Popcorn, Ramen Hansungmungo, etc.
- ☞ Website: www.parnasmall.com (Korean, English, Chinese)
- ☞ Inquiries: +82-2-559-7089
- ☞ 1330 Korea Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
A must stop for K-Pop fans! SM Town@COEX Artium
Photo: Exterior and inside view of SM TOWN@CEOX Artium
S.M. Entertainment, one of Korea’s largest
entertainment companies, unveiled the building to immense fanfare in
2015 following the re-opening of COEX Mall.
Boasting itself with its scale of 8,000
square meters, SM Town took the first step into this uncharted
territory by inventing a multi-purpose hallyu culture space
never before done. At the first floor’s “Welcome Zone,” visitors are
welcomed by top SM celebrities and offered a variety of fun experiences
as they walk up to the top for some shopping at SUM, a store filled
with celebrity-related merchandises, then on to becoming a K-Pop star
at SM Town studio, and finally winding down with some sweets or
beverages at SM Town’s LIVErary Cafe. On the fifth and sixth floors is
SM Town Theater, the first hologram theater in Korea, and is set to
dazzle all its visitors with futuristic visual presentations.
SUM Cafe on the fourth floor, is a must-see spot
for all who wish to visit SM Town. It features limited edition
desserts inspired by SM artists in collaboration with a famous dessert
brand, as well as showcases SM artists’ personal items. You can also
create your own jukebox by recording your favorite songs here. Try not
to lose track of time as you cruise along the lavish exhibit spaces and
browse through the assortment of products.
More info
- ☞ Address: 513 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
- ☞ Directions: Samseong Station (Seoul Subway Line 2) Exit 5 & 6.
- - Walk through the connecting passageway (Located next to COEX mall)
- ☞ Hours: 11:00-22:00 / Open all year round (Hours are subject to change.)
- ☞ Inquiries: +82-1644-0180 (Phone number differs by floor.)
- ☞ 1330 Korea Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
As an affiliate of the Shinsegae brand
adjacent to Seoul Express Bus Terminal, Famille Station opened its
doors to the public in November 2014 after a three-month renovation. To
its credit, the area has now become more modernized and organized, as
it houses famous food chains, allowing diners to cruise along the
street and entertain great dining choices from the famous restaurants
of Garosu-gil and Sinsa-dong, exclusive picks from restaurants and bars
in Gyeongnidan-gil and Itaewon-dong, and hidden gems brought from
Sangsu-dong in Mapo-gu. They are so irresistible that you won’t be able
to leave the place on an empty stomach. For this reason, Famille
Station it’s a common site to see heavy influxes of people making long
lineups during lunch or dinner times.
A variety of cuisines are available
throughout Famille Station, everything from buffet-style Korean dining
and Hamburg steakhouses to those looking for health-food options. The
amount of options for customers is the reason so many don’t mind waiting
an hour or two to sit down for a bite at this gourmet paradise.
The mall is also situated in a convenient
location, as it’s directly connected to Express Bus Terminal Subway
Station, where Seoul Subway Lines 3, 7, and 9 intersect, making it even
more appealing to tourists who look for a one-stop-for-all shopping
experience.
More info
- ☞ Address: 205 Sapyeong-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul
- ☞ Directions: Express Bus Terminal Station (Seoul Subway Line 3, 7, 9) Exit 3. Follow signs through connecting passageway to Famille Plaza.
- ☞ Hours: 10:00-22:00 (Hours may vary by store.)
- ☞ Inquiries: +82-2-6282-0114
- ☞ 1330 Korea Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
Enjoy smart, global trends at Yeouido’s IFC Mall
Located in Yeouido, the home of the
National Assembly, various broadcasting corporations and financial
institutions, IFC Mall is an international-style shopping mall
containing various global brands.
On basement level 3 is a restaurant area with
a European theme called Food Empire, where shoppers can satisfy their
appetites with any kind of cuisine, including Korean, Indian, Southeast
Asian, American, Japanese, and European. Across from Food Empire is CJ
FoodWorld, owned and operated by CJ Group Across the street from IFC
Mall is Yeouido Park, an excellent little haven to feel like you’ve
escaped from the bustle of city life. And, if you walk just a little
further, you will reach the Hangang River, an ideal place for family
picnic.
More info
- ☞ Address: 10 Gukjegeumyung-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul (23, Yeouido-dong)
- ☞ Directions: Yeouido Station (Seoul Subway Line 5, 9) Exit 3. Follow signs through the connecting passageway to IFC Mall.
- ☞ Hours: IFC Mall 10:00-22:00 / IFC Street Mall 10:00-21:00 (Hours may vary by store.)
- ☞ Website: www.ifcmallseoul.com (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
- ☞ Inquiries: +82-2-6137-5000
- ☞ 1330 Korea Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
Yeongdeungpo Times Square, Urban Entertaining Lifestyle Center
Photo: Exterior and inside view of Times Square
Located at Yeongdeungpo Station on Seoul Subway’s
Line 1, Times Square serves the city of Seoul as a fully-equipped
entertainment and culture space, with the Courtyard Marriot Hotel,
Shinsegae Department Store, CGV Movie Theater, E-Mart, Kyobo Bookstore,
Amoris Wedding Hall, as well as countless clothing stores and over 200
restaurants. Times Square also houses the world’s largest movie
theater screen, as recorded by Guinness World Records.
Is the largest open space of its kind in
Asia, and extends all the way to the roof. On Saturdays and Sundays,
visitors can enjoy, and the venue also holds numerous launch events for
global companies. You can also often find famous celebrities holding
autograph sessions, and even TV broadcasts being filmed here, making it
a place where shopping is only the beginning.
More info
- ☞ Address: 15 Yeongjung-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul
- ☞ Directions: Yeongdeungpo
Station (Seoul Subway Line 1). Leave the station through Lotte
Department Store. Cross the street and continue (northwest) for 150 m.
Turn left and Times Square will be on your left after another 200 m.
- ☞ Hours: 10:30-22:00 / Open all year round (Hours may vary by store.)
- ☞ Website: www.timessquare.co.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
- ☞ Inquiries: +82-2-2638-2000
- ☞ 1330 Korea Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
From luxury shoppers to penny pinchers, Suwon AK Plaza
has it all!
AK Plaza, located at Suwon Station, has
been Gyeonggi-do’s top shopping ground and one of the city’s landmarks.
Since its opening in 2003, the shopping center has received much
attention from both local and international visitors. AK Plaza embarked
on a new plan to take another leap in December of 2014 after a huge
renovation to offer even better shopping experiences for all. At the
head of its renewal effort was the opening of the trendy AK &, AK
Town and Novotel Ambassador Hotel, which has definitely added extra
value and attracted additional visitors to the center.
This latest fashion district that also has
dining establishments and many entertainment facilities, including a
movie theater, lead to its shopping and culture image. It also makes it
a popular place for young adults and teenagers to hang out. In
particular is the basement level’s food street, which was designed to
look like 1970s Korea, where you can check out all the cool retro
artifacts after enjoying your lunch in a restored 1970s bus or train
car.
More info
- ☞ Address: 924 Deogyeong-daero, Paldal-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do (18, Maesanno 1-ga)
- ☞ Directions: Suwon Station (Seoul Subway Line 1). Follow the passageway connected to the second floor of the plaza.
- ☞ Website: www.akplaza.com (Korean only)
- ☞ Inquiries: +82-31-1661-1114
- ☞ 1330 Korea Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
<Last updated in July 2015>
* This column was last updated in July 2015, and
therefore information may differ from what is presented here. We advise
you to check details from the official websites before visiting.
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