Lotte controls several South Korean markets and industries, from food and beverage to entertainment and theme parks. The shopping scene is no different, with huge malls spread all throughout South Korea. One of the biggest and best shopping malls in Seoul is the Lotte Department Store in Myeongdong.

Its inventory of clothing, accessories, jewelry, cosmetics, furniture, technology, and sporting goods is outstanding. Inside are a duty-free shop, an art gallery, and a food court serving regional and foreign cuisines. You can even arrange to have your items picked up at the airport. Because Lotte Department Store and Lotte Hotel Seoul are physically connected, visitors can easily spend the day shopping there.

There are three Lotte malls in Myeongdong, including the company's flagship Seoul Lotte Department store, and they are all connected by walkways. Muji and Uniqlo stores are located inside Lotte Young Plaza's six levels of shopping, and there is also a basement level devoted to K-Pop and cartoon characters. In Myeongdong, this is one of the most well-liked destinations for youthful shopping.

Lotte Young Plaza is also simple to locate because of its exterior's brilliant lighting and eye-catching LED graphics, which act as a beacon for those traveling nearby Myeongdong's main shopping streets. While Lotte Department Store Main features a large selection of clothing, jewelry, electronics, and home goods stores, Lotte Department Store Avenuel has upscale and premium retailers.

Address: Namdaemun-ro, Jung-gu

Website: https://www.lotteshopping.com/main

Directions

In addition to more than 200 businesses, Starfield Mall offers a selection of less than 100 restaurants. You may buy at Starfield COEX Mall as well as visit Starfield Library, one of the most exquisitely designed buildings we've ever seen in Seoul and perhaps the most exquisite library in the entire world. The on-site Starfield Library, with its 13-meter-high bookshelves and more than 50,000 books, will appeal to readers.

With so many restaurants and cafes in this area, there are countless dining options. With a total of 17 screens, Megabox Cineplex is one of Korea's biggest movie theater chains and is situated nearby. The Kimchi Museum, ASEM Plaza, and the Events Court, which hosts a variety of intriguing performances and events like concerts, concerts, and classical concerts, are additional well-liked attractions at the mall. Every week, a brief magic and music performance is presented.

In Korea, there are some amazing aquariums, and Starfield COEX has one of them. The COEX Aquarium is the ideal hot place for any of your marine mammal and fish/shark demands, housing the biggest number of sharks in Korea, from the humid Caribbean to the saline Pacific and Indian Oceans. It should be clear from the 183 show tanks and 90 breeding tanks how large and detailed this aquarium is.

Address: Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu
Website: https://www.starfield.co.kr/coexmall/main.do

Directions

Hyundai Seoul Shopping Center, Seoul's newest high-end and high fashion mall, debuted in 2021 and has already established a reputation as one of the best shopping malls in Seoul with 12 floors of retailers.

The Hyundai Department Store Group erected this enormous store in Seoul to mark its 50th anniversary. It contains over 600 boutiques, stores, and eateries. The Hyundai Seoul Mall is particularly well-liked by younger, trendier customers (think Millenials and Gen Z), as well as travelers from other countries who come to stock up on apparel and cosmetics. In addition, the Hyundai Seoul Mall is proud of its associations with K-pop artists and bands including Blackpink, Aespa, and BTS.

The Hyundai Seoul is modeled with the idea of an ecologically friendly, future business hub with a rest place and a sizable walkway area. One of the centerpieces of the mall, in addition to the shopping area, is the "Sounds Forest" indoor green space, which is a resting area with a size equivalent to one-seventh of Yeouido Park. Additionally, The Hyundai Seoul is built with a lot of natural light-filled areas that are also places to draw in young people who enjoy photography.

A beautiful feature of the basement floors is the food court. The Hyundai Seoul is a fantastic choice if you can only visit one mall in Seoul. The Hyundai Seoul also offers a charming Christmas display and winter village if you happen to be in Seoul during the holidays.

Address: Yeoui-daero, Yeongdeungpo-gu
Website: https://www.ehyundai.com/

Directions

Like Lotte, Shinsegae is home to several shopping centers and malls in Seoul. The concept of shopping centers was first introduced in South Korea by the well-known company Shinsegae. They have several department stores throughout South Korea in Busan and at Incheon Seoul International Airport, but this is their main shop in Myeongdong. It is considered one of the best shopping malls in Seoul.

The Shinsegae Main Store in this location consists of two buildings: the "Main Building," which has six stories of upscale shops and outlets, and the "New Building," which has 14 floors and is more like a regular department store. There are upscale retailers like Chanel and Coach on floor 1.

There is a fantastic food hall (level B1F) in the basement where you can eat in restaurants worldwide and get gourmet cuisine. Additionally, it serves international fare such as Italian ice cream and gelato, Vietnamese Banh Mi, Japanese sushi, cheesecake, and Gong Cha in addition to a vegan shop named "Chick Peace" that sells falafel made in the style of New York City. The fifth and sixth floors of Shinsegae Shopping Mall Myeongdong contain additional eateries.

On the eighth through twelfth floors of Shinsegae Myeongdong, the company runs a Shinsegae Duty-Free complex. There is also a roof garden and cafe on this floor.

Address: Sogong-ro, Jung-gu

Website: https://www.shinsegae.com/store/main.do?storeCd=SC00001

Directions

Ssamzie Gil is a unique spiral edifice that is undoubtedly the most beautiful in Insadong. It is undoubtedly listed as one of the best shopping malls in Seoul. In a typical building, you would need escalators or stairs to get to the next level, but you can shop your way up via the sloping floors here. When you first approach Ssamzie Gil, you will notice a large open courtyard encircled by four stories of stores.

Individual stores providing handicrafts and hand-manufactured things related to South Korea's traditional cultural history are housed in Ssamzie Gil. On the first floor, twelve of the workshops are unique. They existed here before the construction of Ssamzie Gil and have since been modernized. The second floor houses traditional handcraft businesses ranging from college student creations to master craftsman shops. Traditional Korean handicrafts, apparel, and fashion accessories may be on the third floor. Scarves, neckties, glasses, and fans with unique artistic accents are among the things sold on this floor.

In addition, there is a basement containing Gallery Bob, a workshop, and restaurants. Take note of the unique rose stem from the basement to the building's roof if you take the staircase. Ssamzie Gil also has a lot of sloppy hand-drawn writings and graffiti on the wall, which adds to its originality. DIY craft stalls, cartoon character shops, homeware, and jewelry dealers can all be found. There are also various cafes and restaurants, including one on the outdoor rooftop with beautiful views of Insadong.

Address: Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu

Website: https://smartstore.naver.com/ssamzigil

Directions

IFC Mall is an underground mall that is visible from both inside and outside. The mall is located in the Yeouido area, which is the financial and development hub of Seoul. The shopping mall's exterior is green and clean. The glass-structured mall is shaped like a "bent M letter" and is directly exposed to sunlight during the day. The colorful fluorescent lights atop the glass illuminate the entire space when it is illuminated by the moonlight. This image of a commercial center at a landmark in Yeouido depicts Korea's rapid development.

The IFC Mall is advertised as Seoul's "first international style mall," with three floors of well-known international companies such as MUJI and Uniqlo. IFC is an international mall known for its wide range of premium brands, 4D theater, and a food-only level. However, the mall is somewhat pricey overall because it has worldwide clothing brands such as Zara, Chanel, Gap, and many others.

The North and South pavilions of IFC Mall are sleek and sparkling, with shops and eateries. The massive glass windows at the top of the retail complex also give the impression that this is a particularly light and airy mall in Seoul. However, dishes from various cuisines are pretty reasonable in terms of satisfying your hunger.

Address: Gukjegeumyung-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu
Website: https://www.ifcseoul.com/

Directions

If you're going to the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), the best nearby mall has to be DOOTA Mall, which offers a lot of trendy boutiques focused on younger buyers, especially on the first five floors. Duty-Free shopping is available on floors 6 to 12 of DOOTA Mall. While it is not as large as many other shopping malls in Seoul, it is one of the finest fashion malls in the Dongdaemun neighborhood and one of the best shopping malls in Seoul.

DOOTA Mall's second basement level houses storage lockers and a support desk for international guests. On the basement floor of Seoul's Doota Mall is a food hall with around 15 kiosks serving mostly Korean food (including a weird coffee shop offering Auntie Anne's Pretzels).

Unlike many food courts, you pay directly at the food outlet from where you order, and a buzzer beeps when your food is ready. The Tap Shop Bar is the most talked-about new shop and foodie experience at DOOTA Mall. The racks are stocked with wine you can enjoy in the Tap Shop Bar or take home and enjoy at home.

Address: Jangchungdan-ro, Jung-g

Website: https://www.doota-mall.com/

Directions

Mecenatpolis Mall is a shopping center located next to the Hapjeong train station. Terraced balconies, glass bridges, manicured roof gardens, open-air areas, captivating water features, and a grand central plaza all contribute to the idea of a fluid and synchronized circulation system at the retail complex's heart.

The open-air town has over 90,000 square meters of shop and dining space, as well as an events auditorium and public park for recreational and cultural activities where visitors and residents can congregate and participate. There are dozens of fast food restaurants, cafes, premium and basic restaurants, and al fresco seating areas in the mall. Year-round, the outdoor garden holds events such as art exhibitions, cultural celebrations, and music performances.

Mecenatpolis has 34 above-ground storeys and seven subterranean levels. The mall contains numerous retailers, restaurants, and cafes, as well as a Lotte Cinema, a Home Plus grocery, and an arts center. Hapjeong Station is linked to Mecenatpolis, making it a convenient shopping stop for tourists to Seoul.

Address: Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu

Website: https://korean.visitseoul.net/shopping/메세나폴리스-KR_/11106

Directions

Times Square, which spans a 300,000 m2 area, prides itself on being the largest cultural and retail complex in Korea. The first "hybrid mall" in the country, it offers everything needed for shopping and business, including a department store and a sizable supermarket, as well as a multiplex theater for entertainment and the finest hotel for lodging. Families may enjoy the area to the fullest because all lanes merge into one.

The Times Square Mall is home to the Shinsegae Department Store, as well as a game center, movie theater, bookstore, and multipurpose performance space. In this five-story mall, you can find international brands like Zara, Adidas, Onitsuka Tiger, Timberland, and Swarovski.

If shopping isn't your thing, Time Square also has the CGV Starium, which according to the Guinness World Records Book is the world's biggest movie theater. There are 12 screens and nearly 3,000 seats distributed across 5 floors, giving you a wide range of film options. You can even go in first class or rent a private theater! The Lolol comic book library is a cool-looking facility where you can relax out in comfortable booths reading comics or novels from their enormous collection. It's located on the top levels of Times Square Mall adjacent to the CGV ticket counter.

Other activities at the Times Square Mall in Seoul include the indoor animal theme park Zoolung Zoolung as well as bowling and archery at Kolon Sporex. There are numerous restaurants to select from in Times Square Mall, including well-known Asian chains like Sushiro conveyor belt sushi and Din Tai Fung. In the basement, at the Vietnamese restaurant TinTin, we also tasted the bun cha, which we highly suggest.

Address: Yeongjung-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu
Website: http://www.timessquare.co.kr/

Directions

While not as large as the neighboring Lotte and Shinsegae malls, Noon Square Mall on Myeongdong Walking Street is a 10-story fashion-focused shopping center with numerous big brand stores such as Nike and a fifth floor dedicated to fashion and apparel from new and emerging designers. It offers various fashion brands such as ZARA, H&M, RAUM, Nike, and Foot Locker and leisure, entertainment, and dining options.

It's also known for 'Level5,' a fifth-floor boutique shop filled with new local Korean designer clothing. The prices are not inexpensive, but you can get unusual clothing that cannot be purchased anywhere else. There is no food court at Noon Square. Still, there are various cafés and restaurants on the lower levels, including a sushi conveyor belt restaurant and a BBQ restaurant - plus, there are so many food alternatives close to Myeongdong Walking Street.

Address: Myeongdong-gil, Jung-g

Website: http://www.noonsquare.com/

Directions