COEX Mall
A large underground shopping, dining, entertainment, and cultural complex in Seoul's Gangnam district.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
COEX Mall, now officially presented as Starfield COEX Mall, is a major underground retail and entertainment complex in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. It forms part of the larger COEX complex, which includes the COEX Convention and Exhibition Center and is associated with the Korea International Trade Association. The mall takes its name from the convention and exhibition functions of the surrounding complex: “COEX” is derived from “convention centers” and “exhibition halls.” The mall occupies roughly 154,000 square metres, with most of its floor area arranged on a single underground level. Its location at the intersection of Teheran-ro and Yeongdong-daero places it within one of Seoul's most prominent business, convention, tourism, and transportation districts. It is connected to Samseong Station on Seoul Subway Line 2 and Bongeunsa Station on Line 9, with Millennium Plaza serving as a major connection to Samseong Station. The wider complex is also close to the World Trade Center Seoul and Cheongdam Station on Line 7. COEX Mall combines conventional shopping with food, leisure, media, and public cultural programming. Its tenant and attraction mix includes hundreds of shops, food courts, the Megabox cinema, COEX Aquarium, bookstores, game and esports-related spaces, event stages, and several internal plazas. The five named plazas are Central Plaza, Live Plaza, Millennium Plaza, Asem Plaza, and Airport Plaza. The mall is designed as a destination rather than merely a passageway, with spaces for seasonal activities, public appearances, performances, and other events. One of its most recognizable cultural facilities is Starfield Library, also known as Byeolmadang Library. The open library contains tens of thousands of books and magazines, supports electronic reading, and operates as an event venue for author talks, lectures, cultural programs, and concerts. Its highly visible interior has also made it a frequently photographed feature of the complex and increased its public profile through appearances in Korean popular culture. The original mall was developed with investment from the Korea International Trade Association. Construction began in May 1997 and was completed in April 2000. The design work was associated with the firms RTKL and Gensler, with Gensler's concept described as “Unfolding Sky,” emphasizing openness and continuous movement despite the underground setting. A substantial redevelopment was announced in 2012 to improve circulation, increase usable space, and strengthen connections between Samseong and Bongeunsa stations. The renovation was completed on 27 November 2014. COEX Mall remains an active year-round destination with free admission and published daily opening hours generally extending from late morning to late evening. Its role is closely tied to the surrounding convention, office, hospitality, transport, and tourism infrastructure, making it both a local shopping center and a visitor-oriented urban complex.
History
COEX Mall developed as part of the larger COEX convention, exhibition, and trade complex in Seoul's Gangnam district. The surrounding complex is associated with the Korea International Trade Association, whose investment supported the mall's original development. The name COEX refers to the site's convention-center and exhibition-hall functions, linking the retail facility to the area's broader role in business events, international trade, and tourism. Construction of the mall began in May 1997 and was completed in April 2000. The project created a large underground commercial environment beneath and around the COEX complex. Its designers included the American interior design firm RTKL, while Gensler developed a design concept described as “Unfolding Sky.” The concept sought to create a sense of openness and uninterrupted movement in a predominantly underground setting. When completed, the mall was described as the world's largest underground shopping mall, with most of its approximately 154,000-square-metre area located on one underground floor. From its opening period onward, the facility operated as more than a retail arcade. Its program combined stores with restaurants, food courts, a cinema, an aquarium, bookstores, game-related areas, event stages, and public plazas. This mix allowed the mall to serve commuters, office workers, convention visitors, tourists, and Seoul residents. Its links to Samseong Station on Subway Line 2 and its position near the World Trade Center Seoul reinforced its role as a transportation-connected commercial and event destination. The mall underwent a significant planning and redevelopment phase in the early 2010s. In May 2012, the Korea International Trade Association announced plans for a large renovation. The project was intended to improve pedestrian routes, particularly in response to the development of Bongeunsa Station on Subway Line 9, and to create a more effective connection between Bongeunsa and Samseong stations. The redevelopment also sought to increase the complex's floor area and modernize its internal circulation and public spaces. The renovation of the COEX complex was completed on 27 November 2014. The site later became closely associated with Starfield Library, a prominent open cultural space located inside the mall. The library holds books and magazines, supports electronic reading, and functions as a venue for lectures, author events, talk programs, and concerts. Its monumental shelving and open central setting gave the mall a highly recognizable visual landmark. The facility also received additional attention after appearing in the 2020 Korean television series Record of Youth. Today, COEX Mall operates as an active, year-round underground shopping and leisure destination. Its significance comes from the combination of retail, food, entertainment, culture, transportation access, and proximity to one of Seoul's principal convention districts. The mall's current Starfield COEX Mall identity reflects its integration into the Starfield retail and lifestyle format while retaining the long-established COEX name.
- 2020
Starfield Library featured in Record of Youth
[1]The library appeared in the Korean television drama Record of Youth, helping make the space more widely recognizable to viewers.
- 2014
COEX renovation completed
[1]The major renovation of the COEX complex was completed on 27 November 2014.
- 2012
Redevelopment plans announced
[1]The Korea International Trade Association announced a major renovation focused on expansion, circulation, and links to the developing Bongeunsa Station.
- 2000
Mall construction completed
[1]The original COEX Mall project was completed in April 2000, creating a large underground retail and entertainment complex in Samseong-dong.
- 1997
Construction begins
[1]Construction of the underground mall began in May 1997 as part of the broader COEX complex development.
Products and positioning
A large-scale, centrally connected urban destination that combines shopping, dining, entertainment, convention-related foot traffic, and public cultural experiences.
Shopping · 2000
Retail shops
COEX Mall contains hundreds of shops serving everyday shopping and lifestyle needs. The available material identifies the mall as a broad retail destination rather than a single-category specialist, with its shopping offer integrated into dining, entertainment, transport, and convention-related uses.
Food and dining · 2000
Food courts and restaurants
Dining is a core part of the mall's destination format. The complex includes two food courts alongside other food and beverage tenants, supporting visitors who combine shopping with leisure, work, convention attendance, or tourism.
Entertainment
Megabox cinema
The mall houses a Megabox cinema, adding moviegoing to its mix of retail and leisure activities. The cinema contributes to the complex's role as an evening and all-weather entertainment destination.
Attraction
COEX Aquarium
COEX Aquarium is a visitor attraction located within the mall complex. Its inclusion broadens the mall's appeal beyond shopping and supports family, tourist, and educational visits.
Cultural facility
Starfield Library
Starfield Library, also called Byeolmadang Library, is an open cultural library and event space. It contains approximately 50,000 books and 600 magazines, provides electronic reading options, and hosts author conversations, lectures, talks, and concerts. Its dramatic shelving and open layout have made it one of the mall's most recognizable public spaces.
Events and public programming · 2000
Event plazas and stages
The mall includes five named plazas—Central, Live, Millennium, Asem, and Airport—as well as indoor and outdoor stages. These spaces are used for seasonal events, public appearances, performances, and other activities that add a programming dimension to the shopping-center format.
Brand decisions
2012
Undertake a major mall redevelopmentStrategyBackground
The mall required updated circulation and stronger links between its principal subway connections, particularly as Bongeunsa Station on Line 9 was being developed. The existing complex was also expected to benefit from expanded and modernized public and commercial space.
Action taken
The Korea International Trade Association announced a major renovation program covering the COEX complex. The plan included improved passenger walkways, a better connection between Bongeunsa and Samseong stations, and an increase in the complex's floor area.
Aftermath
The renovation was completed on 27 November 2014, leaving the complex with updated circulation and expanded facilities.
Recent events
- 2020
Starfield Library gains public attention through Record of Youth[1]
Campaign
The library appeared in the Korean television series Record of Youth, increasing attention to the facility as a recognizable cultural and architectural feature of COEX Mall.
- 2014
COEX complex renovation completed[1]
Other
The major renovation of the COEX complex was completed on 27 November 2014, following the redevelopment program announced in 2012.
- 2012
Major COEX Mall renovation announced[1]
Other
The Korea International Trade Association announced a major redevelopment intended to improve pedestrian circulation, connect the mall more effectively with Bongeunsa Station, and expand the complex's usable floor area.
Sources2 sources
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