Starfield COEX MallStarfield COEX Mall is an underground shopping mall in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu in Seoul. It forms part of the wider COEX complex and sits beneath a major intersection near the COEX Convention & Exhibition Center. With roughly 154,000 square metres of space and most of that on a single underground level, it is one of the largest underground malls in the world.
Construction began in 1997 and finished in 2000; the complex was redesigned and expanded in a major renovation completed in November 2014. International design firms were involved in its planning under a theme emphasizing openness and flow. The mall is laid out around several plazas and long pedestrian concourses that host seasonal events and public appearances.
Visiting feels like exploring a compact underground city: hundreds of shops, two food courts, a large bookstore, a multiplex cinema (MegaBox), the COEX Aquarium and the popular Starfield Library are all under one roof. The mall also has game and event areas used for e-sports and concerts; it is open year-round (check individual venue hours locally) and the mall concourses themselves do not charge admission.
- Starfield Library (Byeolmadang Doseogwan): A striking double-height public library inside the mall with thousands of books and a popular photo-friendly layout, though some high shelves contain decorative volumes.
- COEX Aquarium: A large indoor aquarium within the complex featuring themed tanks and marine exhibits popular with families.
- MegaBox cinema and bookstores: A multiplex cinema and one of Korea’s large bookstore spaces offer films and browsing in the same complex.
- Millennium Plaza and other plazas: Plazas such as Millennium Plaza and Central Plaza are meeting points and stages for seasonal events and public appearances.
- E-sports and game zones: Dedicated game areas occasionally host tournaments and broadcasts related to Korea’s gaming scene.
Nearby Attractions to Starfield COEX Mall#
Best Time to Visit Starfield COEX Mall#
COEX Mall is indoor and accessible year-round; choose timing for Seoul's weather and crowd considerations.
Weather & Climate near Starfield COEX Mall#
Starfield COEX Mall's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Continental (Dry Winter) - Hot-Summer Continental (Dry Winter) climate with hot summers (peaking in August) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -7°C to 29°C. Abundant rainfall (1307 mm/year), wettest in July with a pronounced dry season.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | -7° - 2° | -6° | 19 mm | partly cloudy | 77% | 2.2 m/s | 0.3 low | 9.8h |
| February | Acceptable | -5° - 4° | -3° | 25 mm | partly cloudy | 74% | 2.2 m/s | 0.4 low | 10.7h |
| March | Good | 0° - 10° | 3° | 45 mm | partly cloudy | 74% | 2.6 m/s | 0.7 moderate | 11.8h |
| April | Good | 7° - 17° | 12° | 79 mm | partly cloudy | 74% | 2.6 m/s | 1.0 high | 13.0h |
| May | Very Good | 12° - 22° | 17° | 96 mm | partly cloudy | 75% | 2.2 m/s | 1.3 high | 14.0h |
| June | Very Good | 17° - 26° | 22° | 133 mm | partly cloudy | 77% | 1.9 m/s | 1.3 high | 14.5h |
| July | Good | 21° - 28° | 25° | 329 mm | overcast | 84% | 1.9 m/s | 1.3 high | 14.3h |
| August | Good | 22° - 29° | 25° | 309 mm | overcast | 83% | 1.8 m/s | 1.3 high | 13.4h |
| September | Very Good | 16° - 25° | 21° | 149 mm | partly cloudy | 79% | 1.7 m/s | 1.1 high | 12.3h |
| October | Very Good | 9° - 19° | 14° | 50 mm | some cloud | 75% | 1.6 m/s | 0.7 moderate | 11.1h |
| November | Good | 2° - 11° | 5° | 51 mm | partly cloudy | 75% | 1.8 m/s | 0.4 low | 10.0h |
| December | Acceptable | -4° - 4° | -2° | 22 mm | partly cloudy | 76% | 2.0 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.5h |
How to Get to Starfield COEX Mall#
The mall sits in Gangnam’s Samseong-dong and is directly connected to Samseong Station on Seoul Subway Line 2 via Millennium Plaza; Bongeunsa Station on Line 9 and Cheongdam Station on Line 7 are also nearby with pedestrian connections to the complex.
From outside Seoul, the nearest international gateway is Incheon International Airport in Incheon; you can reach the mall by a combination of airport transfer (taxi or airport bus) and Seoul’s metro system, or by taxi for the last stretch to Samseong/Bongeunsa stations.
Tips for Visiting Starfield COEX Mall#
- The mall is mostly underground and is an excellent option in bad weather or extreme heat.
- The Starfield Library is very popular for photos and can be crowded - visit early for quieter conditions.
- Major attractions like the aquarium and cinema can have queues; allow extra time or check ticketing options locally.
- Millennium Plaza is the main connection to Samseong Station on Line 2 - follow station signage for the mall exits.
- Events and celebrity appearances happen frequently in the plazas - check event listings if you want to time your visit.