S1. BUSAN's AWESOME SHOPPING MALLS

LOTTE @ Nampo-dong.

The shopping malls in Korea is dominated by LOTTE.  From Seoul right up to BUSAN, most of the big complexes carry the LOTTE logo.  We found one LOTTE complex with a very unique water dancing and dropping that follows the background music.

The complex is located close to Nampo-dong Station, Busan.  Taking any exit, you will see a big LOTTE logo and you can just walk in.

We were just window shopping on the third floor UNTIL suddenly the lights surrounding the centre court were turned off.  We wonder what had happened.  Do they close early today?  It was only about 3 pm.  SUDDENLY.......

(click video below)

Impressive ha?  See some more.
(click video below)

Here are some more pictures around the complex.
For more Busan video click here.

Kimchi anybody?

Shinsegae Mall @ Centum City

Centum City that consists of few multi-storey shopping malls is reportedly the world's largest department store.  It has a total area of 294 thousand square meters.  It even have oncheon (hot spring spa) and indoor golf area.

• Subway line 2 (green), Centum City Station, Exit 1

Lower Ground floor, just at the exit of subway line.

If you get off the subway, climbing towards exit 1, you will notice the different atmosphere, vast hall with European-like sculptures, and smelling like a department store, you are actually at the lower ground floor of Shinsigae Complex.

Check the video below.

Looking up from the centre court.

It is no surprise that the anchor tenant is LOTTE.  Other than that, there is also BEXCO (Busan Exhibition and Convention Center), on a separate building, and also Busan Cinema Center in the vicinity of The Centum City.

Busan International Film Festival Hall

From the Shinsegae Departmental Store, you can have the view of BIFF, which is the venue for the annually-held Film Festival.

UNDERGROUND SHOPPING CENTER

 

 One unique factor of shopping centers in Korea is the abundant of underground shopping area.  In some cases, the underground shopping center stretches all the way between one subway station to the other. 

Most of the items sold in these center can be bargained and it is a common sight that people are haggling for anything.

If you are tired of being under the ground, choose a bazaar style shopping along the walkway.

TAX free SHOPPING

doota  shopping complex

You can also claim the tax you have paid for items bought.  We found out about this at doota shopping center, where there is a counter to fill up form for claiming the tax.  The actual tax reimbursement is done at the airport when you are leaving Korea.  With hussle and bussle of flight checking in and the crowd, I am not sure if you want to claim it anyway.  That's what the salesmen at doota told me, but the facility is there for you.  Some tourists are filling up the form, and I wanted to, but..........hmmm...

The place for souvenirs hunting