[Report] "Full of Art and Cultural Content"... Lotte Department Store Hits the Taste of Dongtan Moms and Kids

Lotte Department Store Dongtan Branch Grand Opening on the 20th
Total Floor Area 246,000㎡ - Largest in Gyeonggi
Reduced Store Area, Increased Rest Spaces

On the afternoon of the 19th, people are shopping at Lotte Department Store Dongtan branch.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] “The dynamic media art on the first floor was so impressive. The entire department store feels like one big gallery.”

Lotte Department Store Dongtan Branch, the largest landmark in Gyeonggi Province, held a pre-opening. During the two-day pre-opening period, many residents of Dongtan New Town visited the department store. Especially, many came with strollers or young children. Dongtan Branch is a new store launched by Lotte Department Store after 7 years, with a total floor area of 246,000㎡.

On the afternoon of the 19th, as soon as you entered Lotte Department Store Dongtan Branch located in Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi Province, the wave-like media art immediately caught your eye. Although numerous customers visited the department store, it did not feel crowded. This was thanks to the natural light coming from the ceiling and the modern white interior that brightly illuminated the space. Even with several strollers passing by, the wide walking paths and ample space contributed to the comfortable atmosphere.

On the afternoon of the 19th, media art is exhibited on the first floor of Lotte Department Store Dongtan branch.

◆ Differentiated Experience Content = Dongtan Branch aims to be a “department store where you want to stay,” maximizing various experiential contents and artistic elements that can only be enjoyed offline. In fact, more than 50% of the total area is filled with experiential content such as art and culture. Over 100 works by famous domestic and international artists, including the world-renowned artist David Hockney, are placed throughout the department store. Visitors could scan QR codes on the artworks to listen to explanations. On the first floor, the Eye Square hosted a 3D virtual exhibition. In the future, a Pinkfong 3D exhibition and luxury brand pop-up stores will also be held.

Cafes and resting areas on each floor of the department store also stood out. The outdoor garden on the third floor was planted with reeds, trees, and flowers. Customers sat at tables drinking coffee or took walks. Fabian Merel’s Petatok, a contemporary art piece, was popular among young children. In front of this work depicting a man bearing the weight of an elephant, children lined up to take photos.

On the afternoon of the 19th, children are experiencing toys at a store on the 4th floor of Lotte Department Store Dongtan branch.

◆ Spaces for the Whole Family = Reflecting the characteristics of the Dongtan commercial district, which has many young couples, the children’s content was diversified. On the fourth floor, where the infant and children’s stores are located, there were convenience facilities such as a kids caf?, baby food caf?, and infant resting room. Additionally, spaces where children could touch and experience toys were set up throughout the store. Here, children enjoyed playing and shopping happily with their parents.

The basement level 2 ‘Beeslow’ was a space for parents. It housed a cultural center, the largest in Korea, covering 2,680㎡ (810 pyeong). The cultural center featured differentiated spaces such as the first-ever sound & recording studio, cinema studio, and kids creative studio. A community lounge was also created for use according to purpose. There was also an English kids caf?, Sesame Street, where parents could leave their children. On the seventh floor, there was a pet park for families with pets, where dogs freely ran and played on the lawn.

On the afternoon of the 19th, people are dining at Food Avenue on the B1 floor of Lotte Department Store Dongtan branch.

◆ Gyeonggi Province’s Largest Gourmet Department Store = On basement level 1, ‘Food Avenue’ housed trendy eateries. Dongtan Branch dedicates about 27.7% of its total operating area to food and beverage. It features over 100 food and beverage brands, including ‘Korean Table’ offering menus developed with Chef Cho Hee-sook, who was named Asia’s Best Female Chef in 2020, and ‘Schedule Cheongdam,’ a hot place in Cheongdam-dong. Special stores exclusive to Dongtan Branch include Taiwan’s ‘Veggie Creek,’ introduced for the first time in Korea, ‘Element by Angel-in-us,’ a collaboration between a space designer and Angel-in-us, and ‘Kwang Seafood,’ one of Thailand’s top three seafood specialty restaurants.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.