'Lotte Mall Songdo' to Open in 2025... Urban Resort-Style Shopping Mall Concept

Lotte Mall Songdo Bird's-eye View
[Photo by Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] 'Lotte Mall Songdo,' being promoted in the heart of Songdo International City, Incheon, is set to accelerate development with the goal of opening in 2025.

On the 2nd, Incheon City and the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority held a business briefing at the Songdo International Business District A1 block, the planned site for Lotte Mall Songdo, and heard the project promotion plan from Lotte.

The construction of Lotte Mall was approved in July 2019 with a total floor area of 228,000㎡. Since then, the project was delayed due to changes in retail industry trends and the impact of COVID-19, but Lotte expressed a strong commitment to actively push forward with the project on this day.

Lotte stated, "Starting early next year, we will begin administrative procedures and civil engineering work in earnest, adjusting the project plan with the goal of completion in 2025," adding, "We plan to promote a new concept space as a resort-style shopping mall in the city that reflects rapidly changing consumption and leisure trends in the post-COVID era."

First, the sales facility, covering a total area of 148,000㎡, will be designed as a department store-type mall harmonized with nature-friendly green spaces, in line with the concept of a resort-style shopping mall.

Additionally, departing from the single-type complex building form of existing shopping malls, it will be differentiated into separate buildings such as a premium hall, street mall, and experiential wine store.

Furthermore, the resort, with 21 floors above ground and about 200 rooms, aims for a 'staycation' concept where visitors want to stay, and will be built as a luxury urban resort featuring various types of swimming pools and terraces.

In the central plaza, a 'plage' combining a signature waterfront plaza with an urban beach concept and eco-friendly green spaces will be created. Moreover, differentiated exterior designs will be showcased through collaboration with internationally renowned architects.

The mall’s architectural design will be in collaboration with Richard Meier, a Pritzker Prize-winning architect famous for his white designs, and the landscape design of the complex will be done in cooperation with James Corner, who designed New York’s High Line Park.

Following changes in the architectural plan, Lotte will proceed with additional civil engineering work and plans to carry out administrative procedures such as landscape review in the first half of next year when the architectural design results for Lotte Mall Songdo are finalized.

Park Namchun, Mayor of Incheon, said, "With the opening of Lotte Songdo Mall, we expect not only new job creation in the Incheon area but also contributions to local residents."

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