{{Short description|Shopping mall in Seoul, South Korea}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}} {{more citations needed|date=May 2017}} {{Infobox shopping mall | name = Starfield COEX Mall | native_name = 스타필드 코엑스몰 | native_name_lang = ko | logo = Starfield (shopping mall) Logotype.png | logo_alt = | logo_width = 100 | image = 별마당.jpg | image_alt = Interior shot of the Byeolmadang Library in the mall | image_width = | caption = The Byeolmadang Library ({{Korean|hangul=별마당도서관|labels=no}}) inside the mall (2018) | location = Seoul | coordinates = {{coord|37|30|43|N|127|3|32|E|display=inline,title}} | address = 513, Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul | opening_date = | closing_date = | previous_names = COEX Mall | developer = KITA | manager = Shinsegae | owner = KITA | architect = | number_of_stores = | number_of_anchors = | floor_area = | floors = | parking = | publictransit = {{rint|seoul|2}} Samseong<br />{{rint|seoul|9}} Bongeunsa | website = {{URL|www.starfield.co.kr/coexmall/main.do|www.starfield.co.kr/coexmall}} | footnotes = | embedded = }} '''Starfield COEX Mall''' ({{Korean|hangul=스타필드 코엑스몰}}; formerly known as '''COEX Mall''') is an underground shopping mall in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu Seoul, South Korea. The name "COEX" is derived from "'''CO'''nvention centers" and "'''EX'''hibition halls".
The mall is located at the intersection of Teheranno and Yeongdong Dae-ro, near Samseong station on Seoul Subway Line 2 and Bongeunsa station on Seoul Subway Line 9. The COEX Mall is adjacent to the COEX Convention & Exhibition Center, which is part of the COEX complex, run by the Korea International Trade Association (KITA). Millennium Square is the main exit of COEX Mall connecting with Line 2's Samseong Station.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}
It has an area of about {{convert|154,000|m2}}, of which {{convert|144,000|m2}} are on a single underground floor, making it the world's largest underground shopping mall.<ref>[http://www.visitseoul.net/en/article/article.do?_method=view&art_id=3144&lang=en&m=0003001005005&p=05 ''COEX Mall''] Seoul Metropolitan Government</ref> Along with hundreds of shops, the mall houses two food courts, MegaBox (cinema), COEX Aquarium and a large bookstore, but the Kimchi Fields Museum has moved to Insadong. It features a game area that is used to film computer game tournaments, which are broadcast on local television. There are stages inside and outside the mall for seasonal events and public appearances by celebrities.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}} It is open year-round from 10:30 AM to 10:00 PM and admission is free.<ref>{{Cite web |title=별마당 아트 프로젝트 {{!}} 스타필드 코엑스몰 |url=https://www.starfield.co.kr/coexmall/starfieldLibrary/library.do |access-date=31 October 2024 |website=https |language=ko}}</ref>
==History== The mall was originally developed by investments from the Korea International Trade Association. COEX Mall was designed by the US interior design company RTKL. COEX Mall was also designed by Gensler, under the theme "Unfolding Sky", emphasizing seamless flow and openness. Construction of the mall began in May 1997 and finished in April 2000. Construction costs amounted to {{SK won|140 billion|link=yes}} ({{USD|150 million}}).<ref>[http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=102&oid=009&aid=0000005859 동양최대 지하쇼핑몰 '코엑스몰' 3일 개관, 매일 경제]</ref>
In May 2012, KITA (Korea International Trade Association) announced major renovation plans for the mall. It will spend {{SK won|180 billion}} to the upgrade project. The renovation is needed to create passenger walkways between the new Bongeunsa Station on Seoul Subway Line 9, due for completion in 2014, with Samseong Station on Line 2. It was scheduled to start at the end of 2012 and complete by November 2014. The floor space is expected to increased to {{convert|173,025|m2|yd2|abbr=off}} from its current {{convert|152,116|m2|yd2|abbr=off}}.<ref>{{cite news|title=COEX Mall to get a major expansion by 2014|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2952914|access-date=5 October 2012|newspaper=Korea JoongAng Daily|date=16 May 2012|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126221924/http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2952914|archive-date=26 January 2013}}</ref> The COEX complex renovation was completed on 27 November 2014.
==Location== [[File:Vue sur coex depuis temple.jpg|thumb|left|View of the COEX from the nearby Bongeunsa Temple]] The COEX Mall is located at Seoul Gangnam-gu Yeongdong-daero 513(Samseong dong). This mall is connected the Samseong station on Seoul Subway Line 2 and Bongeunsa station on Seoul Subway Line 9. Cheongdam station on Seoul Subway Line 7 is next to COEX Mall, as is World Trade Center Seoul.<ref>[http://www.coexmall.com/index.do COEX MALL website]</ref>
== Venues == thumb|COEX Mall Central Plaza Atrium in 2016, it changed to Starfield Library in 2017 thumb|COEX Mall Live Plaza [[File:SMTOWN COEX Artium 2016.jpg|thumb|SMTOWN COEX Artium]]
=== Plazas === The mall features five plazas: the Central Plaza, Live Plaza, Millennium Plaza, Asem Plaza, and Airport Plaza.
===Starfield Library (''Byeolmadang Doseogwan'')=== The library has 50,000 books, 600 magazines, and offers e-books. In addition, it serves as an event center, intended to host talk shows with authors, lectures with intellectuals and personalities, and concerts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.starfield.co.kr/coexmall/entertainment/library.do|title=별마당 도서관 {{!}} 스타필드 코엑스몰|website=www.starfield.co.kr|language=ko|access-date=4 May 2018}}</ref> Contrary to popular belief, not all the books on display are real. Books on higher shelves or on shelves that cannot be reached are decorative.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date= |title=Starfield Library, Everything You Need to Know |url=https://seoulsearching.net/starfield-library-seoul-everything-you-need-to-know/ |access-date=27 October 2023 |website=Seoul Searching |language=en-us}}</ref>
The library featured in the series ''Record of Youth'' (2020) starring Park Bo-gum and garnered increased attention from viewers.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2020-10-27 |title=별마당 도서관 '청춘기록' 서점 촬영지…박보검, 이별한 박소담과 추억 회상 |url=https://enter.etoday.co.kr/news/view/190159 |access-date=2026-01-22 |website=BizEnter}}</ref>
==Gallery== <gallery> File:COEX Mall Asem Plaza 2016.jpg|Asem Plaza File:COEX Mall Central Plaza Access 2016.jpg|Central Plaza Access File:COEX Mall Airport Plaza restaurants 2016.jpg|Airport Plaza Restaurants File:COEX Mall Megabox Cinema Lobby 2016.jpg|Megabox Cinema File:COEX Aqurium 2016.jpg|COEX Aquarium File:별마당도서관.jpg|2nd floor of Byeolmadang library </gallery>
==See also== * Contemporary culture of South Korea
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.starfield.co.kr/coexmall/main.do}}
{{World Trade Center Seoul}} {{Shopping malls in South Korea}}
Category:Shopping malls in Seoul Category:World Trade Center Seoul Category:Shinsegae Group Category:Tourist attractions in Seoul Category:Buildings and structures in Gangnam District Category:2000 establishments in South Korea Category:Shopping malls established in 2000 Category:Gensler buildings Category:Shopping malls designed by RTKL Associates