With National Foundation Day, Chuseok, and Hangul Day overlapping to create a "golden holiday" of up to 10 days, domestic offline retailers including Starfield and Lotte World Mall will remain open as usual to welcome customers. Along with shopping, they plan to offer a variety of event programs to provide hands-on spaces for families during the holiday.

According to the retail industry on the 3rd, Shinsegae Group's Starfield, a multi-complex shopping mall, will operate as usual during the holiday, including Chuseok day (the 6th). Starfield and Starfield City locations nationwide will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., opening two hours later at noon only on Chuseok day.

Models are taking commemorative photos at the Seokguram photo zone inside the "Korean cultural merchandise goods" pop-up store at Starfield COEX Mall. /Courtesy of Shinsegae Praterpi

Starfield has turned key stores into "unusual cultural experience zones" where visitors can feel different national cultures during the holiday. At the COEX Mall location, through the 5th of this month, it will open a "Korean cultural product goods" pop-up store (temporary shop) to showcase museum goods from Korea that have recently drawn global attention. It will also introduce a "3D printing kit" that lets visitors assemble cultural heritage pieces such as the Dabotap Pagoda and Cheomseongdae. On site, there will be a 1.2-meter-tall Seokguram objet and a space to observe the production process of Seokguram lighting, aiming to catch visitors' eyes.

The Hanam location will host the "Hong Kong comic culture exhibition" through the 9th, introducing the development of Hong Kong comics from the 1960s to the present. The event is part of "Hong Kong Week 2025@Seoul," an international cultural exchange festival planned by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government. In addition, on the 5th and 6th, Starfield will invite a troupe composed of actors from the Korean Folk Village to the Hanam and Goyang locations, respectively, to present a parade and a traditional yard play.

Image of the Hangyodong live character greeting (greeting) event held at Lotte World Tower Aquarium. /Courtesy of Lotte World

Lotte Group's multi-complex shopping mall Lotte World Mall will also operate as usual during the Chuseok holiday. It will open from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., opening at noon only on Chuseok day. Customers visiting Lotte World Mall can also use Seoul Sky and the aquarium during the holiday.

Seoul Sky, an observatory spanning floors 117 to 123 of Lotte World Tower in Jamsil, is considered a must-visit course for domestic and foreign tourists as it offers a panoramic view of Seoul. The Lotte World Tower Aquarium is one of the largest aquariums in Korea and is popular with family visitors. The venue is collaborating with Sanrio Characters through the 30th, and from the 5th to the 9th of this month, there will be an event where an aquarist in hanbok offers Chuseok special meals to sea lions and otters.

Outlets, a favorite for families traveling to and from their hometowns as well as on suburban outings, will also welcome customers during the holiday. Shinsegae Simon will operate the Yeoju, Paju, Busan, Siheung, and Jeju Premium Outlets as usual except on Chuseok day.

Exterior view of Shinsegae Simon Yeoju Premium Outlets EAST. /Courtesy of Shinsegae Simon

Shinsegae Simon will hold the "Holiday Super Deal" event at the Yeoju, Paju, Busan, and Siheung Premium Outlets through the 12th. At Yeoju Outlet, it will host the "Samsung Fashion Festa," offering discounts on various brands such as Kuho, Theory, Beaker, and Juun.J, and will also open a "K-FOOD pop-up store" by inviting famous eateries.

Paju Outlet will run a large-scale discount event of 60% to 70% on select brands including Lacoste, Jucy Judy, and Skechers. Busan Outlet will hold a golf and outdoor fair from the 3rd to the 12th, selling items at up to 80% off at participating brands. Siheung Outlet also plans discounts on popular brands such as Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Under Armour.

The 'Cookie Camp' pop-up store taking place at Lotte Premium Outlets Uiwang in Uiwang, Gyeonggi. /Courtesy of Lotte Department Store

In addition, Lotte Group and Hyundai Department Store Group will operate all domestic outlet stores as usual throughout the holiday, except on Chuseok day. Through the 9th, Lotte Outlet will present "Cookie Camp," an experiential outdoor-themed event in collaboration with "Cookie Run" and outdoor brand "Nordisk," at the Premium Outlet Uiwang location.

Department stores are also preparing various pop-up stores to attract holiday shoppers. Lotte Department Store will open a collaborative pop-up store for the golf wear brand "Malbon" and the street fashion brand "CLOT" at the main store through the 16th. At the Jamsil Lotte World Mall location, a pop-up store for Honeybee Academy pastry chef Jo Eun-jung's ice cream brand "Aouchi" will run through the 26th. Shinsegae Department Store will host an Adidas pop-up store at the Gangnam location through the 9th.

Exterior view of Hyundai Department Store's "Tokyo Toy Museum Seoul" pop-up store. /Courtesy of Hyundai Department Store

Hyundai Department Store will hold "The Hyundai Pop-up Festa," showcasing various fashion and content, including K-culture trends, at stores nationwide through the 19th. The Hyundai Seoul will open a pop-up store for the recently concluded popular drama "Bon Appetit, Your Majesty," running through the 11th with goods sales and a drama set experience.

A retail industry official said, "The holiday break has firmly taken root as a 'special season' for retailers," adding, "Given the nature of the holiday, when many family visitors come, we are shaping each store into a space where people can enjoy shopping and cultural experiences at the same time."

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