If you have ever looked up the pictures of Korea on Instagram for a trip to Korea, you might have definitely seen this place. The library, which may be more famous among tourists than local Koreans, is located inside the COEX Mall located at Samsung Station in Seoul. For a clear explanation, I would like to quote the description by Visitseoul net.
Located in the center of COEX Mall, Starfield Library is an open public space where anyone can freely come to sit down, take a break, and immerse themselves in books along with other bibliophiles. A wide selection of books in various genres such as humanities, economics, hobbies, etc. are readily available. Whole sections of the library are dedicated to foreign books and famous authors. iPads can be used to read e-books. Close to 600 magazines, domestic and foreign, are available for browsing. All these qualities set the Starfield Library apart from other ordinary libraries. In addition, a plethora of events takes place here such as meeting with authors, book talks, poetry reading, lectures, book concerts, and more.
Some people may think that it’s a bit awkward concept to locate a bookstore in the middle of the shopping mall. However, this place is not only a bookstore, but it is also famous for its aesthetic interior and lights for great pictures. This was actually my first time visiting this library, and the first impression was “Oh, it’s a bit smaller than I expected, yet it’s really gorgeous!”
Starfield Coex Mall
If you come from subway line 2 Samsung station, you don’t even need to get out of the exit. There’s connecting passage from the station directly to the Starfield Coex Mall.
You just need to follow the signboard saying Starfield Library(Byulmadang Dosekwan, 별마당도서관)
Starfield Library
If you go upstairs by the escalator, you can look down the whole place from the second floor. On the second floor, there were also places prepared for people who wanted to read books or study. What would it be like to study in a gorgeous space like this? I don’t think I can concentrate on studying LOL I might just take pictures or look around people passing by.
Pierrot Shopping
There’s this shop named “Don Quixote” in almost everywhere in Japan. This Pierrot Shopping is the Korean version of Don Quixote. When it first opened the shop, there were lines of people waiting to look around the shop. It was so much bigger than I expected.
Kakao Friends
Kakao Friends store was right next to the library! There were, of course, many people looking around. Twice-collaboration goods were in sale! You have to take a picture for your Instagram with the huge Ryan lol
More Shopping Places
This COEX is where even native Seoulites are likely to get lost. Especially, it is not a single mall, but different malls are connected, so it’s really easy to get confused. Also, there’s a city airport here. But for that reason, there are so many brands, restaurants, and cafes(almost every shop you want to find in Seoul). It will be the best place in winter(winter is already here in Seoul, right?) because it’s hard to get around outside when it gets colder. After shopping, you can enjoy delicious food, have a cup of coffee, and finish everything in one place.
Restaurants and Cafes
City Airport
The Korea City Air Terminal in Gangnam district, Seoul, is one of South Korea’s Airport terminals. It is part of the COEX complex. The Korea City Air Tower is a public transportation facility in which travelers on certain flights can check-in their luggage at the terminal before leaving for the airport as well as going through immigration for expedited entry once at the airport. As of December, 2015, the Korea City Air Terminal supports flights for Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Jeju Air, Thai Airways, Air Canada, Philippine Airlines, MIAT Mongolian Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Japan Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. If you don’t use LCC, please try using this city airport! I’ve never tried once, but my friends said it was so convenient!!!
Restaurants at City Airport Zone
Butter
Hyundai Department Store
You can stop by Hyundai Department store which is connected to the COEX Mall. There are more luxuries and high-brands. Hyundai is, as you might know, the Korean car company. I’m attaching a brief explanation of Hyundai Department store.
The Hyundai Department Store, located in the COEX, is 10-stories tall and stands in the middle of Teheran-ro, the largest business and financial district in Korea. With the opening of the COEX Mall along with the ASEM Tower, the Teheran-ro region has become one of the top, first-class business centers in Korea. Located in this widely known business district, the Hyundai Department Store COEX Branch is a special place for shoppers and offers a wide variety of items to please Korean customers and foreign tourists alike. There are also many entertainment facilities in the COEX Mall such as the COEX Aquarium, Megabox Theater, and family restaurants like Bennigans, Sizzler, and TGIF, making this area a popular place for shoppers, families, and couples.
・Operating Hours: 10:30-20:30
Passing through the food court in the basement of the department store was really a torture for me for the reason that I love bread. Of course, it is expensive because it is a department store! But you can without effort broaden your options for meals, here. Especially, there are small pop-up stores of famous cafes and bakeries in Seoul, so you can taste various kinds of bread and cookies. Also, since there is a high-quality food court, so I recommend you to have a delicious meal here if you can’t find the restaurant you want to go, at the COEX mall.
Corner by corner, there were really endless choices of foods. I think I’m getting hungry writing this down…
There is a Korean red ginseng shop in the department store, so you can shop here for your souvenirs. You can really wrap up everything in the COEX, can’t you?
There are various brands of cosmetics on the ground floor of Hyundai Department store. Hera, and Sulwhasoo are the most famous Korean Luxury Cosmetics, I think. Especially, if you find a good gift for middle-aged ladies, Sulwhasoo will be your best choice, I assure you. My mom uses Sulwhasoo, as well LOL
The passageway between the department store and the COEX mall also has delicious shops. Famous restaurants in Seoul are located in small-sized stores like food courts, making it easy to try various famous foods. If you go Mafia Dessert or Egg Drop somewhere else, you might have to wait a long line~~ Try one when you are here in COEX!