Korean Department Stores Guide: Shinsegae, Lotte, Hyundai, Food Halls And Tourist Discounts

Sunbae Says: Pick up Lotte’s free Tourist Membership card with your passport before you buy anything at Lotte. It knocks 5 percent off at the department store, and you’ll use it again at Lotte Mart and Lotte World.

It’s raining, you have gifts to buy and your feet hurt. Spend an hour upstairs in a department store, then an hour grazing the basement food hall. That’s how Seoul does a wet afternoon.

How It Started

A colonial era beginning. Japan’s Mitsukoshi opened a Seoul branch in Chungmuro in 1906, the first department store in Korea, then moved into a grand new building on the site of today’s Shinsegae, according to the National Archives of Korea (in Korean), which dates the move to 1934; Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean) gives 1930. Korean merchants fought back from Jongno, where Hwashin became a modern department store in 1929.

Liberation and Samsung. After 1945 the Mitsukoshi building became Dongwha Department Store. In July 1963 Samsung bought it and renamed it Shinsegae, “new world”. That stone building is still the heart of Shinsegae’s Main Store.

The Myeong-dong rivalry. In 1979 Lotte opened across the road in Sogong-dong, ending Shinsegae’s dominance of the area, Kyunghyang noted. Hyundai opened in Apgujeong in 1985, carrying the fight into Gangnam. By 1996 Korea had 106 department stores; the 1997 financial crisis wiped out the weakest, the National Archives notes.

What changed: the tourists came back. In 2025 foreign customers made up 19 percent of sales at Lotte’s Myeong-dong flagship by the fourth quarter, a record 700 billion won for the year, and about 18.5 percent at Shinsegae’s Main Store, up from about 7 percent in 2023, The Korea Herald reported in February 2026. At The Hyundai Seoul, foreign shoppers were about 20 percent of 2025 sales, up from 3.3 percent in 2022.

Status, October 2026. Shinsegae finished its “Reserve” luxury renovation in the first quarter of 2026, with refitted Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Cartier boutiques, and foreign card spending at the Main Store rose 98 percent year on year in that quarter, Digital Daily (in Korean) reported. The stores now compete hard for visitors with foreigner only cards, kiosks and interpreters.

Where To Go: The Stores Worth Your Time

Lotte Department Store Main Branch (롯데백화점 본점). At Sogong-dong 1, Jung-gu. Euljiro 1-ga Station (Line 2) Exit 7 connects straight to the basement, per Lotte’s store page. Standard hours are 10:30am to 8pm, with the restaurant floor open to 9pm; the store listed 12 October 2026 as a closing day. Lotte says the flagship has about 400 instant tax refund kiosks, The Korea Herald reported.

Shinsegae Department Store Main Store (신세계백화점 본점). The 1930s stone building plus newer wings, opposite the Bank of Korea. Shinsegae Square in front shows K-pop videos and seasonal media art and hosts the Christmas lighting, Digital Daily reported, which is why it’s on every Christmas in Seoul list. Shinsegae added self service kiosks at the tax refund desk and an AI multilingual interpretation service in 2026. It’s linked underground from Hoehyeon Station on Line 4; check Naver Map for the exit.

Shinsegae Gangnam food halls (신세계 강남점 식품관). If you love food, this is the trip. Shinsegae rebuilt its Gangnam food floors in stages: the Sweet Park dessert hall (February 2024), House of Shinsegae fine dining (June 2024), Shinsegae Market groceries (February 2025) and a 3,960 square metre deli hall (August 2025), about 19,800 square metres in total, the largest single department store food hall in Korea, Hankyung (in Korean) reported.

Hyundai Department Store (현대백화점) and The Hyundai Seoul. Hyundai’s Apgujeong main store opened in 1985 and anchors Apgujeong Rodeo shopping. The Yeouido store, The Hyundai Seoul, is a destination of its own; see my Hyundai Seoul guide. Foreign visitors use the H.Point Global app for coupons, Hankyung (in Korean) reported.

Also worth knowing: Lotte’s Jamsil complex is covered in my Lotte World Mall guide, and Hyundai’s Trade Center store sits by Starfield COEX Mall.

Tourist Discounts And Cards (Verified)

Lotte Tourist Membership (롯데 투어리스트 멤버십). Launched at the Main Branch in December 2025 for foreign customers. Sign up needs only your passport and an email check. It gives 5 percent off at Lotte Department Store, 7 percent at Lotte Mart, 10 percent at Lotte Duty Free, and 20 percent at Lotte World Adventure, Seoul Sky and Lotte World Aquarium, and it doubles as a transit card, Herald Economy (in Korean) and Byline Network (in Korean) reported. From May 2026 it’s also issued at the Tax Refund Lounge on the first floor of the main building at Lotte Town Jamsil. More than 65,000 cards were issued in under five months.

Hyundai: H.Point Global and passes. Hyundai sells a Yeouido Pass and a K-Beauty Pass through the travel platform KKday, which link to the H.Point Global app for coupons, with perks such as quick makeup and personal colour sessions at The Hyundai Seoul and discounts on Han River cruises, Hankyung reported in March 2026. Prices weren’t published, so compare before you buy.

Shinsegae: event based. Shinsegae ran a City Tour Shopping Festa with payment and tax refund partners to 14 June 2026, Digital Daily reported. I found no standing foreigner discount card in 2026, so ask at the information desk about current offers.

Heads Up: Discount cards and coupons are store specific. Lotte’s card doesn’t work at Shinsegae or Hyundai, and big luxury brands often exclude discounts. Ask before you count on 5 percent off a handbag.

What To Buy, Tax Refunds And Paying

What’s good: Korean fashion and designer labels, K-beauty counters, kitchenware, gift sets, luxury goods and food gifts from the basement. Prices are fixed and match the brands’ own price lists, which is the point: no haggling, no guessing.

Bargaining: never. Use the discounts above and the seasonal sales instead.

Cash or card: foreign cards work everywhere, and the stores court WeChat Pay and Alipay users with partner offers. My money guide explains the rest.

Tax refund: under the rules on VisitKorea, you can take the refund off at the counter or kiosk on purchases of 15,000 won to under 1 million won per receipt, up to 5 million won per trip, with your passport. Downtown tax refund booths handle up to 6 million won per receipt, but each booth only refunds its own refund company’s receipts, and you must show the goods and receipt to customs at departure. Anything bigger goes through the airport.

Opening hours and closing days: Lotte’s Main Branch lists 10:30am to 8pm as standard, with longer hours on some days. Each store closes one or two days around Seollal and Chuseok, branch by branch, Asia Economy (in Korean) reported, and Lotte’s Main Branch listed Monday 12 October 2026 as a closing day. Check the store’s closing calendar.

Heads Up: The instant refund has a trip cap of 5 million won. Beyond that, you claim at the airport counter or kiosk, where there’s no cap, so leave time at Incheon if you’re shopping big.

Options With Opinions

Option	Best For	Cost	Time	My Take
Lotte Main Branch	Tourist card, duty free upstairs, Myeong-dong	Fixed prices, 5% card	2 to 3 hours	My pick for a first visit
Shinsegae Main Store	Luxury, heritage building, Christmas lights	Fixed prices	2 hours	Best for atmosphere
Shinsegae Gangnam food halls	Eating	Pay as you graze	2 hours	My pick for food lovers
The Hyundai Seoul	Design, pop ups, indoor garden	Fixed prices	Half day	Best all rounder

My pick: Lotte Main with the Tourist Membership for shopping, then walk across to Shinsegae for the building and the lights. Food lovers should ride to Gangnam.

What Locals Know

The basement is where Koreans go. Department store food halls, called 식품관 (sikpumgwan), are where locals buy gift sets, fruit and side dishes, and Shinsegae spent 2024 and 2025 rebuilding its Gangnam food floors because they pull people in.

Stay underground. Lotte’s basement connects to Euljiro 1-ga Station; my underground arcades guide has rainy day routes.

Duty free isn’t tax refund. Duty free shops sell to departing travellers who show a passport and flight details, and you collect at the airport. Tax refund is the VAT back on normal purchases. Lotte’s tourist card gives 10 percent at Lotte Duty Free.

Pick Your Version

If It’s Your First Time

Do Lotte Main and Shinsegae Main in one Myeong-dong afternoon, combined with my Myeong-dong shopping guide. The Start Here hub covers cards and apps.

If You’re Bringing Kids

Lotte’s free tourist card gives 20 percent off Lotte World Adventure, Seoul Sky and the aquarium, a real saving for families, and the food halls keep everyone fed.

If You’re Travelling Solo

Food halls are perfect for eating alone: grab a counter seat or take food back to your hotel.

Sunbae’s Picks

My pick for gifts: the basement gift sets and packaged snacks. They travel well and look generous.

If I only had one rainy afternoon, I’d do Lotte Main for shopping, then the Shinsegae Gangnam food halls for dinner.

I’d skip luxury shopping as a bargain hunt. Don’t assume a global brand is cheaper here; check the price at home first, then count the refund.

Pair it with a market: Namdaemun Market is a short walk from Shinsegae Main if you want the opposite experience.

Offers Worth Knowing

The Lotte Tourist Membership (5 percent at the department store, 20 percent at Lotte World and Seoul Sky) is the most useful verified discount. The instant tax refund applies at every store. For several rides a day, Seoul’s 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 day tourist passes continue.

What’s Changing In 2026

Stores are chasing you. Foreign share of sales at the big flagships roughly tripled since 2023. My read: expect more foreigner only perks in 2027, and use them.

Kiosks over queues. Lotte’s and Shinsegae’s refund kiosks mean you can do refunds in town, not at the airport.

Worth It Or Skip It

Worth It: one Myeong-dong department store afternoon plus a food hall, especially on a cold or wet day.

Skip It: department stores for cheap fashion. Go to Myeong-dong’s streets or markets instead.

Walk It Before You Go

Watch a winter walk past the Shinsegae and Lotte main stores before you ride out, so the exits and corners look familiar when you get there. The video is by Seoul_4K on YouTube, not by me, and shops may have changed since it was filmed.

Getting There

Lotte Main Branch: Euljiro 1-ga Station (Line 2, green) Exit 7, direct to the basement. Shinsegae Main Store: Hoehyeon Station (Line 4, sky blue), linked underground; check Naver Map for the exit. Shinsegae Gangnam: Express Bus Terminal Station; check Naver Map for the exit.

From Myeong-dong: walk. Lotte Main is 10 to 15 minutes from Myeongdong Station, per Lotte, and Shinsegae Main is a short walk beyond.

From Hongdae: Line 2 (green) from Hongik University Station to Euljiro 1-ga, about 20 minutes, no transfer. 1,550 won.

From Gangnam: Line 2 (green) from Gangnam Station to Euljiro 1-ga, about 35 minutes, no transfer. 1,550 won plus a small distance surcharge.

The subway map shows the lines.

Word Of The Stop

외국인 할인 있어요? (oegugin harin isseoyo?), “Is there a foreigner discount?” Ask at the information desk on the first floor. Show your passport if they say yes.

---

Map And Directions

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Department Store In Seoul Is Best For Tourists?

For a first visit, Lotte Main Branch in Myeong-dong: it has the Lotte Tourist Membership (5 percent off), instant refund kiosks and a direct subway link. Shinsegae Main across the road is best for atmosphere.

Do Korean Department Stores Give Foreigner Discounts?

Lotte gives 5 percent off with its free Lotte Tourist Membership (passport and email). Hyundai sells passes with coupons through KKday. Shinsegae runs event based offers; ask at the information desk.

How Does Tax Refund Work In A Korean Department Store?

Spend 15,000 won to under 1 million won per receipt and show your passport for an instant refund at the counter or kiosk, up to 5 million won per trip. Larger purchases go through the store’s refund desk or the airport.

What Time Do Department Stores Open In Seoul?

Lotte Main Branch lists 10:30am to 8pm as standard, with the restaurant floor to 9pm. Stores close on set days, including around Seollal and Chuseok, so check the calendar.

Which Department Store Has The Best Food Hall?

Shinsegae Gangnam, after a 2024 to 2025 rebuild, has about 19,800 square metres of food floors, the largest single department store food hall in Korea, including the Sweet Park dessert hall.

Next Stop

• The Hyundai Seoul: the department store that feels like a park.
• Myeong-dong Shopping Guide: the streets around the two main stores.
• Olive Young And K-Beauty Shopping: cosmetics for less.

Resources

• Lotte Department Store Main Branch: hours, closing days and directions; 1577-0001.
• VisitKorea: tax refund rules: minimums, caps and airport steps.
• H.Point Global app: Hyundai Department Store coupons for foreign visitors.
• Naver Map or KakaoMap: exits and store hours.
• 1330 Korea Travel Hotline: call 1330 (+82-2-1330 from abroad) for help in English.

How I Checked This

On 14 October 2026 I checked store history against the National Archives of Korea and Kyunghyang (2005), foreign sales against The Korea Herald (February 2026) and Digital Daily (June 2026), the Lotte Tourist Membership against Byline Network (February 2026) and Herald Economy (April 2026), Hyundai’s passes against Hankyung (March 2026), food halls against Hankyung (August 2025), and Lotte’s hours on its own site. Sources disagree on 1930 or 1934 for the Mitsukoshi building; I could not confirm Shinsegae’s or Hyundai’s exact exit numbers or a standing Shinsegae foreigner card.

Sources

• National Archives of Korea: department store history (Korean)
• Kyunghyang Shinmun: Shinsegae Main Store renovation and history, Jun 2005 (Korean)
• The Korea Herald via Daum: tourists revive flagship department stores, Feb 2026
• Digital Daily: Shinsegae Main Store foreign spending up 98 percent, Jun 2026 (Korean)
• Lotte Department Store: Main Branch store page (Korean)
• Byline Network: Lotte Tourist Membership passes 25,000, Feb 2026 (Korean)
• Herald Economy: Lotte Tourist Membership expands to Jamsil, Apr 2026 (Korean)
• Hankyung: Hyundai Department Store passes for foreign tourists, Mar 2026 (Korean)
• Hankyung: Shinsegae Gangnam deli hall completes food hall rebuild, Aug 2025 (Korean)
• Asia Economy: department store Seollal closures, Feb 2026 (Korean)
• VisitKorea: tax refund rules

---

Written by your sunbae. Over 20 years in Korea. We learned the lessons the hard way, so you don’t have to, and we’re here to guide you and help you enjoy Korea. Every fact here is checked against official sources and, wherever possible, on the ground.

Beep Check: verified 14 Oct 2026. Rules, prices and dates change; confirm with the official source before you travel.