Not closing after all!

▲ Lotte Mart at Seoul Station. (Photo / Screenshot from Korean media)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

The "Lotte Mart" at Seoul Station in South Korea, which was originally scheduled to close on the 31st of this month, along with the Lotte Department Store in Yeongdeungpo, will now continue operations. The Lotte Group has announced that it will remain open at least until 2020.

The Yeongdeungpo Lotte Department Store and the Lotte Mart at Seoul Station began operations in 1991 and 2004 respectively, and have been popular shopping destinations for locals. The Lotte Mart, integrated with Seoul Station, is especially a go-to spot for Taiwanese travelers to stock up on various snacks and Korean lifestyle goods, making it one of the important memories for visitors traveling to Seoul.

Since the locations of the Lotte Mart at Seoul Station and the Yeongdeungpo Lotte Department Store are on state-owned property, they were originally set to be taken back by the government and shut down after their lease expired at the end of 2017. However, the South Korean government has now announced that it will grant permission for continued use for another 1 to 2 years, allowing these two important travel-related spots to remain in place.

Lotte Mart has a total of 120 branches across South Korea, with the branch at Seoul Station being the highest-grossing. The station benefits from its prime location, where the KTX high-speed rail, AREX airport express, Subway Line 1, and Line 4 all converge. With business hours extending until midnight, it has long been a favorite shopping destination for foreign travelers.