23 hours Ago By [email protected](KoreaTimes)
Shinsegae Department Store unveils massive digital signage at its main branch in downtown Seoul, starting Friday. Courtesy of Shinsegae Department Store Department stores pour a year of effort into exterior Christmas displays By KTimes Shinsegae, Lotte, and Hyundai department stores are lighting up their main locations with dazzling Christmas displays starting Friday, just in time for the holiday season rush. Each store has poured pride and a full year of preparation into becoming the go-to photo spot for visitors looking to capture the holiday magic.
The shift toward elaborate holiday displays began with Shinsegae’s introduction of “media facades” in 2014 at its flagship store in downtown Seoul. Since then, the Christmas display competition has intensified, with each store now dedicating year-round teams to plan, design and install their unique displays. “Christmas decorations have become the face of the department store,” said an official from a major department store, adding that image matters in an industry where decor now represents the company itself.
Lotte Department Store’s main branch in downtown Seoul presents a “lighting show” starting Friday. Courtesy of Lotte Department Store This year, Shinsegae has transformed the exterior of its flagship store with a digital signage screen the size of three basketball courts (1,292.3 square meters).
The screen, turned into a giant TV, shows a four-minute video titled “Searching for Christmas Moments.” Unlike past years, the massive screen will operate year-round, shifting from in-house videos to a mix of public service and commercial ads. “Now we can generate ad revenue through the store’s exterior,” a Shinsegae official said.
Lotte’s Christmas theme, “Wonderful Showtime,” brings a touch of early 1900s Broadway to its flagship, with an exterior designed to evoke the feel of a classic musical theater. For the first time, Lotte is also launching a lighting show visible from across the street. The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido unveils its Christmas decorations starting Nov.
1. Courtesy of Hyundai Department Store Hyundai has chosen a “Moving Grand Theater” theme, inspired by European fairy tales. The display tells the story of Harry, who embarks on a hot air balloon adventure to discover the grandest show.
At The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido, the decor includes six large hot air balloons, each 7 meters tall, floating in the “Sounds Forest” atrium on the fifth floor. Department stores have found that these photo spots drive traffic and boost evening business. “Christmas decorations are a way to increase food and beverage sales during the evening hours,” said one store official.
By becoming must-visit spots for photos, the stores hope to attract more visitors and more shoppers. This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times..
