Guide to Starfield Library, COEX Aquarium & Starfield COEX Mall
10:30 - 22:00
Free
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Bongeunsa Station (line 9, exit 7), 1 min walk.
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Samseong Station (line 2, exit 5/6), 5 mins walk.
Starfield COEX Mall is known for its instagrammable Starfield Library and popular COEX Aquarium. Located in the Gangnam district of Seoul, it is primarily an underground mall with 320 brands from fashion, gourmet food to entertainment and is operated by the Korean retail giant Shinsegae Group.
Floor Guide of Starfield COEX Mall
B1 - Starfield Library, COEX Aquarium, Fashion Apparels & Accessories, Lifestyles, Food & Beverages, Cafes & Desserts, Beauty, Services, Megabox (Cineplex)
1F - Starfield Library, Food & Beverages, Lifestyles, Services
B2 & 2F - limited stores
Popular Attractions @Starfield COEX Mall
Starfield Library ♦ COEX Aquarium ♦ Butter Shop ♦ Kakao Friends
1. Starfield COEX Mall Byeolmadang Library 별마당도서관
B1 & 1F. Bongeunsa Station (line 9, exit 7), 7 mins walk / Samseong Station (line 2, exit 5/6), 7 mins walk
10:30 - 22:00
free admission
Byeolmadang Library (commonly known as Starfield Library) is one of the hottest places on social media in Seoul with its impressive 13m high bookshelves lined with 70,000 books across 2 floors. At an enormous floor area of 2,800m², Starfield Library provides an extraordinary backdrop when you take your photographs with the ceiling-reaching bookshelves.
To take a break, check out the 3 cafes, namely Starbucks (B1), Billy Angel (1F) and % Arabica (1F) directly connected to Starfield Library.
Of the 3 cafes, % Arabica Seoul Starfield Library by the Japanese global coffee chain has gained much popularity and attention since its opening in September 2022. This is also the first % Arabica store in Korea.
2. COEX Aquarium 코엑스 아쿠아리움
B1. Bongeunsa Station (line 9, exit 7), 1 min walk / Samseong Station (line 2, exit 5/6), 11 mins walk
10:00 - 20:00 daily, last entry 19:00
Adult: ₩26,000, Child (age 3-12): ₩23,000. Child (age <3): free
COEX Aquarium has the most number of sharks in Korea and exhibits over 40,000 aquatic creatures in 14 theme zones.
Popular performances and feeding sessions at COEX Aquarium include:
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Mermaid Performance (Tue-Sun, @Deep Blue Square)
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Shark Feeding (daily, @Ocean Kingdom)
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Ray Feeding (Tue-Sun, @Deep Blue Square)
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Penguin Feeding (daily, @Penguin's Playground)
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Seal Feeding (Wed-Sun, @Marine Mammal Village)
You can also find interesting-looking and colourful fishes at Garden of Korea, Rainbow Lounge and Coral Art Museum zones.
Experience the beautiful flower garden of the deep sea at the Garden of Jellyfish.
At Amazonia World, meet the creatures living along Amazon River that include the flesh-eating Piranhas, aggressive Alligator Gar and King of the Amazon, Pirarucus.
💡In April 2024, all two African Manatees at COEX Aquarium have been relocated to a larger home at Abu Dhabi National Aquarium in Dubai.
3. Butter Shop
B1, B107
Butter Shop is a must-visit for all the cutest things from stationery, toys, picnic gears, sleepwear, bathroom items, home appliances, home decor, etc.
4. Kakao Friends
B1, C108
For fans of Kakao Friends, there is a branch at Starfield COEX Mall to check out your favourite and latest collection!
Popular Restaurants @Starfield COEX Mall
There are many dining options at Starfield COEX Mall, of which, here are 3 of the popular and recommended restaurants:
1. Jeju Ojeonbok (Starfield COEX Branch) 제주오전복 (스타필드 코엑스점)
B1 (next to COEX Aquarium)
11:00 - 21:00
Jeju Ojeonbok specialised in healthy Korean dishes made with Jeju Abalone.
2. The Place Italian Urban Bistro 더플레이스 (스타필드 코엑스점)
B1, J102 (next to ZARA & A-Land)
10:00 - 22:00, last order 21:00
The Place is a popular Italian restaurant with an extensive menu of salad & antipasti, pasta & risotto, pizza, steak and dessert. For a unique dining experience, check out its Bomba Pizza!
3. Plantude (Starfield COEX Branch) 플랜튜드 (스타필드코엑스점)
B1, I111 (near Megabox)
11:00 - 21:00, breaktime: 16:00 - 17:00, last order 20:00
Plantude is a very well-received vegan restaurant. Even if you are not a vegetarian, you may consider giving this restaurant a try, it may change your perception of plant-based diets, a surging market trend in Korea.
Nearby Shopping Malls & Attractions
Besides Starfield COEX Mall, there are 2 other shopping malls (i.e. Hyundai Department Store & Parnas Mall), COEX Convention & Exhibition Center, COEX City Airport Terminal and luxurious hotels directly connected via the extensive underground network.
💡The name 'COEX' is the short-form for 'COnvention and EXhibition Center'.
Across the road from Bongeunsa Station (line 9) is one of the famous temples in Seoul, Bongeunsa Temple.
A few subway stops away will bring you to the popular Gangnam Station, Lotte World Theme Park, Lotte World Tower (Korea's tallest building) and Express Bus Terminal Underground Shopping Mall - GOTO MALL (Seoul's largest underground mall with over 600 stores).
Recommended Hotels at/near Starfield COEX Mall
Oakwood Premier Coex Center
★★★★★ | 8.6 Review Rating
Oakwood Premier Coex Center is a modern 5-star serviced residences located within 9 mins walk from either Bongeunsa Station (line 9, exit 7) or Samseong Station (line 2, exit 5). All studios and apartments feature a fully-equipped kitchen with an open bar counter and washing machine.
Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas, an IHG Hotel
★★★★★ | 9.0 Review Rating
Get the celebrity treatment with world-class service at Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas. The luxurious hotel has one of the best hotel ratings in COEX area. It is a short 5 mins walk from Samseong Station (line 2, exit 5) with the premium Parnas Mall directly accessible through the hotel’s elevators (B1). You can enjoy panoramic city views from the room's floor-to-ceiling windows and ensuite bathroom with separate shower and bathtub facilities. Airport Limousine Bus (Bus# 6103) offers limited-stop transfers between hotel and Incheon Airport (T1/T2).
Hotel Peyto Samseong
★★★ | 8.1 Review Rating
Located across the street from Hyundai Department Store and COEX City Airport Terminal, Hotel Peyto Samseong is a short 5 mins walk from Samseong Station (line 2, exit 5). If you do not prefer carpeted floor, you will be glad to know all rooms at Hotel Peyto Samseong are furnished with hardwood flooring.
Surrounded by shopping malls with numerous dining options, good quality hotels and conveniently connected to 2 subway stations and airport limousine bus stops, you may like to consider staying at/near Starfield COEX Mall when in Seoul.
💡For Incheon Airport transfer, you can take the limited-stop Airport Limousine Bus Service (Bus# 6103, ₩18,000, T1-65 mins/T2 - 85 mins), operating between COEX City Airport Terminal (2F, located next to Hyundai Department Store), Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas and Incheon Airport (T1/T2) stops.
💡If you have used the in-town airline check-in services at COEX City Airport Terminal in the past, please note it has permanently closed in January 2023, after 33 years of operations.
Map of Getting to Starfield COEX Mall, Key Attractions, Nearby Malls & Recommended Hotels
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