Samseong-dong Guide 2026: Hyundai Department Store Food, Shopping & World PASS
A practical guide to Hyundai Department Store Trade Center near COEX, including restaurants, free lounges, tax refund services, and World PASS benefits for foreign visitors.
- How to Get to Hyundai Department Store Trade Center Branch?
- What's New on the 10th Floor?
- Where Should You Eat at Hyundai Department Store Trade Center’s 10th Floor?
- What Services Are Available for Foreign Visitors?
- How Can Foreign Visitors Use World PASS at Hyundai Department Store?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Hyundai Department Store Trade Center Branch Worth a Visit?
If you are exploring Seoul's must-visit spots as a foreign traveler, Samseong-dong should already be on your radar. It is home to Bongeunsa Temple, Starfield COEX Mall, one of the largest underground shopping complexes in Korea, and the famous Starfield Library, with its towering bookshelves that have become one of Seoul's most photographed indoor spots.
What a lot of travelers seem to miss, though, is a shopping destination right next door to COEX: Hyundai Department Store's Trade Center Branch. Its newly rebuilt 10th floor combines restaurants, the free EP.1 lounge, and access to Novas Park on the 11th floor. Foreign visitors can also find tax refund services and World PASS benefits at various stores.
This guide shares how to get there, what to eat, and the practical services worth knowing before you visit.
By Julia Linder, Creatrip Editorial Team
Last verified: September 15, 2026
How to Get to Hyundai Department Store Trade Center Branch?
Hyundai Department Store's Trade Center Branch has been a staple in Samseong-dong for decades, and its location makes it an easy add-on to any COEX visit.
Address: 517, Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Nearest station: Samseong Station, near Exit 5
Store hours: Mon–Thu 10:30–20:00 / Fri–Sun 10:30–20:30 (subject to change on public holidays)
Restaurant floor hours: Daily 10:30–22:00 (subject to change on public holidays)
Last verified: September 2026
From Samseong Station Exit 5, follow the signs toward Hyundai Department Store Trade Center Branch. If you are visiting from COEX Mall or Starfield Library, use the basement-level connection and follow the department store signs (Route 3 or 4).
Heading to Incheon Airport afterward?
The airport limousine bus is directly connected to both Hyundai Department Store and COEX, making for a seamless transfer straight from last-minute shopping and sightseeing to your flight. The bus stop is right outside the department store's main entrance, and Limousine Bus No. 6103 gets you directly to Incheon International Airport.
What's New on the 10th Floor?
After the full renewal of Hyundai Department Store Trade Center's 10th floor, it is now home to a completely reimagined mix of dining, relaxation, and greenery.
EP.1: The One-Stop Relaxation Lounge
After a full day of walking COEX, Starfield Library and the department store, what you want more than anything is somewhere to just sit for a minute. And EP.1 turns out to be exactly that. It is the central lounge space on the 10th floor that seamlessly connects the floor's various culinary spaces. And what stuck out most to us was how much seating there is. Tables, chairs, wide open space to spread out, and none of it requires buying anything.
That alone makes it worth knowing about. You can just come up, rest your legs, and people-watch for a while before deciding what's next.
Rather than being a simple lounge in a mall, the space feels very elevated. The overhead Aurora Drape feature gives the room a soft, ambient glow, while EP.1’s subtle signature scent fills the air. Paired with wooden pillars, layered greenery, a signature scent, and a background playlist featuring bossa nova and jazz piano, it is a comfortable place to pause before continuing with shopping or dinner.
Recommended for: A spacious place to sit down, relax, and recover mid-visit, no purchase required
Novas Park: A Green Oasis, One Floor Up
Novas Park is an outdoor rest area one floor above EP.1. It is especially useful if you have been indoors for most of the day and want fresh air, greenery, and a view of the Gangnam skyline. We visited in the afternoon, when the open sky and surrounding buildings made it a pleasant break from the mall.
Entry: Free
Hours: 10:30–22:00
Recommended for: An outdoor relaxation space, open, green, and free to sit in for as long as you would like
Together, both EP.1 and Novas Park are useful as rest stops, not just photo spots, worth building into your day if you are planning on doing a lot of walking around Samseong-dong.
Where Should You Eat at Hyundai Department Store Trade Center’s 10th Floor?
The renewed 10th floor's dining lineup is diverse, spanning all-day brunch, Italian, Chinese, Michelin Guide-listed Ramen, and one of Busan's most famous Tonkatsu spots. Below, we share five restaurants to consider, including typical price ranges and the type of visit each suits best.
Till White
When we arrived at Hyundai Department Store, our first stop was brunch at Till White. Till White is Hyundai Department Store's signature all-day brunch cafe offering 15 specialty dishes that take everyday classics, think sliced bread, soups, and salads, and elevate them with a chef's touch.
We ended up trying four of their signature items: the Espresso Tonic, Till White Coffee, Creamy Potato Soup, and the Till White Kimchi Fried Rice.
Our honest recommendation is the Espresso Tonic. Sparkling tonic water with espresso isn't a combination we had ever really considered, but it works really well. The Potato Soup was just as good, properly creamy, and served with a side of bread for dipping. We went in a little worried the Kimchi Fried Rice would be too spicy, but it landed at just the right level, not watered down, but not overwhelming either.
One small thing we appreciated: you can swap regular milk for oat milk in the cafe.
Hours: Daily 11:00–22:00
Price Range:
- Drinks 5,000-8,000 KRW
- Food 9,800 - 19,000 KRW
Signature Dishes:
- Espresso Tonic
- Till White Coffee
- Creamy Potato Soup
- Till White Kimchi Fried Rice
Eataly
Eataly is hard to miss on this floor with its striking window front. Depending on where you are seated, you can look out over COEX and even catch a glimpse of Bongeunsa Temple while you eat.
Beyond the main dining area, there is also an in-house bakery, an Italian gelato counter, and a small specialty shop stocked with imported wines and groceries, so it is worth a look even if you are not planning a full sit-down meal.
The menu itself covers wood-fired pizza (a first for an Eataly location, according to the restaurant), charcoal-smoked pasta, and dry-aged steaks, alongside private dining rooms for a quieter meal with a skyline view.
Hours: Daily 11:00–22:00
Price Range:
- Gelato from 5,500 KRW
- Pizza from 19,000 KRW
- Pasta from 20,000 KRW
Signature Dishes:
- Spaghetto Eataly (Pasta)
- Prosciutto Crudo Pizza (Pizza)
- Bistecca alla Fiorentina (Steak)
js Garden Xiang Hua
This is a premium Chinese bistro from the renowned fine-dining brand js Garden. The kitchen reportedly leans on wok hei (the smoky, high-heat flavor from cooking in a hot wok) across dishes built from familiar ingredients like eggplant and glass noodles.
Hours: Daily 11:00–22:00
Price Range:
- Individual Menu: 15,000-37,000 KRW
- Set Menu: From 65,000 KRW
Signature Menu:
- Hunan-Style Deep-Fried Whole Eggplant
- Hunan-Style Stir-Fried Glass Noodles with Black pepper
Nishimuramen
A Michelin plague is an unusual credential to find attached to a ramen counter in a department store food court. The menu focuses on layered bowls with carefully chosen toppings, sauces, and aromatic oils.
Hours: Daily 11:00–22:00
Price Range: 14,000-17,000 KRW
Worth knowing: if you are a ramen person and curious about a more chef-driven take on the format, this is probably the most distinctive option on the floor.
Bando Katsu
Bando Katsu has a strong reputation in Busan, regularly named among the city's top Tonkatsu spots, and this is its Seoul location. The pork is reportedly aged with nuruk (a traditional Korean fermentation starter) for 48 hours before being prepared, which is a more involved process than most Tonkatsu places offer.
Hours: Daily 11:00–22:00
Price Range:
- Individual Menu: 18,000-31,000 KRW
- Set Menu: From 55,000 KRW
Worth knowing: the Special Loin Katsu and Chicken Katsu are the two dishes most associated with the original Busan location, so this is a good choice if you want to try a Busan-origin tonkatsu brand in Seoul.
10th Floor Restaurants at a Glance
Restaurant | Cuisine | Price Range | Best For |
Till White | All-day brunch | Drinks 5,000-8,000 KRW / Food 9,800 - 19,000 KRW | Brunch and coffee in a relaxed atmosphere |
Eataly | Italian | Gelato from 5,500 KRW Pizza from 19,000 KRW Pasta from 20,000 KRW | Wood-fired pizza, skyline dining |
js Garden Xiang Hua | Premium Chinese (Hunan) | Individual Menu: 15,000-37,000 KRW Set Menu: From 65,000 KRW | Refined, smoky wok-hei cooking |
Nishimuramen | Ramen | 14,000-17,000 KRW | Michelin Guide-listed ramen |
Bando Katsu | Tonkatsu | Individual Menu: 18,000-31,000 KRW Set Menu: From 55,000 KRW | Busan-style tonkatsu |
Editor's note
The 10th floor is busiest around 12:00–13:30 and 18:00–20:00. If you are visiting on a weekend or public holiday, arrive earlier for lunch or dinner, especially for popular restaurants with limited seating. Reservation and waiting-list policies vary by restaurant, so confirm them directly before your visit.
What Services Are Available for Foreign Visitors?
Beyond the dining and lounge spaces, Hyundai Trade Center offers a handful of practical services worth knowing about if you are visiting from abroad.
Global Lounge (3F)
The Global Lounge is your one-stop resource as an international visitor, offering tax refunds, interpretation services, general information, exclusive promotions, and sign-ups for H.Point Global membership.
Storage Lockers (B1, 3F)
If you would rather shop hands-free, baggage storage lockers are available on B1 and 3F, handy if you are coming straight from another part of your trip or heading to the airport afterward.
Baby Lounge (4F)
Traveling with little ones? The 4th floor's Baby Lounge is equipped with nursing rooms, diaper changing stations, high chairs, and cribs, a comfortable, home-like space to rest and care for children mid-visit.
Stroller Rental (B1)
Strollers are available to rent on B1 for visitors traveling with babies under 24 months, making it easier to shop comfortably as a family.
How Can Foreign Visitors Use World PASS at Hyundai Department Store?
WORLD PASS is a free Creatrip voucher for visitors with a non-Korean passport. It provides discounts and benefits at participating locations around Samseong Station. Reserve before your visit, then collect the voucher at a designated counter with your Creatrip reservation and passport.
Promotion Period: September 1 – December 31, 2026
Eligibility: Foreign visitors, 1 per person (based on passport)
Participating Locations:
- Hyundai Department Store Trade Center Branch (3F Global Lounge)
- Hyundai Duty Free (9F Membership Desk)
- Airport Limousine, City Airport Terminal (2F Info Desk)
- Seven Luck Casino (1F–3F Membership Desk)
- Ktown4U (2F–4F)
- SEA LIFE COEX
Rewards vary by location, and include discounts, reward points, free drinks, shopping vouchers, and small gifts.
How to Use It:
- Reserve for free on Creatrip, then bring your reservation and passport to any pick-up counter listed on the product page.
- Tear off individual coupons and use them at whichever participating locations you visit, showing both the voucher and your passport each time.
Note: some items may be excluded, and the promotion can end early.
Visiting more than one Samseong-dong attraction? Reserve the free WORLD PASS before your visit to collect discounts and benefits at participating locations, including Hyundai Department Store Trade Center Branch. A valid non-Korean passport is required to collect and use the voucher.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Are EP.1 and Novas Park free to enter?
A. EP.1 and Novas Park are visitor rest areas at Hyundai Department Store Trade Center. They are spaces where shoppers can relax without a purchase, but access hours and event-related restrictions should be checked on the day of your visit.
Q. Is World PASS free for foreign visitors?
A. Yes. WORLD PASS is free to reserve on Creatrip during the listed promotion period. It is limited to one voucher per visitor with a non-Korean passport, and benefits can change or end early.
Q. Is Hyundai Trade Center within walking distance of COEX and Starfield Library?
A. Yes, the basement level connects directly to COEX Mall, and Exit 5 of Samseong Station leads straight to the department store's main entrance, no additional transit needed.
Q. Where can I get a tax refund at Hyundai Department Store Trade Center?
A. Tax refund services are available at the Global Lounge on the 3rd floor for eligible foreign customers. Bring your passport and purchase receipts. Tax refund service applies to purchases of KRW 15,000 or more, subject to current eligibility and refund conditions.
Q. How do I get World PASS benefits as a tourist?
A. Reserve it for free through Creatrip, then bring your passport to any participating coupon pick-up counter, the department store's Global Lounge, Hyundai Duty Free, the airport limousine desk, Seven Luck Casino, or Ktown4U, to collect your voucher. It's valid September 1 through December 31, 2026, limited to one per person.
Q. Do I need a reservation for the restaurants on the 10th floor?
A. Restaurant policies vary by venue and may change. Walk-ins may be available, but queues can be longer during lunch and dinner hours. Confirm the current reservation or waiting-list policy directly with the restaurant before your visit.
Q. Can I use the Global Lounge if I do not speak Korean?
A. The Global Lounge on the 3rd floor provides foreign-visitor services, including guidance, interpretation support, special promotions, and H.Point Global membership information. Service availability may vary, so ask staff when you arrive.
Is Hyundai Department Store Trade Center Branch Worth a Visit?
If you are already planning a trip to Starfield Library and COEX, Hyundai Department Store's newly renewed 10th floor is an easy, worthwhile addition to the same visit. Start at EP.1 or Novas Park for somewhere to actually sit down and rest, then pick from one of five distinct restaurants, from wood-fired Italian to Michelin ramen.
And don't forget to reserve your World PASS ahead of time, it is free, and with it covering everywhere from the department store to Ktown4U to the airport limousine desk, it is worth having on hand for more than just this one visit.
If you have any questions or concerns, Creatrip provides 24/7 real-time support in English, Chinese, and Japanese for international visitors completely free of charge. Reach us anytime on WhatsApp (+82 10-8818-2915) or LINE (@creatrip). You can also follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and YouTube to stay updated on all things Korea!
