It’s already ‘End of Year Atmosphere’… The reason people flocked before dark
Myeong-dong has turned into a “certification photo spot” before Christmas
# 17:00 on the 25th. About 60 people had gathered near Exit 1 of Hoehyeon Underground Mall, which was a “prestigious place”, although there were 30 minutes left before the department store’s “Media Facade” began to work. Even though it was a weekday, the number of people swelled to 350 around 5:30, the official opening time. When the media facade’s operation was delayed by about 15 minutes, a crowd of more than 400 broke into tears.
Mr. Choi (26), an employee who came to Myeong-dong this year and last year to see the media facade, expressed his satisfaction, saying, “(The video and decorations) seem to be more beautiful and more colorful than last year.”
With Christmas approaching in less than a month, crowds started gathering at night on the streets of Myeong-dong. This is due to the increase in the number of spectators visiting Myeong-dong as the Shinsegae Headquarters and Lotte Department Store operate light-emitting diode (LED) media facades decorating the exteriors of their buildings. Several people flocked to the department store, centered around the MZ generation (Millennial + Z) who wanted to upload a Social Networking Service (SNS) authentication snap.
People who wanted to get a good spot to take pictures or videos started gathering about two hours ago. Even before the sun went down, there were also people who had tripods set up and waiting for the video shoot. A security line had been set up in advance to avoid the crowds between Exit 1 of Hoehyeon Underground Mall, one of the busiest places, and the street.
There were a lot of people in their 20s who wanted to take test photos. Lee Mo (25), who visited the media facade of Shinsegae department store with her boyfriend, said: ‘Last year’s Christmas video was so good that I wanted to see it again this year, so I’ve been waiting since About 4:00 I took a photo, but since I arrived early this time, I’ll take a proper photo,” he smiled.
Choi Mo (25), a college student who visited with three classmates, said: ‘I saw it on Instagram last year and thought I should definitely come this year. I was expecting it, but there are still many people.”
While people flock to see the Christmas decorations from Shinsegae Department Store Main Store to Lotte Department Store Main Store, the atmosphere in the nearby shopping district is also lively..
Mr. Kim (43), who sells chicken skewers in Myeong-dong, said, “I can see the scenario that people flocked to Myeong-dong during Christmas in the past. After the operation, many people come and I I feel like I live in the surrounding atmosphere.
It seems that the Itaewon disaster has also brought about the demand for enjoying the Christmas atmosphere in relatively less crowded places.
Mr. Park (28), an employee of Bundang, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, said, “After the Itaewon disaster, I don’t go to crowded places.
A 20-year-old college student named Kim said, “I want to enjoy the exotic atmosphere, but my heart is heavy to go to Itaewon. It’s good to get off at the subway station (Euljiro 1-ga Station) and enjoy the Christmas decorations to the main shop of Shinsegae department store and take pictures to post on social media. There were a lot of tourists, so it was fun.”
The media facade of Shinsegae headquarters has been chosen as the hot spot for the year-end test shooting since last year. This year, the media facade started working on the 19th of this month. A video on the theme “Magical Winter Fantasy” is broadcast every day from 17:30 to 22:30. The media facade of the headquarters used 3.5 million LED chips, an increase of 2.1 million from last year.
Lotte Department Store has also started showing Christmas displays in its main store and Jamsil branch with the theme of “Christmas Dream Moment” from 15th. In the case of the main store, a European-style arcade facade was created in cooperation with the artist Song Ji-hye. Young Plaza also operates a media facade from 5pm to 10.30pm daily to light up the streets of Myeong-dong. Lotte Department Store was originally scheduled to show the Christmas display from the 3rd, but the start date was postponed due to the Itaewon disaster.
The Christmas display operation started early last month but was halted due to the Itaewon disaster.
He has also resumed operations. In “H Village”, which is located at the main entrance of Hyundai Seoul Sounds Forest in Yeouido, Seoul, the Trade Center Branch, Apgujeong Main Branch and Pangyo Branch, a large Christmas tree up to 13m high , sculptures , and wooden huts are installed.
Galleria Department Store will also feature a Christmas tree and exterior decorations in its luxury store in collaboration with Italian luxury brand Bottega Veneta.
The department store industry, which has entered the Christmas season, is planning to captivate consumers who come for test photos with the latest regular sale this year. Major department stores will hold regular winter sales until the 4th of next month.
During the event, the Lotte Department Store is offering 10 to 50 percent discounts on over 600 brands. Hyundai Department Store also offers discounts of up to 50% on new winter products from over 300 brands. It is characterized by an increase of up to 20% in the volume of outerwear such as padding and coats compared to last year. Galleria Department Store also offers 10 to 50% discounts on over 200 brands.
Oh Jung-min/Kim Se-rin, Hankyung.com reporter [email protected]
Video = Reporter Shin Yong-hyun Hankyung.com [email protected]
