From a sky-high library to luxury fitness, Starfield Suwon beckons youthful explorers

Starfield Suwon, the fifth addition to the Starfield shopping complex, is scheduled to open this Friday. Operated by the Korean retail giant Shinsegae Group, the mall aims to captivate the trendy age group of 20s and 30s.

Starfield Library in the newest Starfield Suwon mall in Gyeonggi [SHINSEGAE PROPERTY]

SUWON, Gyeonggi — Starfield Suwon, the fifth addition to the Starfield shopping complex, is scheduled to open this Friday. Operated by the Korean retail giant Shinsegae Group, the mall aims to target the trendy age group of 20s and 30s.

Ahead of its official launch, Shinsegae Group hosted a pre-opening event on Wednesday, attracting a swarm of customers eager to get a first look at the latest Starfield mall in the region.

Starfield Library in the newest Starfield Suwon mall in Gyeonggi [SEO JI-EUN]

Stepping inside the gigantic mall, sized 331,000 square meters (3.5 million square feet), it spans from the 8th basement floor to the 8th floor above ground.

Visitors, ranging from young teens to families and even those accompanied by dogs, enthusiastically captured moments against the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and embraced the cozy ambience of Starfield Library.

This marks the second Starfield Library, following the one at COEX Mall, now renowned as a must-visit location for Seoul tourists and perhaps considered the most Instagrammable library. Starfield Library Suwon surpasses its predecessor in size, spanning from the 4th to the 7th floors and reaching a height of 22 meters.

Shinsegae emphasizes that Starfield Suwon distinguishes itself by catering specifically to individuals in their 20s and 30s, evolving beyond the initial family-centric Starfield malls, and incorporating experiential stores and trendy designer and food brands.

"It combines high-profile brands and services, previously scattered in select Seoul areas, providing customers with an enhanced experience," explains Shinsegae Property CEO Im Young-rok.

An indoor swimming pool located in Concord Fitness Club, Shinsegae's newest lavish fitness club brand [SEO JI-EUN]

Visiting "Smob" on Wednesday, many kids were already enjoying sports like archery. "Smob" is an upgraded version of the experiential sports area known as "Sports Monster" in other Starfield malls, catering to both kids and adults. The luxurious "Concord Fitness Club" features 5-star hotel-grade services, with facilities including an indoor golf area, a pool, sauna, and an indoor tennis court, drawing potential members on Wednesday. Even sports brand Fila incorporated interactive content, with guests playing squash on a large digital screen.

A customer listens to an LP music at the Vinyl cafe at Starfield Suwon on Wednesday. [SEO JI-EUN]

Adjacent to Starfield Library at "Vinyl Starfield Suwon," patrons were spotted enjoying coffee while listening to tunes from their favorite LP chosen from over 10,000 vinyl records. It is the second branch following the well-known Vinyl store in Seoul's Seongsu-dong, now a hot spot for Gen Z.

Starfield Suwon strategically catered to the culinary and sweet tooth desires of the youthful crowd who are willing to wait hours to get a taste of their curious desserts. London Bagel Museum, a go-to bagel joint that sparks open-runs, set up shop, while Knotted Donuts is set to open as the largest branch in Gyeonggi.

Customers play with their dogs at Pet Park located on the rooftop of the Starfield Suwon mall on Wednesday. [SEO JI-EUN]

Starfield has earned a reputation for being a pet-friendly mall in a country where an increasing number of people are opting to raise pets over having children. On the rooftop floor of Starfield Suwon, patrons and their furry companions relished the winter chill at the pet park. The ground-floor Dalmatian restaurant was designed with pet-friendly dining in mind, featuring special menus like the "Meongpuccino” ("Meong," the Korean onomatopoeia for the sound of barking, combined with "cappuccino") for pets.

Shinsegae Group aims to leverage its traditional offline retail expertise amid the competitive online landscape against e-commerce platforms. This decision aligns with the growing demand for mixed-use shopping complexes, providing individuals with an all-encompassing experience within a single facility.

Shinsegae Group Vice Chairman Chung Yong-jin chose Starfield Suwon as the first on-site management location for the New Year.

"We aim to provide a space where young customers cannot only shop in 'hip' stores but also engage in physical activities — and ultimately permeate into our customers' lives," remarked Chug during a tour of Starfield Suwon on Jan. 15, "Starfield embodies Shinsegae's vision."

Shinsegae plans to own a total of eight Starfield branches by 2030, with upcoming locations including Changwon in South Gyeongsang in 2026, Cheongna in Incheon 2028 and Gwangju in 2030.

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]