Foreign customers flock to Yongsan I’Park Mall’s padel court

I’Park Mall ‘M Move the Padel’ court. [Courtesy of HDC I’Park Mall]

The newly opened padel court at Yongsan I’Park Mall is drawing in foreign customers, contributing to an anticipated increase in mall revenue. Padel, a racket sport with origins in Mexico, boasts a global following of 25 million players. Trend-conscious Koreans are also flocking to the court, signaling a potential boost in the mall’s sales.

According to HDC I’Park Mall on Sunday, since the opening of the ‘M Move the Padel’ court on April 27th, 2024, a total of 500 teams, or around 1,000 players, have enjoyed the game over a span of 60 days. The court’s booking rate exceeds 50 percent, with most time slots after 5 p.m. on weekdays fully booked. Padel, which combines elements of tennis and squash, is popular in 90 countries, particularly in Latin American nations including Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, and Panama. Its popularity is also growing in European countries such as Spain, Italy, and Portugal.

There were mixed reactions when Yongsan I’Park Mall first announced it would introduce a padel court. Some doubted its success, considering padel was relatively unknown in South Korea. However, the early positive response from foreigners familiar with the sport exceeded expectations, leading to a quicker than anticipated establishment. Foreign customers currently account for 60 percent of users, with the number of Korean customers also increasing steadily.