COEX in Gangnam is one of Korea’s largest urban complexes: an underground mall, the Starfield Library, an aquarium, the COEX Convention Center, and a cluster of luxury hotels all connected underground. Here is what to see, where to eat, and how to use the complex.
Starfield COEX Mall (Convention and Exhibition) sits in the heart of Gangnam, directly above Bongeunsa Temple and connected to Samseong Station via an underground passage. The Starfield Library opened inside the mall in 2017 and became one of Seoul’s most viral photo destinations within months. The 13-metre-high bookshelves, filled with 50,000 books, are genuinely impressive in person.
Getting to COEX
Samseong Station on Line 2 or Bongeunsa Station on Line 9. Exit 6 from Samseong Station leads directly into the COEX underground mall. The complex is in Gangnam and accessible from the main Gangnam Station area in about 10 minutes by subway. See the Best Hotels in Gangnam guide for accommodation nearby.
Starfield Library
The Starfield Library (별마당 도서관) is inside the COEX mall atrium, not a separate building. Entry is free, and the library is open during mall hours (10:30 am to 10 pm daily). The two-storey bookshelf installation features about 50,000 books, reading areas with natural light, and a central corridor that serves as the main photo spot. The books are available to read on-site but not to borrow.
Visiting tip: the library is at its least crowded on weekday mornings before noon. Weekend afternoons have the most people and are the most difficult for photography. The best angle for the full bookshelf shot is from the reading area on the second level, looking down the corridor.
COEX Aquarium
The COEX Aquarium (코엑스 아쿠아리움) is underground within the mall complex. Entry: 32,000 won adult, 27,000 won child (check current prices as these change). The aquarium covers marine and freshwater species across themed zones. It is competent but not among Seoul’s most impressive aquariums. Better value with a family discount package. Open 10 am to 8 pm daily.
Bongeunsa Temple
Directly adjacent to COEX, Bongeunsa (봉은사) is a large Buddhist temple that has stood at this site for over 1,000 years. The juxtaposition of ancient temple buildings against the COEX skyscrapers and Lotte World Tower visible beyond is striking. The temple complex is free to enter and is one of Seoul’s most accessible Buddhist practice sites. The bronze Maitreya Buddha statue in the courtyard stands 23 metres tall. Open daily from 3 am (for early-morning temple services) to 11 pm.
Food and Shopping in COEX
The underground mall has over 300 shops and a food hall in the central section. Korean chains (Lotteria, Tous Les Jours, Paris Baguette), international fast food, and a food court serving Korean cuisine are all represented. The SM Entertainment SMTOWN flagship store is inside COEX and draws K-pop fans. The CGV cinema multiplex on the upper floors is one of the largest in Seoul.
For higher-quality dining, the Gangnam Restaurants guide covers the best restaurants in the surrounding area.
