CoexEdit
COEX is a defining feature of Seoul’s modern urban landscape, located in the southern part of the city in the Gangnam District along Teheran-ro. The complex mixes a premier convention and exhibition center with a vast underground shopping mall and a striking public library, making it a focal point for business travel, international trade shows, and urban culture alike. As a gateway for global commerce and a magnet for locals and visitors, COEX has helped shape how Seoul presents itself to the world and how Koreans experience the capital’s tech-driven economy. The site is easily accessible from Samseong Station on the Seoul Metropolitan Subway network and is integrated with surrounding business districts and hotels.
COEX’s appeal lies in its ability to combine high-end business facilities with mass-market retail and public amenities. The mall—known as COEX Mall—is one of the region’s largest underground shopping complexes, drawing shoppers with a wide range of international brands and local retail offerings. Within the same complex, the Starfield Library stands as a notable civic space, offering a dramatic, open reading environment that remains a popular destination for both serious readers and casual visitors. Together, the convention center, mall, and library create a diversified destination that serves both corporate clients and everyday urban life.
History and development
The project emerged from a public-private effort to establish a world-class hub for trade and exhibitions in the late 20th century, with involvement from the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), government agencies, and private partners. The goal was to position Korea as a major player in regional and global commerce, while also providing a domestic venue capable of hosting large-scale events. KWTC history and related corporate partnerships underpinned the site’s development.
The complex began to take shape in the 1980s and opened as a multi-use campus that would host conventions, exhibitions, and accompanying commercial activity. As the years progressed, the site expanded its capacity and offerings, reinforcing its role as a central node in East Asia’s trade networks.
The retail phase, highlighted by the opening of COEX Mall in the early 2000s, transformed the site into a year-round destination, not only for business travelers but also for local residents seeking shopping, dining, and entertainment experiences. The addition of the Starfield Library in 2017 further broadened the complex’s public-facing appeal.
Over time, COEX has continued to host major international trade shows and conferences, such as World IT Show and a wide array of sector-specific exhibitions, while also serving as a venue for concerts, performances, and media events. These events help draw visitors from Korea and from abroad, supporting the broader goals of tourism and global business connectivity.
Facilities and architecture
COEX Convention & Exhibition Center forms the core of the site’s business function, offering extensive hall space, meeting facilities, and services tailored to large-scale trade shows, conferences, and corporate gatherings. The center is designed to accommodate a mix of exhibitor and attendee needs, ranging from specialized industry events to broad, multipurpose gatherings.
COEX Mall provides a substantial underground retail ecosystem with hundreds of shops, eateries, and entertainment options, making the complex a daily destination for shoppers, families, and workers in the surrounding corporate districts.
Starfield Library, a signature feature within the mall, draws attention for its dramatic, open-plan space and towering bookshelves, balancing commerce with culture and offering a public amenity that complements business activity with educational and cultural access.
The complex is connected to Samseong Station and integrates with the city’s transportation network, including bus routes and other transit connections, enabling easy access for both domestic visitors and international travelers. The site’s urban footprint has influenced nearby development and pedestrian movement, contributing to the transformation of the Gangnam corridor into a global business and lifestyle hub.
Economic and cultural impact
COEX has solidified Korea’s position as a regional leader in international trade and convention-driven tourism. By hosting large-scale events such as World IT Show and related exhibitions, the site contributes to knowledge transfer, supplier networking, and investment discussions that ripple through nearby industries and suppliers across Seoul and beyond.
The presence of COEX supports a wide range of adjacent services, including hotels, transportation, and local restaurants, amplifying the economic benefits of convention activities. The complex helps attract international attendees who bolster Korean economy through spending on lodging, food, and ancillary services.
As a cultural venue, COEX helps broaden exposure to global markets and ideas while also featuring local content through exhibitions, book fairs, and concerts. This dual role—promoting trade on one hand and cultural exchange on the other—works to integrate Seoul into global cultural and economic networks.
Critics of large, centralized complexes often point to impacts on local small businesses and traffic patterns. Proponents argue that the scale and efficiency of COEX create a multiplier effect: job creation, enhanced city branding, and a more competitive business environment that attracts multinational firms and startups alike. Supporters emphasize that a thriving convention economy helps diversify the city’s economic base and reduces dependence on any single industry.
Controversies and debates
Public policy and economics: The development of COEX sits at the intersection of public policy and private enterprise. Advocates contend that such mega-projects are essential for a modern economy, arguing that the benefits in terms of jobs, exports, and international legitimacy outweigh the costs. Critics, however, question whether taxpayers and municipal budgets bear undue risk or whether government incentives distort market competition in favor of large developers. The appropriate balance between public subsidy and private initiative remains a live policy question in Seoul and across South Korea.
Urban development and competition with local markets: Proponents of urban-scale hubs stress that large convention centers and malls attract global and domestic demand, creating spillover benefits for nearby neighborhoods. Critics claim that the scale of COEX can outcompete small, independent businesses in traditional commercial districts and alter the character of the surrounding area. Proponents respond that the market and consumer demand determine success, while city planning should aim to maximize overall growth and mobility.
Globalization and national identity: COEX’s role in promoting international trade and hosting globally oriented events is a visible symbol of Korea’s openness to the world. Critics sometimes frame this as eroding traditional cultural or economic sovereignty, while supporters argue that international engagement strengthens national competitiveness, introduces best practices, and expands opportunities for domestic firms to access global markets. The discussion often centers on how to maintain cultural vitality and domestic resilience in a rapidly integrated economy.
Cultural content and “diversity” in programming: A common debate around large venues concerns the balance between market-driven events and social or political messaging. A market-focused perspective emphasizes that events should respond to real demand and economic viability rather than political agitation. Critics may argue for more explicit inclusion and representation in programming. From a practical, market-oriented view, COEX’s primary mandate is to facilitate trade, provide a space for learning, and host diverse events that appeal to a broad audience, while respecting conventions around freedom of inquiry, safety, and legal rights. In this frame, what some call “woke" criticisms are often seen as distractions from the center of economic activity and performance.
Woke criticisms and practical perspectives: Critics sometimes argue that a high-profile venue like COEX must adopt or endorse particular social or political positions. A practical counterpoint is that COEX’s core function is to support commerce and knowledge exchange—events, exhibitions, and services that connect buyers with sellers and ideas with practitioners. While inclusive programming can be valuable, proponents of a market-first approach maintain that success should be measured by visitor numbers, business deals, and post-event economic impact rather than by ideological alignment. The emphasis on market demand and efficiency, they argue, yields real-world results: more jobs, more investment, and greater global visibility, without sacrificing core standards of safety, neutrality, and legal compliance.