I know a trip to the mall hardly warrants an entire blog post. But one of the purposes of this blog is to make it a little easier for others living in South Korea to get out and explore. And Starfield Mall is a great starting point for people living near Camp Humphreys. It’s close enough that it doesn’t require much planning ahead and the drive is really easy. So today I’m sharing all the details about how to get there, where to park, and why visit.
Starfield Mall in Anseong
I love shopping malls. I always have. I’m not completely sure why, but I think it has something to do with the fact that my mom HATED them when I was growing up. So anytime I had the chance to go to one, it felt like a special treat. Of course, I understand why my mom disliked them so much. They tend to be overpriced, overcrowded, and overwhelming. But I can’t help but wonder if she would have loved the malls here. After all, where else can you find an Octonauts-themed Baskin Robbins?
Malls in Korea are a whole new level. They are clean, organized, often times allow dogs (Starfield Anseong does), have plenty of food and snack options (the food court at Starfield Anseong is NEXT-LEVEL), and are filled with the cuteness culture that we’ve come to love so much in Korea.
They also do so many fun seasonal decorations and activities – which so far have all been free for our kids to participate in. There was the Lego Fantasy Garden in the winter – where kids got to sit down by a conveyer-belt filled with Legos and build their own creations. In the spring there was an arts-and-crafts exhibit that was free to everyone (you just had to sign up on a waitlist, just like you had to for the Lego Fantasy Garden). And the last time we went, they were giving out cheap animal-shaped cotton candy.
The first time I visited Starfield Mall in Anseong, I was blown away by its size. It’s so much bigger than I would have thought it would be, and it was overwhelming. Heck, I always got lost at Boise Towne Square Mall when we would go – and that’s not a horribly large mall. Even so, it only took a time or two of visiting Starfield Mall to really get the lay of the land – and now I can usually get in and out and back to my car with little to no confusion.
My advice for the first time you go: plan to get lost. Make a note of where you parked (the floor and the aisle) and pay attention to what store you entered the mall by. I usually take a picture on my phone so I don’t have to spend the entire time trying to remember the details. Once you’ve got those things where you can easily remember them, the rest is simple.
Every time we go now, I still laugh about the fact that there is a literal CAR DEALERSHIP and a SPA AND WATER PARK inside of the mall. Like… what!? In addition to these there is also a movie theater, a kid’s fun zone (called “Champion” – which comes highly recommended by others, but is quite pricey), a DaiSo (IYKYK), an outdoor playground, nursing rooms, bathrooms aplenty – including family restrooms – and so much more.
Starfield Mall Anseong is the perfect place to visit if you need to get out of the house, are okay with a LITTLE stress of trying to make it back to your car, and want to experience some things that are truly Korean. Of course, there’s also the comfort of seeing some stores that you recognize (I’m looking at you H&M) and you may even find some killer deals while you’re there.
Stop by No Brand Burger (whose slogan is literally “Why pay more? It’s good enough!”) and enjoy a cheap, surprisingly tasty chicken burger and mediocre (but cheap) fries. And don’t forget to pay a visit to the AI cotton candy machine right outside of No Brand Burger for some flower-shaped cotton candy!
’til next time…
Ash
How to visit Starfield Mall in Anseong
Directions & Parking: Something we LOVE about Starfield Anseong is the parking situation. With a 3-story-tall parking garage, as well as an outdoor overflow parking lot (and other parking lots that we haven’t ever needed to explore), it’s so easy to find a place to park. Paste 경기 안성시 공도읍 서동대로 3930-39 into Naver or use this link to get to the parking garage. Keep in mind that on Saturdays and Sundays the parking garage WILL fill up, so you’ll likely be redirected (by some friendly Anseong Employees) to the overflow lot. From the overflow lot it’s just a short walk to the mall – follow the crowds because there will be plenty.
Cost: Parking and entrance to the mall are both FREE.
Accessibility: The entire mall is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers. There are plenty of elevators to take in place of escalators (which you cannot bring wheelchairs or strollers on). Keep in mind that some of the stores may be difficult to access with large strollers or wheelchairs.
Amenities: Bathrooms are easy to locate and are huge, clean, and well-maintained. Nursing rooms are also easy to locate (and are usually located by the bathrooms and family bathrooms). Food is easy to find in the food court.
Know before you go: Bring your own reusable grocery bags! If you forget and find yourself needing one, stop in at DaiSo and pick up a few (you can find them for ₩500-₩1,000 each). I always forget to bring some and end up purchasing more. Anyone want to guess how many I currently have in my car?
