Busy Industry on First Halloween After Social Distancing Lifted
Department Stores and Outlets Decorate with Halloween Themes, Creating Festival Atmosphere
Hotels Offer Halloween-Themed Rooms, Food & Beverage Packages, and Indoor/Outdoor Events
Large character sculptures and Halloween-themed lighting have been installed at Siheung Premium Outlets Central Garden (Photo by Shinsegae Simon).
[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] As the first Halloween Day since the full lifting of social distancing approaches, the distribution industry has become busy. Department stores and outlets are decorated with Halloween themes to create a festive atmosphere and attract shoppers. Hotels are also preparing indoor and outdoor events as well as Halloween-themed room and F&B packages to create a lighthearted atmosphere for families to enjoy.
According to the distribution industry on the 16th, Lotte Department Store is transforming its store into a huge Halloween party sanctuary under the theme of 'Super Halloween' until November 2. They are producing visuals with famous British pop artist John Bergman and the Super Halloween theme, decorating not only the department store’s exterior walls but also the food court, entrances, and display zones so that visitors can feel the Halloween party atmosphere throughout the store.
At Jamsil Lotte World Mall, a pop-up store will operate from the 18th to the 31st, along with various parades and performance events. The Halloween pop-up store will feature Winnie Beanie and Lush, offering Halloween-themed limited products such as Halloween jelly and chocolates, pumpkin baskets, and bath bombs. Sales staff at the pop-up store will wear Halloween costumes and masks to heighten the Halloween mood. An event zone where customers can participate directly will be set up, including a balloon playground, photo box, Halloween face painting & tattoo experiences.
A Halloween flash mob featuring actors in Halloween costumes performing realistic acts is also prepared. Various performances by actors disguised as Dracula, witches, and others are planned. On the 22nd-23rd and 29th-30th of this month, Halloween parades will be held twice daily, with costumed actors and dancers touring the World Mall area, performing parades and dance shows. After the performances, there will be photo time with customers.
Halloween events for children are also prepared. The kids’ zones in all department stores will be decorated with Halloween themes, and major stores will offer Halloween events for child customers. Jamsil, Bundang, Dongtan, and Incheon stores will hold Halloween flea markets selling Halloween costumes, supplies, and balloons. Experiential events will also be available by store. Jamsil store offers face painting and balloon giveaways for child customers; Bundang and Dongtan stores provide a Halloween-themed “Mugunghwa Flower Has Bloomed” game experience from the Squid Game; Dongtan store will also hold a fashion show where children participate in Halloween costumes. During the event period, customers who purchase over 200,000 KRW at kids’ zones in all department stores will receive a discount coupon worth about 10% of the purchase amount.
Shinsegae Simon is running the 'Halloween Character Universe' until the 30th of this month. At Shinsegae Simon’s Yeoju, Paju, Busan, and Siheung Premium Outlets, visitors can experience various Halloween contents with popular characters. Yeoju Premium Outlet is decorated with a pumpkin farm motif embroidered with the authentic American Halloween object 'Jack-o'-lantern (pumpkin lantern)'. A 6-meter large ghost DUCKOO sculpture is installed at the EAST plaza of Yeoju Premium Outlet.
Paju Premium Outlet has recreated the Otherworld and characters from the LG Household & Health Care cosmetic brand Belif and the online Zepeto space as offline experiential content. Large sculptures of Belif characters such as Billy and Duncan are installed in the central plaza. At Siheung Premium Outlet, visitors can meet large sculptures of characters selected in the National Character Representative Selection (Korean National Character Representative Selection) jointly held by Shinsegae Simon and Jelly Crew, which ranked in the top 10. Busan Premium Outlet offers various concept photo zones inspired by popular character DUCKOO and Halloween ghosts, jack-o'-lanterns, pirate ships appearing in animations.
Hotels have also launched various Halloween-themed packages and events. The Grand Intercontinental Seoul Parnas and Intercontinental Seoul COEX plan to elevate the Halloween mood throughout the hotels. The Grand Deli will sell Halloween desserts and drinks for a limited time, and the lobby lounge will offer a Halloween special Wonder Hour. The Grand Intercontinental Seoul Parnas Club Lounge will be decorated with Halloween decorations inspired by the Mexican festival 'Day of the Dead,' and the Intercontinental Seoul COEX kids-only package will feature a Pinkfong Halloween photo zone and special gifts such as Baby Shark mask-making kits.
The Grand Deli will sell spooky yet cute Halloween desserts and drinks from the 17th to the 31st. They have prepared Halloween cakes decorated with chocolate bat ornaments, Halloween pumpkin tarts topped with almond cream and crumble, mummy cakes, skull tarts, and more. Orders can also be made via Naver advance reservation, allowing customers to purchase desserts on their desired dates to prepare for parties.
At the Intercontinental Seoul COEX 1st floor lobby lounge & bar, a special Wonder Hour party called 'Lunatic Halloween' will be held on the 28th and 29th. Inspired by 'Hotel Del Luna,' where only ghosts can enter, a large moon will be displayed on the central ceiling of the lobby lounge, and eerie and unique Halloween decorations will be placed throughout the lounge. Upgraded from the usual Wonder Hour, unlimited wine, beer, snacks, and Halloween live menus prepared by chefs will be available. Halloween special cocktails can also be enjoyed. In the entertainment zone, costumes can be rented for photo shoots, and various programs such as caricature drawing, tarot reading, and face painting will be offered to enjoy the Halloween party mood.
Sofitel Ambassador Seoul will hold a vampire-themed Halloween party called 'Halloween Plaisir32 Party' on the 31st at the 32nd-floor rooftop bar, Latitude32. In collaboration with whiskey brand Jack Daniel’s, the party is prepared with a time travel concept where guests board the Latitude32 spaceship, enter a black hole, and land in a mid-19th-century castle inhabited by vampires. Face painting to hide one’s identity as a vampire, photo booth shooting, and SNS certification shots are all missions to complete for participation in a lucky draw event and a complimentary Halloween cocktail (one per person). The Halloween cocktail 'Blood Fashioned' is an original cocktail developed by the hotel mixologist inspired by this party theme. It is based on Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey and symbolizes vampire fangs and blood. A live DJ performance will also be presented.
Paradise City is running the 'Hello~Ween Promotion' until the 13th of next month. They have prepared room packages in collaboration with CJ ENM Tooniverse’s popular animation 'Shinbi Apartment,' indoor theme park 'Wonderbox' products, and special Halloween desserts. The 'Trick or Treat with Shinbi Apartment' package includes one night’s stay and a special gift of the 'Shinbi Apartment XR Goblin House.' This toy combines the Shinbi Apartment world recreated with blocks and XR technology, consisting of the Goblin House, Geumbi and Shinbi figures, and decorative stickers. On the checkout day, a family brunch set usable at the Paradise lounge on the hotel’s first floor is also provided.
Paradise City’s various facilities benefits that both parents and children can enjoy are also included. These include access to indoor and outdoor year-round heated pools, Play Lab, Kids Zone, Wonderbox for two adults and two children, fitness for two adults, free admission to Paradise Art Space, and a 20% discount at 'The Spa at Paradise.' At Wonderbox, visitors can also enjoy Halloween with Shinbi Apartment characters. The Halloween Shinbi Box product includes a 3-person all-day attraction pass and Shinbi Apartment character goods. 'Shinbi Apartment Goblin Light Candy' and hood blankets featuring Shinbi and Geumbi are provided. From the 20th to the 30th, pumpkin-shaped whole cakes will also be sold at the hotel’s first-floor Garden Cafe.
Rolling Hills Hotel in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, operated by Haevichi Hotel & Resort, has launched the 'Halloween in Rolling' package available from the 21st to the 31st for the Halloween season. It includes a gift of one 'Halloween Night Parade Set' from the premium collectible toy brand Sylvanian Families. At The Lounge, guests can enjoy one Halloween-themed slice of cake and two persimmon drinks. The package also includes one night’s stay in a standard room, breakfast buffet for two adults and one child, and access to the indoor swimming pool overlooking the autumn-colored walking trail.
Halloween events are also prepared. Customers checking in with children on the 28th and 29th will receive a pumpkin candy basket and can take certification photos with staff dressed in Halloween costumes to receive Halloween candies. A magic show performance will be held from 5 p.m. on the 29th. From the 17th to the 31st, a 'Halloween Certification Photo Event' will be held. Guests who take photos capturing the Halloween atmosphere throughout the hotel and upload them on Instagram with the required hashtags will receive one Americano coffee. Among participants, accommodation and meal vouchers will be given through a draw.
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