Lotte opens sprawling anime, gaming hub at Busan department store

Lotte Department Store is set to open a massive retail space in Busan, bringing together anime, gaming, character merchandise, and collectible figures under one roof. The Busan Main location will open Fandom Space on its basement first floor, covering an area of 1,785 square meters and featuring the slogan "Where Fandoms Come Alive."

This new zone will consolidate merchandise and experiences that have been scattered across specialty stores, creating a dedicated space for fans to shop, connect, and celebrate their interests. The choice to launch the first location in Busan instead of Seoul is a strategic move to cater to the growing appeal of the Seomyeon shopping district among younger consumers, particularly those in their 20s and 30s.

Retail data indicates that sales to customers in these age groups at the Busan branch have increased by around 15 percent from January to September compared to the same period last year. The location is also poised to benefit from Busan's expanding international tourism market, which has seen a surge in visitors, with the city welcoming 3.43 million foreign tourists so far.