Lotte opens sprawling anime, gaming hub at Busan department store

Lotte Department Store plans to unveil a massive retail area in Busan, bringing together anime, gaming, character merchandise, and collectible figures under one roof. The Busan Main store's basement first floor will debut Fandom Space on Friday under the slogan "Where Fandoms Come Alive." Spanning 1,785 square meters, this new zone aims to consolidate disparate merchandise and experiences that were previously scattered across specialty stores, creating a dedicated space for fans to shop, interact, and celebrate their interests.

The decision to launch Fandom Space in Busan instead of Seoul is driven by the increasing popularity of the Seomyeon shopping district among younger consumers, particularly those aged 20 to 30. According to the company, sales to this demographic at the Busan branch have increased by around 15 percent from January to September compared to the same period last year.

Additionally, the location benefits from Busan's growing international tourism market, as the city welcomed 3.43 million foreign visitors during the specified timeframe.