Theirs is the most extravagant, the most attractive, and probably the most expensive Christmas display in Seoul I have ever seen.
Standing by the Korea Post headquarters near Myeongdong, just across the Bank of Korea, I was mesmerized, along with a few Chinese tourists that chilly night, by Shinsegae Department Store's elaborate display of lights, technology and extravagance!
Years before, their display mainly consisted of projected Christmas scenes on the walls of the building, complemented by the lights wrapping the fountain nearby forming like a single-layer, fondant wedding cake.
This time, the department store wrapped itself with thousands of lights that changed colors and drew on the walls and the cone-shaped tree ribbons, candy canes, balls, and snow flakes!
It also drew out a greeting in lights 'Happy Holiday'.
Yes, 'holiday' as in just one holiday. I wondered whether the department store, upon seeing that the calendar only showed December 25 as the Christmas holiday, decided to singularize the popular Christmas greeting 'Happy Holidays'.
I was momentarily confused whether, with all the millions they spent on the Christmas display, they couldn't afford an extra letter?
Oh well, I guess it's the thought that counts. Ha-ha-ha!
So be it a 'happy holiday' or 'happy holidays', I wish you all to enjoy your Christmas!
(This Christmas tree is the one standing
in front of Doota in Dongdaemun)
Last week, I took photographs of the Christmas light-show from the street across the Shinsegae Department Store near Myeong-dong. This week, it was time to take photographs of its rival department store's Christmas display.
I was passing through Myeong-dong the other night when I happened to be at the intersection across Lotte Department Store, which was ablaze with the best decorative lights, not only on the whole block, but probably on the whole northern side of Seoul.
Lotte Department Store's building seemed to have run out of space for more twinkling lights as worrying about the electric bill this Christmas was probably not in the store's to-do list. It's only worry, I guess, was how to increase its Christmas sales this season!
At the space on the store's corner, the trees wrapped in lights and the silhouette of a reindeer encouraged tourists and locals to pose with these Christmas attractions. I wonder how many thousands of lights there were there. These might have outnumbered the 20,000 LED lights currently on display at the Grass Hill area of the Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
After I crossed the street to get to my bus going home, I took more photographs from that side. The whole lane lined with luminous trees next to the department store even looked more impressive. This must be the only Christmas display in the whole city that boasts of the most number of lights on the trees, on the walls and everywhere else. The display even extended to the next Lotte Young Plaza building!
I will be returning to the Lotte Department Store in a couple of weeks to pick up some 'pasalubong' (presents) for home at its duty-free shop on the 10th floor. Even in this freezing evening temperatures, I intend to join the rest of the tourists and shoppers under those blinking lights again.
Now, before it snows heavily in Seoul, I need to visit more Christmas displays in the city. Otherwise, the next Christmas displays I'll see will be in the Philippines...
I initially didn't want to take the subway, but since I was sure the traffic going downtown was bad, I had no choice.
I was going to Lotte Department Store in Myeongdong last night to check out a few things I need to get before flying out for my Christmas vacation. Getting out of Exit 5 of Myeongdong Station and just walk towards Lotte from there seemed faster. No traffic, no standing in the bus, and no time wasted.
But as I made a right turn on that corner where the Korea Post Building stands, something caught my attention. The Shinsegae Department Store building was turning into a huge movie screen and was illuminated by a Christmas-themed light show.
I stopped for a while to take photographs. And as I looked for a good spot, I realized I wasn't the only audience. There were a few people along the sidewalk also mesmerized by the light show.
If pedestrians were busy enjoying the light show on the street, I guess those in the buses and in their cars passing by Shinsegae were, too. As I stood there, I noticed that the projections were beamed from a building on the opposite side of the street, and those beamed slideshow lights must have been very bright in order to fight off all the other bright lights around the area.
This intersection of the streets from Namdaemun Market side, the one heading to Myeong-dong, and the street heading to the Namsan side is a very busy one. And the Shinsegae people must have created the slideshow to attract more customers to enter their doors, and also to remind the passers-by, like me, to perhaps drop in for a while after this light show.
(Merry Christmas from Shinsegae!)
The spectacle lasted only for a few minutes, and it was on a regular cycle that pauses for less than six minutes. Although I think the show starts after sundown and stops when the department store closes for the night, those scenes projected on the building's walls and the illuminated fountain right next to it are a perfect reminder for everyone that Christmas is coming, and it's time to shop for presents!
(The numbers are counting down to the next slide show)
And speaking of Christmas, I might as well take photographs of other buildings or corners in Seoul brightly decorated to herald Christmas in the city in case I chance upon a few more before I fly out.
(When the fountain is decorated like this,
it reminds me of a fondant cake)
I didn't expect that there was a blog somewhere when I got out of Myeongdong Station's Exit 5. Not only was there a blog; there is also a blog series: Christmas lights in Seoul!
(3 minutes and 26 seconds till the next light show)
