The aquarium, restaurants and Starfield Library may dominate a first visit, but COEX began with trade exhibitions. The Korea Exhibition Center opened here on July 3, 1979, moving Seoul’s exhibition industry into a purpose-built venue in Samseong-dong.
It began as KOEX
The original English initials were KOEX. Construction started in 1977, and the venue hosted machinery, electronics and trade fairs after opening. Today’s COEX name and underground retail city came later.
The skyline changed again in 1988
The Korea World Trade Center expanded the site’s exhibition, office, hotel and trade functions. Walk from the public exhibition lobby toward Trade Tower to read COEX as a layered business complex rather than only a shopping mall.