6 April 2026
All the big stores
Changwon department stores
My hotel has a cool feature. There are 3 lifts (elevators for most of the world). Above each lift in the hotel foyer there is a tv screen showing a very clear top down view of exactly what is going on in each lift. Exhibitionists would love this setup.
Earlier today I was waiting for a lift and it was taking too long, that is when I noticed the screens. I was then able to see that one lift was jammed open with a cleaning cart, and the others were stopping at every floor while 2 cleaners threw a bag full of towels out the door. The third lift was just not working at all.
If it is raining tomorrow instead of hiking I will go downstairs and watch the lifts.
It was in fact, according to various sources, supposed to rain from 5pm onwards, basically exactly the time I go out for a walk in search of my dinner. As of the time of writing (8pm), it is still not raining. I kind of wish it was so that it is gone in the morning in time for my hike.
Anyway, because I thought it was supposed to be raining, I spent the evening walking laps of the local area, taking photos of large stores, but only going inside one of them.
Store number one is the Lotte Mart Maxx, basically Korean Wal-Mart.
Store number two is e-mart, which I do believe was actually owned by Wal-Mart... I will check. OK the wikipedia article is highly confusing, I read it twice and still don't understand - "In May 2006, Walmart acquired Walmart Korea, converting 16 Walmart stores into Emart stores. Walmart Korea was accepted and changed to Shinsegae Mart, and in 2008, Walmart Korea was merged entirely with Emart".
Nearby is another retail area, a few streets like this with different coloured roads which signifies you may be about to get run over while crossing the street between shops.
Quite a big network of shopping streets, but very quiet.
I headed back to Lotte Mart Maxx and found that it connects under the road to the Lotte department store. Well obviously I had to go explore the underground.
The Lotte department store basement had a nice selection of casual restaurants, which meant it was time for Bibimbap #2 of this trip. Much better than the first. I think it was vegetarian too? I did not even notice. The soup was actually really good, lots of chilli.
These 2 buildings make up the Lotte department store, they are joined, the one on the left is a Lotte Young Plaza, which exists in a few cities. This generally means it has a Uniqlo and a Muji. That is where I buy my clothes EXCLUSIVELY, which must mean I am young?
I then realised about a km away there was a phantom other department store. So obviously I had to go there to complete the photos of large box like buildings. The map tells me it is called Daedong, I did not go inside, but I did see while walking past that it has a cheap looking food court, so maybe I will go there tomorrow!
My journey back to my hotel went past yet another retail area, but a more standard Korean style, with the commercial looking buildings that are now restaurants, karaoke bars, love hotels and vape studios. Actually zooming in I can see study centres and internet cafes too. So everything.
Tomorrow is a hiking day, but probably a fairly easy hike. It is the most well known hike in this area.