Christmas Comes to Department Stores... Lotte Department Store Unveils “Garden of Light”

Christmas theme: “Lotte Town Dream Light Garden”
20,000 lights to be lit at main store in Sogong-dong, Seoul, on Oct. 30

Lotte Department Store will transform the area around its main store in Sogong-dong, Seoul, into a “Garden of Light.” It will illuminate 20,000 bulbs on the building’s exterior and showcase a 15-meter-tall tree and media art.

Lotte Department Store said on Oct. 30 that it will unveil this year’s Christmas theme, “Lotte Town Dream Light Garden,” starting at its main store. This year, the company will present an “immersive Christmas display” that organically connects spaces and emotions through light. The theme is a “secret garden in a dream,” inspired by European gardens. The display combines lighting and media art with topiary landscaping, in which trees are trimmed into various shapes.

A view of the "Lotte Town Dream Light Garden," illuminated by 20,000 lights at the main branch of Lotte Department Store in Sogong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul. Provided by Lotte Department Store.

At its main store, Lotte will transform the approximately 100-meter stretch connecting the main building and Avenuel from Euljiro 1(il)-ga Station into a “Street of Light.” It will install the 15-meter-tall “Heart Light Tree,” adorned with moving heart-shaped lights, and present “Dream Light Atelier” in the display windows, featuring moving models that bring scenes from fairy tales to life.

At the main entrance of the main building, the company will create “Lighting Journey,” a media art space spanning approximately 50 pyeong. Advanced media panels extending across the ceiling, entrance, walls and columns will showcase a large-scale “immersive media art” experience depicting a journey of light. In the “Charlotte Garden of Light,” Lotte plans to create a large photo spot featuring “Ttonttu,” a Christmas elf transformed into a gardener, and a magical fountain, making it a special Christmas destination filled with “the joy of walking, discovering and remembering.” The installation is also scheduled to connect with a large-scale media façade currently under construction at the end of the year.

The Christmas-themed "Lotte Town Dream Light Garden" at the Lotte Department Store Main Store in Sogong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul. Heart Light Tree and Hey Yeti. Photo courtesy of Lotte Department Store.

The company will also unveil “Hey Yeti,” a new Christmas character. Reimagined as a friendly figure inspired by the Himalayan yeti, the character will appear as a 4-meter-tall sculpture at the main store entrance. It will be used in Christmas decorations alongside Ttonttu, which was introduced in 2020.

Jamsil and Incheon stores will also roll out the “Lotte Town Dream Light Garden” theme in sequence. The Jamsil store will incorporate themed elements throughout its first-floor interior and open a large outdoor Christmas market in mid-November. The Incheon store will create a festive year-end atmosphere by installing large Christmas trees in its outdoor main plaza and sunken plaza.

The Christmas-themed “Lotte Town Dream Light Garden” at Lotte Department Store’s main branch in Sogong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul. Dream Light Atelier. Courtesy of Lotte Department Store.

Lotte will also launch “limited-edition Christmas collaboration gifts.” Four products, including items created in collaboration with dessert brands such as “Seoul Cookie,” “Grains” and “Maman Gateau,” as well as its own chocolate advent products, are scheduled to be available at major stores, including the main and Jamsil stores, and on the Lotte Department Store Mall.

Meanwhile, Lotte Department Store has established itself as a year-end destination for Korean and international visitors by presenting Christmas decorations every year. In 2024, it presented “Wonderful Showtime,” capturing the glamour of Broadway, and last year it showcased “Sweet Holiday,” with its warm atmosphere.

The Christmas-themed "Lotte Town Dream Light Garden" at Lotte Department Store's Main Store in Sogong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul. Charlotte Light Garden. Courtesy of Lotte Department Store.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.