In the process of renovating the Dongdaemun Cerestar building into the Hyundai City Outlets, rejuvenation of the run-down building was important. Cerestar as known as Geopyeong Freya was the top shopping mall in the Dongdaemun Market area in 1996, but gradually lost popularity after the 1998 financial crisis. A change in management was accompanied by a review of the commercial environment and a revitalization of the building at minimum cost. JUNGLIM ARCHITECTURE proposed minimal improvements to the exterior due to the limited budget and time. In order to accommodate the inflow of customers and utilize the underground floors, a sunken level which would play a central role in the area was planned at the front plaza. Because the shopping facilities and hotel are combined into one building, functional independence and separate circulation were considered, and spatial reconfiguration (such as an extension of the original core) was performed to meet current regulations. Since reopening in March 2016, the Hyundai City Outlets has risen to become an icon
in the commercial district of Dongdaemun.
