Travel
Outdoor gear sales soar as spring heats up in Busan, Korea as department stores launch big discounts
Haps Magazine Korea
March 31, 2025
(Photo by Lotte Department Store Main Branch. Courtesy of Haps Magazine Korea)
Busan’s major department stores are seeing a notable surge in demand for outdoor gear, including running, golf, and mountaineering equipment.
Retailers are responding quickly, rolling out large-scale seasonal sales and promotions to capitalize on the rising interest in outdoor activities.
To meet the growing demand, Lotte is holding its first regular “Spring Sale” of the year until April 13.
Around 480 brands are participating, offering up to 50% off across fashion, lifestyle, sports, and outdoor categories. Summer items like short-sleeved shirts have also started to dominate store shelves, now making up nearly half of seasonal fashion sales.
A highlight of the sale is the “Runners Week” promotion from April 4 to 13. Top athletic brands including Nike, Adidas, and Mizuno will offer discounts of up to 30%. Sales of running shoes and apparel at Lotte have surged by 45% since last year, confirming a long-term uptick in outdoor fitness interest.
Lotte’s Gwangbok Branch is running a parallel spring product event, featuring major outdoor brands like The North Face, K2, and Eider with discounts of up to 50%. The Dongnae Branch is also hosting a “K2 Group Special Event” through April 3.
Shinsegae is also holding a “Sports Shoe Special Week” through April 6. The mall’s recently opened sports shoe specialty store — the largest of its kind in the region — features exclusive selections of popular running and outdoor shoes.
Participating brands include New Balance’s flagship megashop, Puma, Salomon, Crocs, and Skechers.