Korean Dictionary
How to say "Department store" in Korean
“Department store” in Korean is 백화점 (pronounced "Baekwacheom").
백화점
Baekwacheom
Usage & Context
Premium multi-floor retail establishments. Major chains include 롯데백화점 (Lotte), 현대백화점 (Hyundai), 신세계 (Shinsegae), and 갤러리아 (Galleria). Known for luxury brands, excellent food halls in basements, and high service standards. Shopping here is an experience in itself in Korean consumer culture.
Example Sentence
신세계 백화점 지하에 맛있는 음식이 많아요.
There's lots of delicious food in the basement of Shinsegae department store.
How to use 백화점 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Department store” is 백화점, romanized as Baekwacheom.
Usage tip
Shopping Korean usually sounds more natural when you use short polite questions instead of translating English directly.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 백화점.
Pronunciation Guide
'Baek' rhymes with the English word 'back'. 'Hwa' sounds like 'hwa' in 'flower' but without the 'f' sound. 'Jeom' sounds like 'juhm' in 'gum' but with a 'j' sound.
More Example Sentences
Friends making weekend plans.
주말에 백화점 가서 쇼핑할까?
Shall we go to the department store and shop this weekend?
Recommending a place for gourmet food.
백화점 지하 식품관에 맛있는 게 정말 많아요.
There's really a lot of delicious food in the department store's basement food court.
Discussing where to find high-end products.
명품 브랜드는 주로 백화점에 입점해 있어요.
Luxury brands are mainly located in department stores.
Cultural Context
Korean department stores like Lotte, Hyundai, and Shinsegae are more than just shopping venues; they are social hubs and symbols of luxury. Their basement food halls (지하 식품관) are famous for high-quality groceries and trendy eateries. They offer impeccable service, often including complimentary gift wrapping and valet parking, making a visit a premium experience. Many also host cultural centers (문화센터) offering various classes.
Editorial note
We review entries like 백화점 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
백화점 세일
department store sale
백화점 상품권
department store gift certificate
백화점 문화센터
department store cultural center
Related Expressions
마트
mateu
supermarket, large grocery store
쇼핑몰
syopingmol
shopping mall (often larger complexes)
아울렛
aullet
outlet store/mall
시장
sijang
traditional market
More Shopping Words
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