There are times when you leave home on a weekday morning to visit the Chiikawa Shop at Yongsan iPark Mall, only to find that the waiting number displayed upon arrival is completely different from what you expected. It is not uncommon to find yourself in a situation where you have to wait for several hours after lightly assuming that there would be few people since it is a weekday morning. In this article, we summarize the operating procedures of the Yongsan Chiikawa Shop, the actual waiting times on weekday mornings, and the stock status of popular merchandise confirmed at a specific time, providing guidance for you to refer to before your visit.
Where is the Yongsan Chiikawa Shop located and when is it open?
Chiikawa Shop I-Park Mall Yongsan Branch is located at Dopamine Station, 3rd Floor, Living Park, 55 Hangangdaero 23-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Business hours are from 10:30 AM to 10:00 PM every day.
Parking is available within the building, but please be aware in advance that payment is only accepted by card. You cannot use cash, so be sure to bring a card.
How do I register for the waiting list?
The Yongsan Chiikawa Shop operates on an on-site waiting list system rather than advance reservations. You receive a number at the front of the store and enter when it is your turn.
There is one important rule here. Only one person can be registered for the waiting list per contact, so if you have a companion, you must each register your number separately.
This means that you cannot register alone to handle the share of multiple people, so if you go with a group, you might be flustered if you miss this part.
How long will the waiting time be if I go on a weekday morning?
In the case of registering for a waiting list on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 10:06 AM on a weekday, the waiting number was 411 and the estimated waiting time was about 168 minutes.
However, the actual entry notification arrived at 1:57 PM. The time taken from registration to entry was approximately 3 hours and 51 minutes, which means it took more than an hour longer than the estimated time provided.
It is difficult to assume that waiting times will be short simply because it is a weekday morning. The estimated wait times provided by the store are for reference only, and it is safer to keep in mind that the actual wait time may be longer.
When will I receive the entry notification?
You receive a notification via KakaoTalk when your turn in the queue approaches. In this case, the notification arrived when there were about 20 teams ahead of us and about 10 minutes left until entry.
In other words, you don't have to rush to the store immediately just because you receive a notification; you generally have about 10 minutes of leeway. However, if you are spending time too far away from the store, there is a risk that you will arrive late even after receiving the notification.
What would be good to do while waiting?
Since waiting times can be long, it is advantageous to plan in advance how to spend time near the store. I-Park Mall features a movie theater and cafes, so you can spend time watching a movie or working at a cafe.
If you go alone, enduring three or four hours can feel boring. Going with a companion to window shop or go on a date is one way to spend the waiting time.
How is the stock of popular Yongchima merchandise? (As of 2:00 PM on October 13)
The inventory status below was confirmed as of 2:00 PM on October 13, 2026. Please note that inventory may change over time, so it is possible that it has changed as of October 21.
The items confirmed to be out of stock at that time are as follows:.
- Among the Secret of Mermaid Island merchandise, the Island Uncle monitor doll, Seasick Chiikawa, and some other items
- Hanbok Usagi Mascot
- Usagi among the hangover mascots
The items confirmed to be in possession at the same time are as follows:.
- From the Secret of Mermaid Island series, the Island Uncle Monitor Doll and Seasickness Chiikawa
- Hachiware and Chiikawa among the Hanbok mascots
- All 8 types of mascots
- It's so delicious, water…! All 3 mascots
- Feels refreshed! All 3 mascots
- All Garma Mascots and Dolls(S)
- Hachiware and Chiikawa among the hangover mascots
- Super spicy! All 3 mascots
- Among the aquarium mascots are many, including the whale shark Hachiware and the ocean sunfish Chiikawa.
- Various stationery items such as stickers, sticky notes, card holders, pouches, badges, etc.
For reference, the Hanbok mascots (Chiikawa, Hachiware) were restocked on September 21st, and purchases were limited to one per person.
Will the operating method change from October 22nd to the 25th?
It was announced that the Yongsan Chiikawa Shop will operate on a Naver reservation system from Thursday, October 22 to Sunday, October 25. During this period, entry may be handled differently from the usual on-site waiting list registration system.
If you are planning to visit during this period, it is advisable to check in advance that your entry order may be determined via Naver Reservation rather than receiving a numbered ticket on-site. For accurate details regarding the reservation method, please check the store announcements or the Naver Reservation page directly.
Summary of criteria to check before visiting
You cannot assume that the waiting time at the Yongsan Chiikawa Shop is short, even on weekday mornings, and it may actually take longer than the estimated time provided by the store.
If you are going with a companion, please remember the rule that only one person per contact can be registered, so each person must register for the waiting list separately.
Since popular merchandise goes out of stock and is restocked repeatedly depending on the time, it is necessary to check again at the store on the day of your visit rather than trusting the stock status on a specific date.
If you are considering visiting between October 22 and 25, checking the notice in advance that the system is switching to Naver Reservations is a way to avoid a wasted trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the wait be short if I go on a weekday morning?
That is not necessarily the case. In the case of a registration made at 10:06 AM on a weekday, October 13, the estimated wait time was 168 minutes, but it actually took about 3 hours and 51 minutes.
If I go with a companion, can only one person register for the waiting list?
No, that is not possible. Only one person can be registered per contact for the waiting list, so if you have a companion, you must register each person separately.
When do I receive the entry notification, and do I have to go immediately upon receiving it?
You will receive a KakaoTalk notification when there are about 20 teams remaining and about 10 minutes left until entry. It is recommended to wait nearby in advance, taking into account the time it will take to travel to the store after receiving the notification.
How many Hanbok mascots can I buy?
Purchases of the Hanbok mascots (Chiikawa, Hachiware) were limited to one per person. This item was restocked on September 21st.
Can I register for the waiting list directly on-site between October 22nd and 25th?
There was a notice stating that operations would be conducted via Naver Reservations during this period. As the usual on-site waiting list registration method may differ, it is advisable to check the reservation notice before visiting.