The purpose of this study was to analyze the characteristics of planning elements to activate commercial multi-complexes. With the economic and cultural effects, development of commercial multi-complexes has been come with as an effective alternative to solve the side effect of urbanization. Therefore, activating commercial multi-complexes can be one of the ways contributing to invigorate contemporary city. The cases of this study were 6 examples completed after 2000 in Korea.: Coex mall (Completed in 2000), Central City (completed in 2000), La-Festa (completed in 2003), Western Dome (completed in 2007), Time Square (completed in 2009), One mount sports mall(expected to be completed in 2013). The analysis was processed in 3 planning aspects: functional organization, circulation system, central open space plan. The results of this study were as follows: Firstly, the role of public spaces was expanded to interrelate exclusive and public spaces. Secondly, integration of public spaces was pursued among mall spaces, inner key spaces and outer spaces. Finally, types of communication between inner and outer spaces were variously introduced. However, to activate commercial multi-complexes continuously, aspects of management as well as location requirements should be considered in recent examples. This aspect of the study is expected to be a following study.