When planning your shopping spree in Korea, you may first think of K-beauty products and K-fashion. However, there are many other shopping spots you can explore. From Myeongdong, where you can find affordable souvenirs, to the trendiest department stores, we have listed a variety of options for you. You can choose your preferred place and discover one-of-a-kind treasures.
Playground for tourists
Myeongdong
Shopping streets for tourists. Most of the stores have staffs who speak Chinese and Japanese. It's a great place to buy K-beauty products and clothes. Myeongdong streets have something for everyone, from affordable clothing stores to luxury brand department stores, as well as souvenir shops selling a variety of foods.
Reference: junggu.seoul.kr/tour/content.do?cmsid=14818&sf_category1=CWS1325&mode=view&page=&cid=98087638
For trendy K-fashion
Streets of Hongdae
Hongdae is a great place to shop for trendy fashion items, vintage clothing, and adorable accessories. Many stores have stalls set up in front of their stores, and there are also weekend flea markets, which adds to the fun of window shopping. If you're looking for cute accessories, we highly recommend checking out “Object Hongdae.” This three-story building is filled with adorable stationery items that are sure to catch your eye.
Reference: Patrick / unsplash.com
Reference: instagram.com/p/CfbP1jDveRR/
For designer clothing
Sinsa-dong Garosu-gil
Garosu-gil is a bustling street lined with high-quality and trendy designer clothing concept stores and brand shops, each with its own distinct style. The clothes sold in these stores are known for their high quality, which is why they are more expensive. Furthermore, there are many flagship stores of popular cosmetic brands such as Dr.Jart and 3CE, making window shopping an even more enjoyable experience.
Reference: Korea Tourism Organization
For traditional handmade crafts
Insa-dong
A great place to buy traditional Korean souvenirs to remember your trip to Korea. They sell jewelry boxes, chopsticks, hairpins, small folding screens, and brassware that are handcrafted and decorated with traditional patterns. All of these items encapsulate the essence of Korea. In Korea, a pair of mandarin duck carvings, which represent marital harmony, are commonly used as housewarming gifts.
Reference: Korea Tourism Organization
For clothes at the cheapest price
Gangnam Station Underground Shopping Center
There is no better place to shop in Korea for trendy clothes that will never go out of style. These stores sell not only clothing but also a wide range of fashionable accessories such as shoes and hats. Fashionistas will find the price range to be very reasonable. It is important to note that these stores prefer cash payments and that refunds are not always possible.
Reference: korean.visitseoul.net
Reference: korean.visitseoul.net
Diverse brands gathered in one place
Starfield COEX Mall
Starfield COEX Mall is a massive shopping complex with over 300 clothing, accessories, beauty, and lifestyle brands. The mall has a diverse selection of stores in each category, making it an ideal location for comparing all brands at once. Because this mall is so large, we recommend that you take your time exploring all of the shops and enjoying your shopping experience.
Reference: korean.visitkorea.or.kr
Reference: korean.visitkorea.or.kr/detail/ms_detail.do?cotid=1c9a8770-2bbd-4b23-8b87-00ba2388dba4&big_category=A04&mid_category=A0401&big_area=1
If you want to buy K-food
Lotte Mart Seoul Station
This superstore is ideal for stopping by at the start or end of your journey. It is close to Myeongdong and is mostly visited by tourists looking to buy K-food. It provides assistance with foreign languages, tax refunds, and international shipping services. Lotte Mart Seoul Station is recommended for those of you who want to buy K-food because it has many discounted events for tourists.
Reference: Triple
All the trendy items in one place
Hyundai Department The Hyundai Seoul
Everything that is popular or trending among the Korean MZ generation can be found at The Hyundai Seoul. The B1 and B2 floors are the highlights of the place. On the B1 floor, you'll find famous restaurants, while trendy fashion brands are mainly located on the B2 floor. In addition, The Hyundai Seoul features pop-up stores of the hottest brands that change every 2-4 weeks, attracting many visitors throughout the year.
Reference: thehyundaiblog.com/m/entry/thehyundaiseoul-spot
Hub of K-fashion
Dongdaemun Market
Dongdaemun Market is considered the birthplace of K-fashion. It is a one-stop shop for everything fashion-related, from fabrics to accessories. If you want to make your own accessories at a reasonable price, Dongdaemun Market is the place to go. For those interested in buying clothes, Migliore and Doota Mall are highly recommended. These stores are open until late at night, so you can shop even after dark and experience the thrill of night shopping.
Reference: Korea Tourism Organization
Everything you can think of is here
Namdaemun Market
It is Korea's largest comprehensive market, handling all types of daily necessities such as clothing, kitchenware, electronics, and textile products. The market truly embodies the adage "It has everything you need." Each store manufactures and sells its own products, ensuring high quality at low prices. We also recommend that you try the market food located between the various stores.
Reference: Korea Tourism Organization
List of Seoul's top shopping spots
- MyeongdongAttractionSeoul(Myengdong)
- Streets of HongdaeAttractionSeoul(Hongdae)
- Garosu-gil, Sinsa-dongAttractionSeoul(Gangnam)
- Insa-dongAttractionSeoul(Gwanghwamun)
- Gangnam Station Underground Shopping CenterAttractionSeoul(Gangnam)
- Starfield COEX MallAttractionSeoul(Gangnam)
- Lotte Mart Seoul StationAttractionSeoul(Myengdong)
- Hyundai Department Store The Hyundai SeoulAttractionSeoul
- Dongdaemun MarketAttractionSeoul(Dongdaemun)
- Namdaemun MarketAttractionSeoul(Myengdong)