Seoul has many great areas to shop! You can find trendy & fashionable, indie & vintage, wholesale markets or luxurious brands throughout the city. But where to start when there are so many choices? Read on to know which area and why fits you the most!
1. Myeongdong
Myeongdong is the center for shopping trendy and fashionable brands. Here you’ll find big brands such as H&M, Zara, Nike, UNIQLO, Forever 21 and many more. Also, all the most popular Korean brands are here as well. There’s also the famous Lotte Department store, which has several floors of duty free shopping. We can say shoppingin Myeongdong is one of the best shopping experiences Seoul can offer.
How to get to Myeongdong:
Myeongdong Station (Line 4, Exit 6)
Euljiro-1-Ga Station (Line 2, Exit 6)
2. Dongdaemun
As is Myeongdong the center of international brands, Dongdaemun is the center of domestic Korean brands. You’ve probably seen small retail shops found on the streets and those little shops on the subway stations, well they all buy their merchandise wholesale here! So if you go to Dogdaemun Market you can get it all at one place! There are large buildings such as Doota, Migliore and Hello APM where you can find from formal attire to casual, and from clothes to all kinds of accessories. The best way to experience Dongdaemun Market is at night. The street vendors will start opening shop around 9 pm, and you can shop till the sun rises (literally — shops close near dawn)!
How to get to Dongdaemun Market:
Dongdaemun Station (Line 1 & 4, Exit 8 or 9)
Dongdaemun History and Culture Park (Line 2, Exit 2 or 14)
3. Hongdae
Hongdae is a college student’s place with lots of young people and great shopping area to reasonably priced independent clothing stalls, discount and vintage shops, there are some big retail stores here too, but most of the shopping is for domestic Korean fashion. On weekends, from March to November at 13:00 to 18:00,flea markets are held on Hongdea Playground that is in front of the main gate of Hongik University. The flea markets are called “Free Market” on Saturdays and “Hope Market” on Sundays. They are fledgling craft markets of things made by students and street artists, with its artsy atmosphere.
And since it’s a college area, shopping in Hongdae is also quite cheap and most shops are open till quite late!
How to get to Hongdae:
Hongdae University Station (Line 2, Exit 9)
Hapjeong Station (Line 2, Exit 3)
Sangsu Station (Line 6, Exit 1 or 2)
4. Itaewon
Itaewon is another notable shopping area in the city lined with boutiques and stores especially targeted at the large foreign population in Seoul (you can find bigger sizes that fit foreigners better than the usual Korean smaller sizes). The area has some of the city’s most interesting tailors, leather and shoes stores, and antiques such as brassware and jewelry, Korean art and calligraphy. But Itaewon is especially famous for its custom tailored suits! You can also find an underground market with high quality fake bags!
How to get to Itaewon:
Itaewon Station (Line 6, any exit)
5. Apgujeong
Apgujeong is home to original luxury brands and boutiques of famous designers such as Louis Vuitton, Prada and Channel. It’s one of the wealthiest areas in Seoul and is a place where all the fashionistas and wealthy people go shopping. There’s also the Galleria Department Store in the center, which houses top line fashion brands.
How to get to Apgujeong:
Apgujeong Rodeo Station (Bundang Line, any exit)
6. Shopping malls
6.1 COEX
Containing COnvention centers, EXhibition halls and many malls, is an underground shopping mall located in Gangnam-gu area and it’s the world’s largest underground shopping mall! Besides shopping you can also visit the aquarium, movie theater and a casino (foreigners only!).
How to get to Coex:
Samseong Station (Line 2, between exit 5 & 6)
6.2 Times Square
It’s one of Seoul’s largest shopping malls featuring the world’s largest permanent 35 mm cinema screen! It also has plenty of outdoor seating, including a really nice rooftop garden to rest from all the shopping^^.
How to get to Times Square Mall:
Yeongdeungpo Station (Line 1, directly connected through Lotte Department Store)
And now you are ready to shop!
