Korea-Seoul-Shopping - Namdaemun Market

Namdaemun Market, located in the very center of Seoul, is the biggest traditional market in Korea selling children's clothing, men & women's clothing, daily miscellaneous goods, kitchenware and local and imported products.

Most shops have their own factories and make the products themselves offering both wholesale and retail prices which enable visitors to purchase various shopping items at extremely inexpensive prices.

Foreign visitors to Namdaemun Market show different tastes: the Japanese are more into foods like gim (seaweed), gimchi, and ginseng, while the Chinese show interest in clothing and miscellaneous goods. On the other hand, most tourists from the West simply enjoy the ambience of the traditional market. Hours vary by store, so it's advisable to plan in advance according to shopping list before going shopping.



Let's go to see the Namdaemun Market in detail.

Korea-Seoul-Shopping - COEX Mall

Located in Samseong-dong, Seoul, COEX Mall covers a total floor area of 119,000 ㎡, making it the largest underground shopping complex in Asia. It is about 14.5 times larger than Olympic Main Stadium. The interior houses about 260 establishments, most of which are shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions popular among young people in their 20s and 30s. One full day is hardly enough time to truly enjoy all the restaurants and entertainment spots the mall has to offer.

Hyundai Department Store and COEX SKM Duty Free Shop are also directly connected to COEX Mall. You can compare and shop for affordable non-branded goods as well as high-end luxury goods. Also nestled amidst the myriad shops are the COEX Aquarium, Megabox Cineplex, and the Kimchi Museum - a popular destination among international visitiors to enjoy some sightseeing between shopping sprees.



Let's go to see the COEX Mall in detail.

Korea-Seoul-Shopping - Itaewon

Itaewon is the most exotic place in Seoul representing fusion culture with a distinctive atmosphere. Many people say, "You may not know Seoul, but you should know Itaewon," showing how renowned a shopping district Itaewon is.

The Itaewon shopping area covers a 1.4 km long street, stretching from Itaewon 1-dong eastwords to Hannam 2-dong. The area has a vibrant ambience with shops, restaurants, bars and street vendors. Most signboards are written in English, and English speaking people are often seen on the street.



Let's go to see the Itaewon in detail.

Korea-Seoul-Shopping - Myeong-dong

Located in the heart of Seoul, Myeongdong is a representative shopping district in Korea. It also houses the headquarters of banks and securities brokers, and many Western and traditional restaurants. Compared to Namdaemun and Dongdaemun Market which sell products at low prices, most shops in Myeongdong deal with mid-level price items.

The main street in Myeongdong is lined with quality brand name shops, while mid-class brand name shops and no-name brand shops are located in the side alleys. Moreover, large shopping malls like Avatar or Migliore and department stores are present as well.

All kinds of shops and restaurants are densely located on the main street with lanes which resembles the shape of a chess board, so it's advisable to divide Myeongdong into a few sections in you mind and explore each section separately.



Let's go to see Myeong-dong in detail.

Korea-Seoul-Shopping - Insadong

Insadong and the surrounding area were the residences of Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) officials, extended royal families, and the yangban aristocratic class. The antique art shops that were established here during the Japanese Colonial Period carried everyday items of the privileged calss as these itmes became antiques in the face of modernity.

Since then, Insadong has been home to dozens of art galleries and antique shops. Insadong's narrow alleys branch out into all directions from one main street.

To explore the interesting places on these side alleys, it would be helpful to get a map of Insadong at one of three Tourism Information Centers that are located at the center and the two ends of the main stree.



Let's go to see Insadong in detail.