Myeongdong is one of the most popular shopping districts in Seoul, especially for K-beauty fanatics. Apart from beauty brands, there are also tons of fashion boutiques, restaurants, cafes and street food that you should definitely visit and try. In this post, I will be sharing some tips on maximizing your time while in Myeongdong! smile
How to get to Myeongdong
- Myeongdong Station: Line 4 (Blue Line), Exit 5/6/7/8
- Euljiro 1(il-ga) Station: Line 2 (Green Line), Exit 5/6
Click ➨ Seoul Subway Map
Beauty brands you will find here
Etude House, The Face Shop, Laneige, Innisfree, Mamonde, Belif, Holika Holika, Tony Moly, Clio, MISSHA, Nature Republic, Beyond, VDL, The SAEM, Banila Co., ONL and more.
Beauty stores you will find here
Olive Young, Aritaum (Amore Pacific brands like Laneige, IOPE, Sulwahsoo), Lotte Department Store, Lotte Young Plaza and more.
Looking at the huge list of beauty brands, you will definitely go crazy here. We visited Myeongdong at least twice during our trip and it wasn’t enough to be honest! tongue
Bring a huge shopping bag
There are simply too many things to buy and it will be very convenient if you could bring a bag to dump all your shopping stuff inside. Usually I would bring large recyclable bags cos it’s very easy to fold and pack into the luggage.
You can get tax-free claims
If you spend at least 30,000 won, inform the cashier that you want to have tax-free privileges and they will issue you a receipt together with the form to fill in. Sometimes, they will try to encourage you to get their free gift instead. I’m not sure why but I usually don’t cos I would prefer getting a rebate.
However, claiming your taxes at the airport is quite a hassle. We met with a rude counter staff who refused to help us when we asked questions and she simply brushed us off to the self-help machine instead. I heard that they used to check your bags to verify your loots but no idea why they don’t do that now, not that I’ve encountered though.
Almost every store has a Chinese speaking staff
It’s a blessing for people who speaks Chinese, like myself. Sorry for those who don’t. It’s probably due to the large number of Chinese tourists in the city. For those who don’t speak Chinese, it is ok as we have a common language called “gesture language”. tongue
They will lure you in with free gifts
Annoying but effective. Some will try and shove it into your face. And if you left the store empty-handed, they will take it back lol! Happened to us, true story. angry
Look out for good deals
Cosmetics in Korea is generally about 30% to 40% cheaper than in Singapore. Do look out for bundle deals, 1-for-1 or items which are going at 50% discount.
Take your time to shop
Chances are you will find a similar store selling the same items at every corner. So do not rush into buying things and take your time to shop and decide.
Skip the Lotte Department Store
Don’t bother going. We nearly couldn’t get out of the place cos it was soooo crowded with tourists, shouting, pushing and shoving everywhere and we got out after 10 minutes. The staff there were not helpful either as they generalized everyone as the same kind of shoppers. It was crazy. Thank god we managed to escape alive. angry
Try the street food
The street hawkers will set up their stalls around 5pm in the evening. You will find things like crepes, fried squid, fruit juices, grilled cheese, egg bread and many more! I loveeee the egg bread! heart It was soooo good that I regretted buying more. sad
To sum up, Myeongdong is a must-visit if you are ever in Seoul. Don’t forget about the above tips and have a fruitful one if you ever visit this bustling little street! smile
Check out my other posts on Korea:
heart Seoul: Korea Travel Tips, Please!
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heart Seoul: The Jimjilbang Experience
heart Seoul: Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong Korean BBQ
heart Seoul: Exploring Gyeongbokgung with Oneday Hanbok
heart Seoul: Guide to Shopping in Myeongdong
heart Seoul: 3 Reasons Why You Should Visit Ewha Womens University
heart Seoul: IQ84 Churros
heart Seoul: 4 Things to do at Gyeongbokgung
Nadia’s posts on Korea:
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