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20 Mar 2023 - 6 min read

A Shopper's Guide to Seoul: Areas to Buy Cheap to Luxury Items

Shopping in Seoul - Seoul is a fun and complete shopping place. This place presents many goods, including fashion items, accessories, and more. The types of goods sold also vary, and can be adjusted according to the traveler's budget. In this article, we will share recommendations for where to shop according to the price, from cheap items, mid-range items, and luxury items.

Best Places to Shop for Cheap Items in Seoul

1. Myeong-dong Shopping Street

One of the popular shopping districts in South Korea is Myeong-dong. Many tourists flock to this area because Myeong-dong is famous for its popular cosmetic and skincare products at low prices. More than 1,000 popular Korean brands in Myeong-dong, like Innisfree, Etude House, and Nature Republic.

Apart from beauty and skincare products, in Myeong-dong you can also find many fashion accessories, clothing, and street food shops. Being in this area, you must try hotteok, tteokbokki, and other Korean food. Myeong-dong is also home to various calligraphy, traditional handicrafts, and folk art. This place is a paradise for tourists who like shopping in Seoul.

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2. Namdaemun Market

Namdaemun Market - Shopping in Seoul

Namdaemun Market is the largest traditional market in South Korea that sells goods and food at a cheap price. Namdaemun Market is the best shopping place for limited budget tourists. In this place, you can find sellers of clothes, tools, accessories, gifts, and food. Even though it's a traditional market, the place is quite Instagrammable, you can take pictures at several spots at Namdaemun Market.

A few tips if you want to shop at this place, it's best to bring cash because most sellers don't accept credit cards. Make sure you are not separated from your group, because this market is very crowded. At the end of shopping, you can visit the stalls at Namdaemun Market and taste delicious Korean food. Some of the recommended foods are sannakji, mandu, and eomuk.

3. Dongdaemun Market

There are many choices of goods that you can find at Dongdaemun Market, starting from traditional Korean handicrafts branded fashion. You can also find unique souvenirs, accessories, and the latest trendy clothes.

Dongdaemun is very wide, so you have to plan to find the shop you want before coming to this place. Dongdaemun Market is one of the largest markets in Seoul with 26 shopping centers, 30,000 shops, and 50,000 manufacturers.

Apart from selling fashion items, in this area many street foods sell delicious snacks, like tteokbokki, pancakes, kimchi, and many more. Also, if you are Kpop fans, you can easily find shops that sell Kpop merchandise.

Price range: KRW 5,000 to KRW 50,000 / SGD 6 to SGD 60

Best Places to Shop for Mid-Range Items in Seoul

1. Gangnam Underground Shopping Center

Gangnam Underground Shopping Center is conveniently located in the Gangnam area and connected to a subway station. Gangnam Underground Shopping Centre has more than 210 fashion and accessory shops.

The shops in this shopping center sell various types of goods, such as clothing, shoes, women's fashion, bags, and beauty products from Korean brands, such as MixxMix, Chuu, and Stylenanda. A few tips if you shop at the Gangnam Underground Shopping Center, it's best to bring cash because you might get cheaper prices with cash compared to a credit card.

2. COEX Mall

COEX Mall is a shopping center in Seoul that you must visit when on vacation in this country. The location of COEX Mall is in the center of Gangnam. Visiting this mall, you will get a luxury shopping experience. You can find Korean designer clothing and accessories from brands like Big Park, KwakHyunJoo, and Kimseoryong.

Apart from Korean brands, you can also find other brands, from Uniqlo, H&M, Zara, SLP Jeans, to branded brands, like Gucci and Louis Vuitton.

The range of outlets at COEX is extensive, you can get aquarium entertainment with 40 species of marine life and an indoor ice rink in this mall. There is also a cinema with an IMAX theater, then you can find various restaurants with delicious cuisine.

3. Garosu-gil

For those of you who like Korean fashion, Garosu-gil is the right place to shop. You can find lots of fashion boutiques, independent designers, and Korean designer brands, like Oushbutton, O!Oi, and 87MM. You can also find branded clothes, like Chanel and Gucci or streetwear brands like Vetements and Y/Project.

Garosu-gil is located south of Apgujeong Shopping Street which is a must visit for shopaholics and fashionistas. In this place there is also an art gallery featuring modern works by local artists. You can also sample popular Korean snacks, like bindaetteok and Gyeranppang or buy traditional South Korean souvenirs.

Price range: KRW 50,000 to KRW 300,000 / SGD 60 to SGD 360

Best Places to Shop for Luxury Items in Seoul

1. Cheongdam-dong Luxury Fashion Street

Visiting Cheongdamdong Luxury Shopping Street, you will immediately be greeted with luxury branded shops. The shops in Cheongdamdong start from the Galleria Department Store at Rodeo Station to Cheongdam-dong Junction along the main road, Apgujeong-ro.

Celebrities often visit this place to tourists who like fashion. Some luxury brand fashion stores you can find on Cheongdamdong Luxury Shopping Street are Saint Laurent, Burberry, Prada, Dior, MIU MIU, Salvatore Ferragamo, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Dolce Gabbana, and many more. Also, you will find high end Korean designer brands, like Wooyoungmi and Blindness.

2. Apgujeong Rodeo Street

Apgujeong - Shopping in Seoul

Apgujeong is located in Seoul, which is a luxury shopping district known for its designer stores, high-end boutiques, and branded fashions. You can get a pleasant shopping experience because you can find fashion to luxury jewelry easily.

Some fashion brands in Apgujeong are Louis Vuitton, Saint Laurent, and Balenciaga. For the Korean designer brands that you can find in Apgujeong are Munsoo Kwon and Kye.

Apgujeong Rodeo Street often holds a number of interesting events, such as music festivals, art exhibitions, fashion shows and several other events.

3. Galleria Department Store

Galleria Department Store is a luxury shopping center in Korea that has been around since the 70s. This place is the main shopping destination for premium goods in South Korea. This department store owned by Hanwha Group has many branches throughout Korea, namely Luxury Hall West, Luxury Hall East, Apgujeong, and others.

You can find many high-end brands in this place, like Dior, Givenchy, and Fendy. Also, you can easily find luxury Korean designer brands, like The Centaur and Beyond Closet. For those of you who have more budget during holidays in South Korea, the Galleria Department Store is a must-visit.

Price range: KRW 300,000 and above / SGD 360 and above

Tips for Shopping in Seoul

There are several shopping tips in Seoul, South Korea, that you must know. Here is the list:

Cultural tips and etiquette

South Korea has slightly different cultural differences than other countries. So, when visiting Korean shopping centers, you should have insight into Korean etiquette so you don't show impolite behavior. This can also give a good impression for you when dealing directly with local people.

Bargaining and negotiating prices

Several shopping places in Korea can be bargained for, such as in markets, boutiques with local goods, and others. So, don't hesitate to haggle when shopping for the cheapest price. Generally, items that can be bargained for are cheap. You can't negotiate on items in malls or luxury brands. To make it easier for you to bargain and negotiate, it's best to learn a few sentences when shopping in Korean.

Tax refunds for tourists

In Korea there is a tax refund for tourists. This is a system where foreign tourists can receive a refund of domestic tax from purchased goods at tax free stores. You're eligible for a tax refund on goods worth over 30,000 KRW (31.14 SGD) but under 5 million KRW (5,190.7 SGD).

Some shopping places in South Korea have been grouped by type of goods and prices. You can visit Myeong-dong Shopping Street, Namdaemun Market, Dongdaemun Market, COEX Mall, Gangnam Underground Shopping Center, Garosu-gil, Cheongdam-dong Luxury Fashion Street, Apgujeong Rodeo Street, and Galleria Department Store.

Book your flight to Seoul

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What to buy in Korea? You can buy many things in South Korean shopping centers, such as fashion items, accessories, Kpop Stuff, street food, and many more. Every shopping place in South Korea has the best recommendations for visitors to buy. So, if you want to go there and experience shopping in Seoul in the near future, just remember that you can book hotels, and Flight ticket from Singapore to Seoul on Traveloka!

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