Downtown Seoul

One thing most people remember about South Korea is shopping; Busan has the largest department store in the world while shopping districts are the hottest places to visit in downtown Seoul. For my birthday this year, I decided to go to the South Korean capital and of course, what's a trip to one of the most fashionable cities in the world without [window] shopping?

Myeongdong

How to get here: Take Line 4 in the subway to Myeongdong Station and proceed to Exit no. 6

 

Dubbed as the fashion epicenter of Seoul, Myeongdong is one of the most popular areas in the city. From cosmetic products to luxury brands, both local and international, it's all here.

   

I honestly couldn't remember how many branches of Etude House, Innisfree, Nature Republic, and other cosmetic brands are there in Myeongdong, but I'm pretty sure there's at least five of each which is good because you could always go to another branch in case one runs out of stock, hahaha!

 

Our dinner *insert tongue emoji here*

 

Banana Nutella crepe, yuck so basic

 

Egg breads yaaaaaaass!!

 

Baked clams with cheese(?)

 

 

Street food carts are also everywhere in Myeongdong, which I believe are the real attractions here. And even though I haven't tasted a lot, these are what I miss most about Seoul to be honest. This is easily my favorite store in Myeongdong. Located in the shadow of the huge ass Uniqlo store, this underground market called Design Space houses many local brands by Korean startup entrepreneurs.

   

If only I had money to burn I'd rather shop here than outside. The quality and the ~rarity of the products would cost you a pretty penny but goddamn they're far more superior to your average mass produced clothes in retail brands.

 

Itaewon

How to get here: Take Line 6 in the subway to Itaewon station and proceed to Exits 1 or 2.

 

Itaewon is the multicultural district of Seoul or what we Filipinos like to call "AFAM district", haha! We visited during the day though so almost all the stores are empty, but at night I imagine the streets are full of foreigners getting wasted. Must return soon loool. Photo studio/coffee shop, how cool is that~

   

There's also a Line Store here and I love this branch because there's lesser crowd unlike the one in Myeongdong.

 

Insadong

How to get here: Take Line 3 in the subway to Anguk (Exit 6) or Gyeongbokgung (Exit 4), it's walking distance from both.

 

Insadong is the neighborhood near the royal palace besides Bukchon Hanok. Our stay here was brief since we only stopped for lunch. The place is lovely though, there are many cultural products for sale perfect for pasalubong.

   

We found this tiny restaurant in an alley and I had the best grilled pork + bulgogi and chapchae here, so don't underestimate small establishments!

 

Hongdae

How to get here: Take Line 2 in the subway to Hongik University Station and proceed to Exit no. 9

 

Located in the university area of Seoul, Hongdae is full of college kids. Multiple bars and a few retail stores can also be found here like New Balance, Bershka, and some local brands like Beyond Closet, which apparently is owned by the costume designer of Boys Over Flowers. It's pretty much the same as the others I mentioned to be honest, but still worth a visit especially if you're a K-Pop fan since there are street performers and the YG Entertainment Headquarters is in the area. Though I've only mentioned four districts, there are many like these in Seoul metropolitan! We only had limited time in the city so we weren't able to visit the others, but you might want to check out Nandaemun Market, Dongdaemun Market, Seongsu, and whatever you stumble upon your research. Don't attempt to visit all these markets in one trip though, you might not get the full experience unless you're staying for like an entire month.