Where to Shop in Seoul Apart from Myeongdong

While the busy area of Myeongdong, home to a variety of K-beauty shops and local clothing stores, is arguably the most popular shopping spot for first-time visitors in South Korea, there are other places in and around Seoul that are worth visiting. If you are looking for bargain finds, luxury items, or a piece of clothing from a homegrown brand, you can visit any of the following locations known to locals and many tourists:

1. Sinchon

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Nestled in between Hongdae and Ehwa University is Sinchon, another lively district that you can visit for food, nightlife, and some serious shopping. This area is near Yonsei University and Sogang University, which means you can find hip and trendy stores that cater to today’s youth.

At the center of Sinchon’s main street is a multi-level shopping mall called U-Plex. This is one of the best places to shop in Seoul if you’re looking for a mix of local and global brands. Some stores that we would recommend you check out here are lifestyle brands like 8 Seconds, Mindbridge, and Top Ten. You can also find international lines like Uniqlo, Nike, and Adidas as you make your way to the upper floors. To make the most out of your visit, be sure to check out the Hip Street on the basement for some cool vintage finds and the inviting food court located on the 11th floor!

2. The Hyundai Seoul

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As a foreigner living in Korea, this is one of the places where I take my friends and family who are visiting the country for the first time. Relatively one of the newest shopping malls in the capital, The Hyundai Seoul boasts a variety of stores that make it the ultimate place to get Korean clothes, accessories, and beauty products. Here you can find the likes of Gentle Monster, Sulwhasoo, and Ryu Classic, as well as powerhouse brands like Lululemon, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Jimmy Choo, and more. It is interesting to note that many luxury stores here carry limited-edition products that are available in South Korea only, so it will definitely be worth your time to visit if you want an item that will remind you of your visit.

As a tip, we would recommend that you plan ahead your visit to The Hyundai Seoul by looking up the stores that you think you would be interested in. This will help you feel less overwhelmed once you actually see how big the mall is. For this, it would help to have a fast and powerful eSIM that comes with affordable unlimited data plan like this one, so you can browse stores and restaurants, use navigation apps, and translation tools while you are discovering the charming city of Seoul. We love that Yesim also offers eSIMs with VPN, which can help you access certain restricted sites in the country.

3. Dongdaemun

No list of the best places to shop in Seoul is complete without Dongdaemun Market. Traditionally a wholesale and retail shopping district, Dongdaemun has evolved into a mega place to shop (literally until you drop since most establishments are open until past midnight). With more than 20 shopping malls and market stalls all in one area, you are certain to find clothes, shoes, and beauty products that will make you feel satisfied. We would recommend DOOTA Mall, DDP Fashion Mall, and HelloAPM if you want a shortlist of establishments to check out.

Conclusion

There are many places to shop in Seoul aside from Myeongdong. Aside from Sinchon, The Hyundai Seoul, and Dongdaemun Market, there are many more and we are sure you can find a shopping spot that you could call your favorite. (Speaking of favorites, we invite you to read our article on Yesim here and see why it is our preferred travel eSIM not just for South Korea but also Japan, Southeast Asia, and Europe!)