Myeongdong

명동

Seoul's most famous shopping district, with beauty stores, duty-free shops, and street food stalls at night. It is the commercial area most frequented by Chinese visitors.

Myeongdong is in central Jung-gu and is one of South Korea's most expensive commercial districts. It is known for its dense concentration of beauty brand stores such as the Olive Young flagship and innisfree, plus clothing shops, the Lotte Department Store, and the Shinsegae Duty Free store. It is the Seoul shopping area most familiar to Chinese visitors. From 16:00 onward, the main street fills with food stalls. Signature snacks include egg bread, grilled lobster, fried chicken skewers, ppopgi (dalgona sugar cookies), and tteokbokki, priced from ₩3,000 to ₩10,000. Nearby sights include Myeongdong Cathedral, a Gothic Catholic church completed in 1898 and the center of Korean Catholicism; Namdaemun Market, a 10-minute walk away, known for street food and wholesale goods; and the N Seoul Tower cable car station at the foot of Namsan near Myeongdong Station. You can shop here and then take the cable car up the mountain for night views. Suggested itinerary: shop in Myeongdong from 4 p.m., eat street food at 6 p.m., and head up Namsan at 7:30 p.m. It's a classic route. Getting there: Subway Line 4, Myeongdong Station, Exit 6, or Line 2, Euljiro 1-ga Station, a 5-minute walk. Notes: prices in Myeongdong are high, and the same beauty products are often discounted at Olive Young stores in other districts. Duty-free purchases require your passport and pickup at the airport. Weekend crowds on the main street are very heavy.

Myeongdong

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Places to eat nearby