Myeongdong

About this place

Seoul's best-known shopping district and its busiest with tourists, a grid of pedestrian streets between Myeongdong and Euljiro stations. Its main street ranks among the most expensive shopping streets in the world by rent, with department stores, global brands and Korean labels side by side. The district is known above all for Korean cosmetics and skincare: dozens of shops in a row hand out samples and run offers for tourists, with tax refunds. There are also fashion and shoe shops and K-pop merchandise, and the big Lotte and Shinsegae department stores stand at its edges. From late afternoon, street-food carts fill the lanes: grilled skewers, spiral potatoes, filled pancakes, fruit and juices. Most of it is not halal, so ask about ingredients and choose seafood or vegetable snacks if you prefer. The district has a small number of halal restaurants; look for the certificate at the door. Shops open from late morning until about ten at night, and the best time to come is after sunset, when the signs light up. The Namsan cable car to N Seoul Tower leaves from the edge of the district.