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Myeongdong: K-beauty & street snacks

Seoul's number-one shopping district. Olive Young flagships and cosmetics shops line every lane, and as dusk falls the streets fill with food carts. It's the one place to do your beauty shopping and graze on tteokbokki, hotteok and tornado potatoes all at once.

Myeongdong: K-beauty & street snacks

History

Myeongdong grew into one of Seoul's premier downtowns as a hub of finance and commerce from the Japanese colonial era. Once known as the city's fashion mecca, since the 2000s it has become the shopping street most visited by foreign tourists, riding the K-beauty boom. Landmarks of modern architecture such as Myeongdong Cathedral (completed 1898) stand here too.

Getting there

Exits 5–8 of Myeongdong Station (Line 4) open directly onto the main street, and it's a short walk from Euljiro 1-ga Station (Line 2). It's liveliest from late afternoon, once the food carts are set up.

Tips

  • ·K-beauty (Olive Young, Innisfree, etc.) is great to buy here, duty-free / discounted
  • ·Street carts run roughly 4pm–11pm; cards accepted but keep small cash handy
  • ·Myeongdong Station (Line 4) Exits 5–8; Euljiro 1-ga (Line 2) is close too
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