Shopping is a 365 days a year, 24 X 7 experience in Korea and almost a national pastime.
- Insa-dong : With art galleries, traditional craft stores, antique art dealers, traditional tea houses, and traditional restaurants, it is simply the place in Seoul for tourists wanting to experience traditional Korea
- Myeong- Dong: fashion and entertainment come together in this market that is crawling with shoppers at any time of the night or day. From bistros to cafes, thrift shops to classy boutiques, this market is another centre for Korean fashion
- Dongdaemun: Specializing in wholesale clothing, the market is over a century old and is gigantic . Doosan Tower, Migliore, Freya Town, and Hello apM are just a few of the 20 or so major shopping malls in the area. Dongdaemun is a great destination for a night tour because it is bustling with shoppers at night
- Namdaemun Market: This is a massive open air market, specializing in wholesale of goods, located in the very heart of Seoul. It boasts of the very best and often the cheapest selection of clothing, shoes, household items, food, flowers, sporting goods and loads more.
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What to Buy in Korea?
- Pottery: Main categories of pottery include 'cheongja,' 'baekja,' 'buncheongsagi,' and 'onggi.' In most cases, clear colors, clear ringing tones, and a smooth texture denote a high quality piece. Pottery can be purchased at pottery villages, Insadong, the Hwanghakdong Flea Market, or at pottery festivals. Of pottery villages, the Icheon Pottery Village and Yeoju Pottery Village are the most famous.
- Ginseng: Known as the 'miraculous medicine,' Ginseng is Korea's representative medicinal crop. In the olden days, Korean produced ginseng was called 'Goryeo Ginseng' and used widely around the world as a way to recover health, strengthen the body, and calm the mind. You can get Giseng at every major market and shopping mall in Korea.
- Traditional artefacts: Traditional craft items include wooden crafts, rice paper crafts, embroidery work, and lacquered goods. When buying, look for the 'Made in Korea' mark, signs of attention to detail, and if the item is in good condition. Places to purchase crafts include Insadong, Namdaemun Market, Hwanghakdong Flea Market, department stores, and museum shops. As the representative traditional street of Korea, Insadong has a wide selection of crafts ranging from cheap items to high quality, expensive heirlooms.
- Clothing & Leather Goods: Clothing is usually purchased in department stores, brand shops, outlets, Dongdaemun Market, Namdaemun Market, Myeongdong, Itaewon, and in front of Ehwa Women's University. In the case of brand name goods, it is a good idea to wait for sales in January, April, July, and October (may be subject to change). Good places to find leather goods are department stores, Namdaemun Market, Dongdaemun Market, Itaewon, and more. Tourists prefer markets at Itaewon because high quality goods are offered at reasonable prices. Many of the shops have their own factories, so custom goods can be ordered at some.
- Jewellery: Shopping areas for precious jewels and metals can be divided largely into three locations. Luxurious top quality jewels can be found in department stores. Less-pricy and more affordable shopping can be found in retail stores like Minigold and Lloyd with products in the mid-price ranges. Wholesale stores are popular for soon-to-be-wed couples looking for affordable quality jewelry for their wedding.
- Electronics: If you are visiting Korea’s metropolis, Seoul, then a visit to Yongsan Electronics Mall Complex and Techno Mart is a must, for these places are the mecca of electronics in Korea. Small stores stand side by side in rows, providing a large variety of cellular phones, household appliances, but most importantly, all computer related products. Furthermore, the prices are affordable, and due to the competition amongst the stores, you can purchase the products of your choice at reasonable prices. Techno Mart is conveniently structured for shoppers to find what they want easily. However, Yongsan Electronics Mall Complex is larger and more crowded, specializing in electronic products, offering more affordable prices compared to other electronics shops.
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