Myeongdong Shopping Street 명동 거리
Seoul · Myeongdong & Namsan · Shopping
Myeongdong is the capital's busiest shopping district and a first stop for many visitors who want Korean beauty products. Dozens of cosmetic shops compete with free samples, sheet-mask giveaways and bundle deals, and staff are accustomed to foreign shoppers, with English, Chinese and Japanese often spoken. Many stores process tax refunds at the counter when you show your passport.
After late afternoon, street stalls open along the main lane selling skewers, grilled cheese, tornado potatoes and sweet snacks. It is crowded and loud, which is part of its energy.
Myeongdong Station (명동역), Line 4 Exits 5 to 8, opens onto the main street. Euljiro 1-ga Station (을지로입구역), Line 2, is also a short walk.
Show this Korean name to your taxi driver or match it to signs: 명동 거리
- Best time to visit
- Late afternoon until evening is when the stalls open and the street glows. Weekday mornings are calm for shops.
- Pair it with
- Myeongdong Cathedral and Myeongdong Kyoja Main Branch are a block or two away, and Namdaemun Market is a walk to the southwest.
- Great for
- Friends
- Local tip
- Cosmetics shops often offer on-the-spot tax refunds when you show your passport. Street food stalls are most lively after 5 p.m., and staff in many shops speak English.