Seoul is stocked-to-the-hilt when it comes to shopping. Departmental stores goods are terribly pricey. But I managed to snag some pretty good buys on discount. Ssamziegil at Insadong is the place to visit if you’re searching for quirky knickknacks. The one-way walk-up mall (you have to keep winding around to the final storey before taking the stairs down) is stashed with small shops hawking anything from stylish recycled stationery to teddy bear-themed accessories to hand-painted shoes. I came away with a purple leather mirror and printed recycled shopping bags. I later spotted the exact same bags in a Korean fashion magazine and was shamelessly smug about it for a few hours.
But Myeongdong tops the of my list for shopping haunts. I love browsing the fashion streets as much as the Lotte Department Store and Lotte Young Plaza. The only setback that everything on the racks was winter wear. But the gorgeous togs proved too tempting – I ended up lugging home five coats in different colours and designs. And the fashion streets offered such a mind-boggling variety that I never got tired of strolling up and down the bumpy path, prancing in and out rows of shops one after the other. The most value-for-money items? Accessories!!! Earrings, chains, handphone straps, hair ties are very reasonably-priced and there are dozens to take your pick from. Nestled along the retail maze are also several popular brand boutiques like Gap, Uniqlo, American Apparel and edgy, multi-label stores like Aland.
If I had to recommend one place to eat, shop and club (in that order), it would definitely be Hongdae. Restaurants and cafes are a dime a dozen there with tiny, cosy shops lining the pavement. Food and merchandise is slightly cheaper as it is a university area. R&B tunes pounded out from underground pubs and clubs. My companions and I had no inkling which club to head to, but we decided to put our money on the one with the longest queue.
Hongdae boasts a famous music and clubbing scene and I found out why. It was one of the best clubbing experiences I have ever had. The music was a mixture of live rap performances and slick R&B ditties guaranteed to keep revellers on their feet. It definitely kept mine moving for a few hours straight. Plus, for some strange reason everyone seemed to be sober and was genuinely intending on just dancing the night away. No inebriated people stumbling about or sleazy action on the dance floor. My guess is that Koreans possess a high tolerance to alcohol in addition to a good sense of fun.
by Lydia Soh, Kozine Magazine Feb-Mar 2009
But Myeongdong tops the of my list for shopping haunts. I love browsing the fashion streets as much as the Lotte Department Store and Lotte Young Plaza. The only setback that everything on the racks was winter wear. But the gorgeous togs proved too tempting – I ended up lugging home five coats in different colours and designs. And the fashion streets offered such a mind-boggling variety that I never got tired of strolling up and down the bumpy path, prancing in and out rows of shops one after the other. The most value-for-money items? Accessories!!! Earrings, chains, handphone straps, hair ties are very reasonably-priced and there are dozens to take your pick from. Nestled along the retail maze are also several popular brand boutiques like Gap, Uniqlo, American Apparel and edgy, multi-label stores like Aland.
If I had to recommend one place to eat, shop and club (in that order), it would definitely be Hongdae. Restaurants and cafes are a dime a dozen there with tiny, cosy shops lining the pavement. Food and merchandise is slightly cheaper as it is a university area. R&B tunes pounded out from underground pubs and clubs. My companions and I had no inkling which club to head to, but we decided to put our money on the one with the longest queue.Hongdae boasts a famous music and clubbing scene and I found out why. It was one of the best clubbing experiences I have ever had. The music was a mixture of live rap performances and slick R&B ditties guaranteed to keep revellers on their feet. It definitely kept mine moving for a few hours straight. Plus, for some strange reason everyone seemed to be sober and was genuinely intending on just dancing the night away. No inebriated people stumbling about or sleazy action on the dance floor. My guess is that Koreans possess a high tolerance to alcohol in addition to a good sense of fun.
by Lydia Soh, Kozine Magazine Feb-Mar 2009
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