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PHOTOS
KOREA TOURISM ORGANIZATION
Why shop here:
Beauty junkies will
love the many brands catering to
Seoul’s fascination with perfect skin,
cat eyes, vibrant colors and super
feminine looks. They will also be
excited to hear about freebies that
come with even the smallest purchase.
There is practically one shop on every
corner, so keep an eye out. Duty-free
shopping is also a win at Incheon
Airport, constantly rated as one of the
world’s best. But if you want to take
your designer shopping out into the
city, Apgujeong — known as Korea’s
version of Rodeo Drive — offers all the
SEOUL
TheK-PopCapital
By Chinggay Labrador
As a contributor to the Philippine
edition of
Sparkling
,
the magazine that
pays tribute to all things contemporary
and Korean, I’ve scoured the country’s
streets in search of the latest and
trendiest finds. Korea fever is at an
all-time high around the world and
there’s so much going on in the capital.
But if you’re jetting into Seoul to shop,
keep in mind that there’s more on offer
than just the typical tourist-trap shops
of Insa-dong. Wander further into the
artisanal shops to find souvenirs that
are less run-of-the-mill.
top brands. Those looking for off-the-
beaten track shops will love Hongdae
Free Market where arts and crafts
reign supreme; while Garosu-gil’s
many cafes offer a nice respite from its
many boutiques. Marathon shoppers
will also love the unbeatable prices at
Dongdaemun, whose shops stay open
a whopping 24 hours a day.
The bonus:
Avid fans of Korean dramas
or music junkies who can’t get enough
of the beats will feel right at home
in Seoul. With
Hallyu —
the Korean
Wave — highlighting key spots all over
the city, you won’t feel like a stranger
traipsing through the crowded shopping
streets of Myeongdong, wandering
past the hilly café-lined alleyways of
Hongdae, or racing through the high-
traffic nightspots of Gangnam (yes,
that
Gangnam).
Don’t miss:
Myeongdong gives you
the most bang for your buck, in terms
of number and variety of shops in the
smallest square area.
Tip:
You can claim a rebate for taxes at
the airport, so hold on to your receipts.
Cebu Pacific flies to Incheon from Cebu
and Manila.
S H O P P I N G A C R O S S T H E N E T W O R K
Clockwise from left:
Be spoilt for choice
at Myeongdong;
browse arts and
crafts at Hongdae
Free Market; (inset)
find inexpensive
treasures at
Dongdaemun
Market
