Curator’s statement
Most people go to Gangnam or Myeongdong when shopping in Seoul, but I get easily overwhelmed by the busy and crowded places. If you want a more chill and uniquely Korean experience, I highly recommend you visit Seongsu or Hannam-dong. Not only are there plenty of popular local brands there, but there are also a lot of cute cafés to take a break at. Seongsu can sometimes be referred to as the “Brooklyn of Seoul” and is most known for the pop-up shops in the area. These pop-ups will have limited edition products, activities and tons of freebies! Hannam-dong is located near Itaewon and is known for their quiet luxury, compared to flashy Gangnam. You’ll find lots of designer brands, boutiques and cafés.
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Things to do in Seoul
Tamburin’s Jennie billboard
Seongsu: Exit from Seongsu Station 3 to start your shopping trip!
Stand Oil: A popular Korean handbag and accessory store. You can also take cute pictures next to the classroom and locker room areas in the store. They always have the newest collection there, and the staff is very helpful
Fwee: There are a lot of Seongsu in-store exclusives and freebies here, so definitely stop by before you go to Olive Young
Rockfish: I love this brand’s shoes. They have trendy ballet sneakers here.
Tamburins: Gentle Monster’s perfume brand. Jennie from Blackpink is the spokesperson, and everyone takes a picture with her billboard at this store.
Martin Kim: Another local Korean brand that sells clothing, bags and accessories. This is super popular among celebrities and influencers.
Hannam-dong: You can either get off at Hangangjin Station from Seoul Subway Line 6 or the neighboring station on the same line at Itaewon.
Margesherwood: The bags here are a bit more expensive, but they are 100% real leather and very high quality. The shop is a bit small and can get crowded.
Blue Elephant: An affordable sunglasses store that “supposedly” is similar to Gentle Monster but at a much lower price.
Mardi Mercredi: Popular, easy-to-wear pieces Korean brand.
Nonfiction: Everything smells SO good here. The hand creams make great gifts.
Glowny: This brand reminds me of Brandy Melville, but is higher quality and comes in different sizes!
Marithe Francois Girbaud: This is a French brand that has gone through a “modernized reinterpretation” in Korea. The collection leans heavily towards staples like crewnecks and knit cardigans.
Need to know
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Travel Advisor
Janet Huang
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