What to Put on Your Myeongdong Itinerary

After almost reaching the point of no return (due to Covid), Myeongdong has risen from the ashes and has once again become a tourist hotspot. Unfortunately that also means inflated prices at street food stalls and boutique stores. We’ve also noticed that K-beauty shops aren’t nearly as generous with samples and freebies as they used to be.

While, Myeongdong isn’t usually at the top of our Seoul itinerary recommendations, that doesn’t mean it’s not worth checking out (especially if it’s your first time in Korea). So we’ve complied a list of places we personally visit and feel would be worth your time and hard earned cash.

Mokmyeoksanbang (목멱산방)

Mokmyeoksanbang is our go to spot for food whenever we’re in the Myeongdong area. This restaurant specializes in bibimbab and has been on the Michelin Guide for a quite few years now. They take a lot of pride in balancing the modern and traditional aspects of Korean culture and it really shows in the clean minimalist style of the restaurant the way the food is presented.

One of my favorite things about this place is that all the topping are served separately. So, you can add as much or as little of whatever you want to your rice bowl. That includes the gochujang as well. And while the bibimbap is amazing, their Cheese Kimchi Pancake (치즈김치전) is the real must have. To be honest, more of a comically large hotteok because rather than placing the toppings on the batter and cooking it like a typical pancake the kimchi and mozzarella are stuffed between layers of batter and fried to a golden crisp. It’s one the BEST pancakes I’ve ever had and you can only get it prepared like this here.

서울 중구 퇴계로20길 71 1층 목멱산방 (Naver Map)
71 Toegye-ro 20-gil, Jung District, Seoul (Google Maps)

Mega Daiso

Whether you’ve just moved to Korea or are just stopping by for a visit, you will inevitably come across the ever-popular store, “Daiso.” I’d consider Daiso to be a “dollar store” equivalent, but with way more variety and much better quality (speaking as someone born and raised in the US). And it just so happens that one of Korea’s biggest Daiso’s can be found in Myeongdong.

This Daiso is 12 floors of home decor, sporting goods, cleaning products, stationary supplies, gardening essential, toys, electronics, you name it! They have collaborations with Disney and Marvel for some very cool Korea exclusive souvenirs that’ll cost you anywhere from ₩1,000 to ₩5,000. They’re also a hotspot for budget friendly snacks, K-beauty products, travel essentials and some of the most adorable pet goods. So if you’re wondering where to do your souvenir shopping, this is a good place to start.

서울특별시 중구 퇴계로 134-1 (Naver Map)
134-1 Toegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul (Google Maps)

Mixsoon Flagship

Last summer Mixsoon closed up their Seongsu flagship store and relocated to Myeongdong, which I personally think is a better location. The store is bigger, they have way more products and it’s definitely more convenient if you’re here for travel. You can also try out all their new products, take some super cute photobooth pics and get a FREE skin analysis.

I’ve been using their products for well over two years now and it’s the first brand that really got Michael into skincare. Mixsoon products are always in my skincare rotation and they’re perfect for skincare newbies and people with sensitive skin like myself. But you don’t have to take my word for it, just swing by their store and try it out for yourself.

서울 중구 명동2가 51-14 (Naver Map)
51-14 Myeong-dong 2(i)-ga, Jung District, Seoul (Google Maps)

Space of BTS

This is probably one of the best kept secrets in Seoul, and it’s exclusively for ARMY visiting Korea. Located in Myeongdong, on the 11th floor of the Shinsegae Duty Free is Space of BTS. Now the store itself is small, but what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in merch!

The store has tons of merch ranging from t-shirts, jewelry and bags to photocards, figures and keyrings. They have items from sold out and previously released collections, many of which are available at a discounted price. Since it’s a duty free store you will need to have your passport on you along with confirmation of your departing flight in order to make a purchase. So definitely take advantage!

서울 중구 퇴계로 77 신세계백화점 (Naver Map)
77 Toegye-ro, Jung District, Seoul (Google Maps)

Blue Elephant

Blue Elephant is a contemporary Korean eyewear brand that has been trending all over social media, mainly for being a Gentle Monster dupe (having been rumored to use the same manufacturer). They draw a lot of their inspiration from 1970’s American classic and vintage designs. So, the designs are really classic and understated for more of versatile use. We’ve been to two of their many locations, but the Myeongdong Flagship store is definitely worth a visit if you’re in Seoul.

The quality of Blue Elephant isn’t on par with Gentle Monster’s, but they are a much more budget friendly alternative. All their eyewear is priced under 50,000 KRW and come nicely packaged in their own individual magnetically closed boxes with a soft white pouch to carry your glasses in. It’s definitely the best bang for your buck if you’re looking for a nice pair of Korean glasses that won’t break the bank. So if this is your aesthetic, be sure to check it out.

서울 중구 명동2가 54-3 (Naver Map)
54-3 Myeong-dong 2(i)-ga, Jung District, Seoul (Google Maps)

Hoehyeon Underground Shopping Center (회현지하쇼핑센터)

Nestled between Myeongdong and Namdaemun Market is Hoehyeon Underground Shopping Center. Back in the 80s, this was a Mecca for LPs. Since then, the number of stores have dwindled to just a handful. But if you’re a vinyl collector and have some time on your hands it’s a great spot to hunt for vintage and rare records.

Though the stores are few, the collections are vast and you can easily kill an hour or two rummaging through American, Korean and Japanese vinyls (both old and new). Of course this also includes soundtracks from Disney, your favorite K-dramas and even Ghibli collections. Some of the more interesting LP’s we came across were Japanese releases of Disney soundtracks and American artists. Definitely lots of treasures to uncover here.

서울 중구 회현동2가 1-1 (Naver Map)
Chungmuro 1(il)-ga, Jung District, Seoul (Google Maps)

Line Friends Square

There are plenty of Line Friends stores scattered through out Seoul, but the one in Myeongdong is one of the newest and definitely geared more towards BTS ARMY. This location is two floors and they always have the latest BT21 collections. They also usually have a lot of sales, discounts on older merch, promotions and freebies when you make a purchase.

This location also has lots of photo zones for you to take pictures with your favorite BT21 characters. Lots of other locations no longer have these. You can also see how your hands measure up with the bronze handprints of your BTS bias that line the walls. It’s a great spot to add to your BTS pilgrimage.