Roaming The Streets of Myeongdong

Annyeong haseyo! South Korea has always been one of my dream destinations as a super fan of Korean dramas and oppas (oh!). To celebrate our 4th anniversary, RA and I spontaneously booked a flight to Seoul. We booked our accommodation at Myeongdong Sunshine Guesthouse, located in the heart of Myeongdong. So, we strolled its streets almost every night.

Many said Myeongdong is a tourist trap due to the high cost of goods within the district. However, Myeongdong is usually crowded with tourists and filled with various shops, souvenir items, and several cafés and restaurants. At nighttime, numerous food stalls lined its streets.

Despite being a place not recommended by many locals and tourists, I felt glad we stayed here for our first visit. I found it safer since most people roaming around are also tourists. We didn’t feel alienated. I am somewhat intimidated by the locals because of one of our encounters with a Korean bus driver who explicitly showed that he was dismayed or frustrated with us because we weren’t familiar with how Discover Seoul Pass is used for the Red Tour Bus without the exchanged ticket. Kinda shocked, but we’re very used to dealing with rudeness back in our hometown.

 

An early scenery along one of Myeongdong’s streets. The shops are still closed at 7am.

Things that you should expect at Myeongdong:


1. Food Is Expensive!

Various Korean treats and snacks are being sold at the food stalls. The stalls are only open at night until nearing midnight. The snacks are usually priced at around 10,000 won (Php 424). It’s pricey, but somehow, we enjoyed trying every Korean food that stimulated our curiosity. We just loved Hotteok, Japchae, and Korean strawberries! To compare the prices, hotteoks in Myeongdong are priced at 5,000 Korean won, while in the Namdaemun market, it’s just 3,000 won. Likewise, Korean strawberries are sold at 15,000 won, but in Namdaeumun, it’s just 8,000 won.

Being a not-so-fan of Korean food, RA became flustered about how delicious authentic Korean gastronomy is. He specifically liked the hotteoks: sweet Korean pancakes, fried chicken, and street Japchae. 

I would not recommend this place if you want to splurge on affordable Korean foods. There are markets in Seoul that are way cheaper — Namdaemun, Dongdaemun, Gwangjang or Tongin.

2. Cosmetics Stores Are Everywhere!

Of course, skincare and beauty will always be associated with Korea. You can find lots, as in LOTS of cosmetic shops left and right. They will offer you incredible deals and sale items, and you’ll absolutely feel the challenge to refuse. You may feel scammed afterward for spending 100,000 won >_<. But of course, make sure you’re going to use these products or it’s going to be a waste. My best buys here are the Aloe Vera 99% and Aloe sunscreen with SPF 50, both from Holika Holika. I ended up spending 95,000 KRW in shopping. But hey, look! Free umbrella and ten pieces of face mask sheets. I would recommend going to Olive Young store, they have the cheapest deals and you’ll be rest assured that you are buying authentic Korean skincare products. Enjoy tax-free shopping!


3. It Gets Crowded, Especially At Night

If you don’t like going to buzzing and crowded places, I think you might want to skip Myeongdong. The area is jampacked with lots of tourists looking around. Most of the shops and dining places are crowded. 


4. Twelve Storeys of Shopping at Daiso

Being a Shopee fan, I love that Myeongdong has a 12-storey Daiso store. Daiso is located near Myeongdong Station, a 12-floored building filled with affordable and adorable finds. This place is a must-visit if you love shopping for cute, cheap stuff! Each of the floor has a different category:

12th floor: Fashion, Travel and Season
11th floor: Tools, Car, Accessory Handicraft
10th floor: Gardening, Artificial Flower, Pet
9th floor: Camping, Sports
8th floor: Bath, Cleaning, Laundry
7th floor: Interior, Storage
6th floor: Tableware, Ceramic
5th floor: Food, Disposable Products
4th floor: Character, Kids, Party
3rd floor: Stationary, Digital, Wrapping
2nd floor: Beauty, Accessory
1st floor: Season, Paying Counters/Cashier

I suggest roaming starting from the top floor (12th floor) to indulge per theme. The store has an elevator to get you to the top floor.

5. It's a "Pasalubong" Haven

The whole spectacular travel would definitely not be complete without buying take-home goods. Myeongdong has a variety of stores where you can hop to: Korea Mart for food, snacks, and grocery items, HBAF for nut snacks, and Olive Young for skincare products. Btw, the Daiso store also offers cheap and yummy snacks; it’s located on the 5th floor.

HBAF is the largest nut brand in South Korea. Their almond nuts are uniquely flavored, and it is a must buy for me. Swear you will definitely love the flavors. To be specific, my favorite flavor is honey butter. I’ll also go back for these, I promise! (Please).

I got this photo very early, at 6am, so Korea Mart isn’t open yet. The store has lots of items on sale, there are also 1 plus 1 promos. Most of these items are places outside the store. But if you are looking for an amazing and affordable grocery spree, I would recommend visiting Lotte Mart instead before heading back to Incheon Airport. It is way cheaper and has a better variety. I’ll probably make another blog on this topic.

 

By chance, we made our first stop at Myeongdong Cathedral because we arrived a little early for our hotel check-in. Since we had some time to spare and the cathedral was just a few minutes away, we decided to visit it.


6. Myeongdong Has a "Secret" Quiet Place

Myeongdong cathedral is also known as the Cathedral Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. It is the national cathedral of the Archdiocese of Seoul and is located in the Myeongdong area, Jung District. This is the mass schedule as of today, Sept 29, 2024:

Sundays: 07:00, 09:00(English), 10:00, 11:00, 12:00(Mass for the People), 16:00, 17:00, 18:00, 19:00 and 21:00(SAT 18:00, 19:00)

Mondays: 06:30, 10:00 (at Basement Shrine), 18:00

Tuesdays to Saturdays: 06:30, 10:00 (at Basement Shrine), 18:00, 19:00

 

Final Thoughts

Myeongdong area being a touristy place might challenge our pockets and wallets. But it is still a nice place to roam around, window shop if you’re on a budget, try the food from the stalls, or enjoy the view and the crowd. Happy traveling! 

 

 

2 Replies to “Roaming The Streets of Myeongdong”

  1. Myeongdong looks like a great place to explore, especially with all the food stalls and shops. Can’t wait to read more about your trip! Hopefully, I get to go there soon!

    1. Myeongdong is excellent for beginners like us haha. It’s a place where you can experience the food, culture, and modern side of Seoul all at once. A bit on the pricier side but we personally think that the experience were all worth every won. Thank you for dropping by, April!

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