Seoul's main shopping district for visitors, about a kilometre of cosmetics shops, department stores and street carts between Myeongdong station on line 4 and Lotte's main store at Euljiro.
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명동 (myeong·dong) is the roughly one-kilometre stretch between 명동역 on line 4 and 을지로, where 롯데백화점 본점 stands. The Korea Tourism Organization draws the district that way, with the malls 눈스퀘어, 명동밀레오레 and 엠플라자 along it and the 롯데 and 신세계 department stores at either end. Visit Seoul lists the main street under exits 5 to 10 of 명동역 and says hours differ from shop to shop.
It was a residential quarter in the Joseon era and became a downtown after the war, according to the Seoul city magazine 서울사랑 (June 2023). The same piece cites a 2022 Seoul Tourism Organization report that put 명동 among the top three places foreign visitors went in Seoul over the previous three years. The big names have since come back. News1 counted about twenty major fashion and beauty shops opening here in the two years to May 2026, and Chosun Ilbo reported on 26 May 2026 that Uniqlo had returned with its largest Korean store after five years away, that Olive Young runs nine shops in the district, and that foreign shoppers make up 95% of sales at its Myeongdong town store.
The street fills from late afternoon. Yonhap reported on 28 June 2026 that the food carts roll in at around four and form a 200-metre row with multilingual menus and price tags printed by the 중구 district office, and that Korea had passed ten million foreign visitors in the first half of 2026 for the first time.
Come out of 명동역 (line 4) at exits 6 to 8 for the main street, or from 을지로입구역 (line 2) exit 5 for the Lotte end and the tourist information centre. For a receipt of 15,000 won or more, show your passport at the till and the VAT comes off on the spot, up to a million won per receipt (Korea Tourism Organization, October 2025). Olive Young, Daiso and Uniqlo all do this here.
Which way to Myeongdong Cathedral?
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Tip Visit Seoul says the streets are at their busiest in Japan's Golden Week, late April to early May.
checked Nov 4, 2026Last checked Nov 4, 2026.
장소 Places · 맛명동교자Myeongdong KyojaMyeongdong's kalguksu restaurant since 1966, now by Myeongdong station exit 8, where the noodle soup comes in a thick chicken broth with dumplings dropped in.오늘 올라옴 up today
장소 Places · 길명동성당Myeongdong CathedralThe Catholic cathedral of Seoul, a red-brick Gothic church finished in 1898 on the hill above Myeongdong's main street.오늘 올라옴 up today
동네 Neighborhoods · 길남대문시장Namdaemun MarketSeoul's biggest traditional market, beside the old south gate and a short walk from Myeongdong, with about ten thousand shops and two food alleys people cross town for.오늘 올라옴 up today방법 How-to · 삶즉시환급Instant tax refundThe instant tax refund: show your passport at the till of a tax-free shop and the VAT comes off the price there, instead of claiming it back at the airport.오늘 올라옴 up today브랜드·매장 Brands and shops · 멋올리브영유행 예감 On the way upol·li·beu·yeongA drugstore chain with a green sign, found on most busy streets in Korea.
동네 Neighborhoods · 길성수동Seongsu-dongThe old shoe-factory district east of the river, now the place brands open first and close fast. Seongsu station on line 2 for the shops, Seoul Forest station for the park.
동네 Neighborhoods · 길홍대HongdaeThe streets around Hongik University in Mapo-gu, west of the river. Busking, clubs, photo booths and shops, with three rail lines meeting under one station.
먹을것 Food and drink · 맛붕어빵BungeoppangA fish-shaped waffle filled with sweet red bean, baked in an iron mould on the pavement in winter.오늘 올라옴 up today
먹을것 Food and drink · 맛호떡HotteokA round of dough with brown sugar inside, pressed flat on an oiled griddle until the sugar melts into syrup. Winter street food.오늘 올라옴 up today
먹을것 Food and drink · 맛냉면NaengmyeonCold noodles, in an icy broth or under red sauce. Buckwheat or starch noodles, half a boiled egg on top.오늘 올라옴 up today
먹을것 Food and drink · 맛비빔밥BibimbapRice with seasoned vegetables, an egg and gochujang, mixed in the bowl before you eat.오늘 올라옴 up today
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