9 of the best · Seoul, South Korea
Shopping in Seoul: Department Stores, Flagships and the Markets
The Hyundai Seoul’s indoor garden, Shinsegae’s main store, Gentle Monster and Sulwhasoo in Dosan, the skincare shops of Myeongdong, Seongsu’s warehouses and the great markets.
Our 9 favourites, listed A–Z · Updated October 2026
What's onThis week in Seoul
Browse by type
Insiders' picks
Three Seoul moments we keep going back to: Gyeongbokgung at opening time, a bowl of naengmyeon at Woo Lae Oak, and the city wall over Naksan at dusk.
-
A garden under glass
The Hyundai Seoul
The department store in Yeouido with an indoor garden beneath its glass roof.
-
Eyewear as installation
Gentle Monster Haus Dosan
The Seoul eyewear brand’s flagship in Dosan, its floors staged like an art installation.
The full list: Shopping, A–Z
Show 8 of 9 places on a map
Department stores and malls 3
Under one roof.
-
The grand old store
Shinsegae Department Store, main store
The flagship of Shinsegae in Myeongdong, its façade lit for Christmas.
-
The underground city
Starfield COEX Mall
The great underground mall at COEX, with the Starfield Library at its heart.
-
A garden under glass
The Hyundai Seoul
The department store in Yeouido with an indoor garden beneath its glass roof.
Seoul brands 2
Flagships to visit.
-
Eyewear as installation
Gentle Monster Haus Dosan
The Seoul eyewear brand’s flagship in Dosan, its floors staged like an art installation.
-
Ginseng and skincare
Sulwhasoo Flagship Store
The Korean skincare house’s flagship in Dosan, with a spa upstairs.
Shopping streets 2
Where to wander.
-
Skincare and street food
Myeongdong
The shopping streets between Euljiro and Namsan: skincare, fashion and evening street food.
-
Warehouses and pop-ups
Seongsu-dong
Old factories and warehouses turned into concept stores, cafés and pop-ups, east of the centre.
Markets 2
Silks, ginseng and street food.
-
Silks and street food
Gwangjang Market
The covered market of fabrics, hanbok silk and food stalls by Jongno 5-ga.
-
By the south gate
Namdaemun Market
The sprawling market by Sungnyemun: everything from ginseng to kitchenware.
