Myeongdong Shopping Street
명동 쇼핑거리
Central Seoul's best-known shopping district for cosmetics, fashion and tax-refund shopping. Treat it as a neighborhood rather than a single mall because individual stores keep their own hours.
Language
Place information
- Korean name
- 명동 쇼핑거리
- Address
- Myeongdong-gil area, Jung-gu, Seoul
- Nearest station
- Myeong-dong Station (명동역, Seoul Subway Line 4)
- Opening hours
- not published by the operator
- Hours notes
- The district office publishes an hours field for Myeongdong and fills it with a refusal: "varies by shop". There is no single opening time to state, and the street itself has no gate - what closes is each business, on its own hours.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
Nearby
Frequently asked questions
What time does Myeongdong street food start?
The stalls set up after dark. By day it is a shopping street; the food street begins in the evening.
When is it less crowded?
Early evening on a weekday. Jung-gu puts the zone's footfall at 1.5 million on weekdays and 2 million at weekends, which slows the walking itself on a weekend evening.
Do they take cards?
Some have terminals, but cash is reliable. 20–30,000 won covers an evening's circuit.
How much does it cost?
It differs by stall and season. Check for a displayed price and ask before ordering if there is none, and confirm the total when you order several things.
Is there anywhere to sit?
Almost nowhere. Standing or walking while eating is the norm, and rubbish goes in the stall's own bin.
Which station?
Line 4 Myeongdong Station or Line 2 Euljiro 1-ga Station. The stalls concentrate on the central street between the two and its side lanes.
Immediate refund or airport refund?
It depends on the amount. Immediate refunds come off at the till but are capped at under 1,000,000 won per transaction and 5,000,000 in total. Above that you need the downtown route (6,000,000 or less per transaction) or the airport.
Where are the airport refund kiosks?
Incheon Terminals 1 and 2, Gimpo, Gimhae and Jeju. Unstaffed kiosks run 24 hours; staffed counter hours vary by terminal, and ports use mailboxes.
Which station is Myeongdong?
Line 4 Myeongdong Station or Line 2 Euljiro 1-ga Station. Which one you use changes where your walk starts.
Stories about this place
- Seoul in Two Days on Foot: Jongno’s Palaces and the City’s Southern Night View
A practical two-day Seoul itinerary for first-time visitors. Day one links the palaces and old lanes of Jongno, while day two crosses the southern city center from Deoksugung and Cheonggyecheon to Myeongdong and the night view from N Seoul Tower.
- Six Seoul Shopping Districts Compared: Myeongdong, Hongdae, Garosu-gil, Apgujeong, The Hyundai and Shinsegae
Myeongdong, Hongdae, Garosu-gil, Apgujeong Rodeo Street, The Hyundai Seoul and Shinsegae Main Store compared on who each suits, what it mainly sells, what there is besides shopping, how to pair them and which station to use. Four are open-air streets and two are indoor department stores, so on a wet day or in high summer the list narrows to two.
- First Time in Seoul: Five Places and a One- or Two-Day Order
For a first trip to Seoul — Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, Myeongdong, N Seoul Tower and the Han River parks compared on what you'll see, when to go and who each suits, with the order for one day or two. Two of the five charge admission; the other three have no opening hours, and something else to check instead, such as visiting restrictions or fines.
