Why You Should Stay In Myeongdong

If you happen to visit Seoul, one of the best places that you can stay in is Myeongdong. Myeongdong is known as one of the busiest places in Seoul, Korea. The area gained its prominence after the Korean War. In the 1960s, the Korean economy blossomed and the financial sector from Eujiro and Namdaemun expanded into Myeongdong gradually. As a result of that, city renovations were done and skyscrapers were built. Since then, many shopping centers, department stores, upscale shops, boutiques, restaurants, cafes has set up their businesses in the Myeongdong. It started to become a shopping mecca for the young and trendy Koreans as early as in the 1970s.

Today, it is said that over 1 million shoppers walked past this Myeongdong area on a daily basis making it the number 1 shopping mecca of fashion and arts in Korea while the floating population in Myeongdong is estimated to be around 2 million people a day.  Here in Myeongdong, you can find thousands of fashion, skincare and cosmetic brands. Every Korean cosmetic brand is said to have a branch in Myeongdong and sales personnel in these shops can usually speak multiple foreign language to a certain degree which makes it convenient for international visitors to have a pleasant shopping experience in Myeongdong.

There are also two huge department stores known as Lotte and Shinsegae along with other smaller department stores. Lotte and Shinsegae department stores mostly sell branded and luxury brands while other smaller department stores like Milgiore and H&M mostly sell other affordable brands. In addition to that, many shops selling cosmetics and clothing can be seen at every corner in Myeongdong and it is through these shops that you can find inexpensive clothes and sparkling accessories on a bargain. Food stalls that offer tasteful and delicious snacks can also be seen in between these shops. There are also many cafes and restaurants in Myeongdong.

Besides shopping, you can also check out other places of interest in Myeongdong like the Myeongdong Cathedral, Namdaemun market, Ossuloc Tea House, Korea Shooting Club, SM Pop Up Store, Myeongdong Theater, First Bank of Korea and Chojun Textile & Art Museum.

As an international visitor in a foreign country, language barrier might be an issue. Thankfully, you can visit the Myeongdong Tourism Information Center. It is located at the Myeongdong and Jungang-ro Intersection. The information Center employs several staffs that can speak and provide assistance to international visitors in multiple languages such as English, Japanese and Mandarin. The opening hours are from 9 AM to 10PM during summer and 9 AM to 9PM during winter. In addition to that, you can also see a number of multi-lingual guides walking around the Myeongdong area ready and willing to assist you in case if you have any questions. These guides can be seen wearing red vests with an information logo on it.

Aside from the Myeongdong Tourism Information Center, there is also a Seoul Cultural Exchanges and Tourism Information Center. This place is located on the fifth floor of the M Plaza. The information center offers international visitors with information on the Seoul City and different Korean Cultural programs. The staffs are also friendly, professional and they are able to speak multiple foreign languages. They will assist you and offer information on accommodation, tourism, performances and festivals. Seoul Cultural Exchanges & Tourism Information Center is open from 10.30AM to 10PM and they are opened all year round except for two public holidays: the Lunar New Year and Korean Thanksgiving Day.

Another reason for you to stay in Myeongdong is to experience the Myeongdong Festival. Myeongdong Festival has been hosted since 1982 to encourage tourism and vitalize Myeongdong. It is usually held twice a year and it is usually held from the end of March to the middle of April and during the September month. If you are planning to stay at Myeongdong, stay here when the Myeongdong Festival is held. During this time, parades, music performances, dance performances, fashion shows and other spectacular performances can be seen along the Myeongdong main street making it more happening than the usual buzz. Many stores and shops also offer fantastic product sales and discounts during this time.

Most hotels in Myeongdong are also located near to the Myeongdong main street so you can shop till you drop without having to worry about getting a cab or a bus back to your hotel as you can just take a short and relaxing stroll back to your hotel.

In conclusion, Myeongdong is one of the best places to stay in Seoul especially if you are an avid shopper because you will want to spend more of your time shopping without having to worry about transportation and language barrier.