Seoul Gangnam Travel Guide: Duty-Free Shops – New World Department Store, a Favorite Bargain Spot for International Students in Korea

I've been studying in Korea for a while now, so my friend and I planned a Seoul Gangnam travel guide early on, aiming to explore all the fun and delicious spots in Gangnam. We wanted to find a place with food, drinks, and entertainment all in one, and eventually chose New World Department Store. This time, to fully experience the Gangnam style, we specifically went to the New World Department Store Gangnam branch at the Express Bus Terminal. (Note: Most Korean department stores open at 11:00 AM, with the earliest opening at 10:30 AM.)

As usual, the first floor was packed with luxury brands, but one brand caught our attention. As particular girls, we can't go without perfume in our daily lives, and to catch both of our eyes, it has to be something truly unique.

Diptyque originated in Paris, France, founded by three friends (none of whom were from the cosmetics industry). They launched their first fragrance, L'Eau, in 1968. It focuses on the concept of eau de toilette, exuding understated elegance.

My favorite is the Diptyque Rose Eau de Toilette, a floral scent. After spraying it, I feel like a flower fairy. It's neither overly green nor too sweet, skillfully presenting an elegant rose fragrance—amazing.

My friend's pick is the Fleur de Peau Eau de Toilette. She always likes understated scents and finally found her favorite. This fragrance is closest to natural body scent, giving a refreshing feeling even in summer.

Next, we headed to the basement floor. Everyone has heard of CHICOR; they call it the Korean Sephora, but I think they have a more extensive selection here. You can often find great products.

Today, we discovered a new skincare line called ONOMA. Since I'm planning to switch my skincare routine for summer, I called over a sales assistant to explain.

ONOMA focuses on different serums for different skin types, with six main varieties. The Yellow Brightening Serum, as the name suggests, is a whitening serum. No whitening serum can escape my fair-skinned friend, so she had to buy it to try. They say after using it, even the front camera looks like a selfie, and you don't need filters for whitening—truly a "brightening light."

As for me, with sensitive skin, I need calming and soothing products. I spotted a green bottle that caught my eye. It's said to resist external irritants and effectively calm the skin—exactly what I need! It's a small bottle with a frosted texture, giving a great feel. Looking at the price, it's quite affordable compared to high-end brands. I felt I'd be missing out if I only bought one bottle, and then I saw a blue bottle next to it. It's clearly for hydration. Sure enough, the assistant said it's for dry skin. Thinking of my sister at home with dry skin, well, I'm just that good of a sister. But if I buy for my sister and not for my mom, that's clearly asking for trouble. Fortunately, there were many serums, and I quickly found a noble purple bottle. Its main function is anti-wrinkle and anti-aging, improving skin elasticity and reducing wrinkles. My mom will be thrilled to receive it.

After shopping, we couldn't miss out on food. The 11th floor of New World Department Store Gangnam is the restaurant area. The food here is carefully selected from various brands, including Korean, Japanese, Italian, Chinese, and Vietnamese cuisine—everything you can think of. This time, we chose a Korean restaurant—Hwane. We ordered bean sprout soup and grilled beef patties.

Before we knew it, the day ended with shopping and eating. I reluctantly bid farewell to my friend, and today's Seoul Gangnam travel guide was successfully completed. Nowadays, due to the pandemic, going out isn't the best option, but famous department stores like New World disinfect regularly, making it a relatively safe choice. Plus, with everything from food to entertainment in one place, hanging out with friends on the weekend and enjoying the Gangnam style makes life feel wonderful.