What to Buy When Traveling to South Korea: A Must-Buy Shopping List and Dual-Route Guide to Popular Attractions

Having lived in South Korea for a year or two, I haven't had many chances to visit Seoul due to the pandemic. Previously, I took a weekend trip to Seoul for a short getaway that combined shopping and sightseeing, which was truly enjoyable. Friends who haven't been here might ask: What should I buy when traveling to South Korea? What fun attractions in Seoul are worth visiting? Today, I'll share my personal must-buy shopping list for traveling in South Korea and a dual-route guide to popular attractions, so you can have a fulfilling and enjoyable trip.

1. Fashion Shopping

I left early on Friday afternoon to avoid the peak travel time and arrived at Myeongdong, a popular tourist spot in Seoul. This commercial street, also popular among locals, had become quite desolate and quiet due to the impact of COVID-19. Fortunately, as the pandemic eased, Myeongdong gradually regained its former vitality.

Various clothing stores and cosmetics shops are a given, and there are also major duty-free shops and department stores. Both Korean domestic and international brands can be found here, with stores densely packed. After shopping, we had a satisfying meal at one of Myeongdong's many eateries. Although it was still November, the shopping malls and duty-free shops had already begun decorating for Christmas, and the festive atmosphere was growing stronger—it seems Christmas would be a great time to visit again.

Of course, when coming to Myeongdong, you can't miss the duty-free shops for a better shopping experience. I chose Shinsegae, which combines a department store and a duty-free shop, saving time and allowing me to see more quality products. The 1st to 7th floors are the department store, and the 8th to 12th floors are the duty-free shop. Since the duty-free shop closes earlier than the department store, we headed straight to the 8th floor.

On the 8th and 9th floors, you can find counters for luxury brand clothing and bags such as FENDI, Burberry, and LV. Starting from the 10th floor, the cosmetics counters are mainly Sisley, Estée Lauder, and Chanel.

Compared to regular counters, purchasing your favorite cosmetics here at duty-free prices is incredibly tempting! I've always loved the brand JILL STUART, and they have a counter here, so I couldn't miss it.

From packaging to fragrance, its products can be simply described as elegant, gorgeous, and dreamy. I tried the newly launched body lotion, which has a diamond-shaped bottle and a delicate petal-shaped cap—I was smitten at first sight. The scent is natural and long-lasting, protecting the skin while feeling like I've spritzed on perfume, so I decisively bought it.

Besides the body lotion, JILL STUART's makeup is also well worth purchasing. Most of my base makeup, blusher, and lipstick are from this brand. This winter's new lip gloss has luxurious packaging and beautifully detailed carvings. Most importantly, in the dry winter, the new lip gloss not only has strong color payoff but also excellent moisturizing properties without adding burden to the lips—it's a makeup item perfect for winter. After that, I bought their classic blusher and some nice-smelling, good-looking, and effective hand cream, wrapping up a productive shopping haul.

2. Popular Attractions

On the second day of the trip, it was time to experience Seoul's city scenery. I chose the Itaewon Gyeongnidan-gil area, which is very popular among young people, and N Seoul Tower. The two places are not far apart, and in the early winter, when it's not too cold, strolling through the streets is quite pleasant. There are already many foreigners living in the Itaewon and Haebangchon area, and over decades of evolution, the buildings on each street have their own unique character. It's also a popular spot for young people to relax and unwind on weekends and holidays.

On Gyeongnidan-gil, besides Korean food, you can also taste cuisines from around the world. My friend and I had a simple brunch and then visited a small wine bar to enjoy the afternoon sunshine with a couple of drinks. Of course, we visited these places while following epidemic prevention measures—happiness is important, but safety comes first.

As dusk fell, we moved on to the famous N Seoul Tower. As an iconic symbol of the Korean Wave, N Seoul Tower frequently appears in various films, TV shows, and variety programs—fans of Korean culture are certainly familiar with it. Since my friend was a bit afraid of the cable car, we took a bus from the National Theater up the mountain. If time permits and you're physically up for it, you can also hike to the top. Upon reaching the summit of Namsan Mountain, you can experience the Love Locks and observation deck, which have been featured by many celebrities. On a clear day, having a picnic at the top or enjoying a meal while overlooking Seoul's scenery is a wonderful experience. The path to the observation deck features a media art exhibition area, so the journey is not boring. Once on the deck, looking out at Seoul's night view from a high vantage point is truly magnificent. Such a night view is not something you see every day, so I highly recommend that friends visiting Korea for the first time come here to check it out.

If quarantine is no longer required as before, a two-day-one-night trip to Korea is truly enjoyable. If you're still wondering what to buy when traveling to South Korea, this must-buy shopping list and dual-route guide to popular attractions can help you. If you have the chance, go and explore them all.