South Korea Travel: Strolling Through Seoul's Shopping Streets (Photos)

For a journalist, South Korea is very familiar. From the first expansion tour in August 2009, I have already visited South Korea five times. But if there is one worth reminiscing about, comparatively speaking, the second trip, a free travel to South Korea with family, was a truly in-depth tour of Seoul.

Airport Express Station (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

At 10:00 AM on June 13, 2010, the journalist and companions departed from Terminal 2 of Beijing Capital Airport. After a 1-hour and 20-minute flight, we arrived smoothly at Incheon Airport at 11:20 Seoul time. At the airport, we took the Airport Express, then transferred to the subway, quickly reaching our accommodation at Seoul Lotte City Hotel. After dropping off our luggage, we began our free travel journey of strolling through Seoul's shopping streets for a cultural experience.

Heavy Traffic in Itaewon (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

We took the subway first to the Itaewon shopping district, located in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Upon emerging from the subway, a scene of bustling traffic immediately unfolded before us. Due to long-term exposure to foreign cultures, Itaewon has become very "exotic." It is located near Namsan in Seoul, close to the US military base in South Korea, so it everywhere reflects pure American culture. The crowds on the streets are mainly Americans and tourists from around the world visiting Seoul. It somewhat resembles Beijing's "Sanlitun."

Itaewon Mask Products (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Here, one can experience and learn about comprehensive culture through dining, entertainment, and shopping. How internationally famous the Itaewon shopping street is becomes evident from the saying, "It's not strange not to know Seoul, but it would be strange not to know Itaewon." Centered around the Hamilton Hotel, the Itaewon shopping street extends east and west.

Itaewon Café (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

In Itaewon, store and restaurant signs are all in English, and there are many authentic American-style clubs and shops, making one feel as if in another country. Although traveling in Seoul, it felt like being in a foreign land, giving a fresh feeling.

Itaewon Street Food Stalls (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

In the 1.4-kilometer stretch from Itaewon 1-dong to Hannam 2-dong, there are not only countless shops but also a variety of entertainment facilities and gourmet restaurants.

Shopping Street Photo (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

A major feature of Itaewon Street is the widespread use of English. Not only do locals and foreigners converse in English on the streets, but shop signs are also in English, and words like "extra-large" and "long and oversized" are commonly seen.

Itaewon Shopping Street (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

The best-selling items in Itaewon are jeans, fur, and leather goods. Most are pure American style. There are also cheap duty-free specialty stores selling branded fur coats, leather jackets, formal wear, etc. There are also pure American-style space suits, sneakers, Hip-hop wear, and other "foreign-flavored" shops.

School Children (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Surrounding areas have various pizza shops, fast food restaurants, and other Chinese and Western eateries. There are also traditional Korean saunas, traditional restaurants, and many international clubs, cafés, ice cream shops, etc. It can be said that Itaewon is a street that integrates with the international community, full of foreign charm.

Itaewon Alley (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Since the late 1990s, tourists from Japan, China, Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East have increasingly come to Itaewon, transforming it from a street centered on the US military to one facing tourists from all over the world. In 1997, it was designated as a tourist special zone. Most people on this street are foreigners, so most stores can speak foreign languages like English, Japanese, or Chinese, and the products come in various sizes to meet foreigners' needs.

Seoul Street Photo (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Additionally, one can taste foreign cuisine from Turkey, India, Pakistan, Switzerland, Thailand, and other places that are hard to find elsewhere, which is a great joy of visiting here. Itaewon, gradually developing into a world-class tourist attraction, also holds the Itaewon International Festival every year, with open-air cultural performances. Besides shopping, visitors can experience the essence of traditional Korean culture in an exotic environment.

Insadong Shopping Street Entrance Photo

If Itaewon shopping street is like Beijing's Sanlitun, then Insadong is like Beijing's Liulichang. Located in the heart of Seoul, South Korea, it is a rare space. Judging by the various old and precious traditional items circulating in Insadong, it vividly embodies the characteristics of Korean traditional culture. On the morning of June 14, 2010, the journalist and companions visited here on a reputation.

Insadong Shopping Street (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

On both sides of the main road in Insadong, there are many alleys, like a maze. Within this maze are densely packed galleries, traditional craft shops, antique art stores, traditional tea houses, traditional restaurants, cafés, etc. Each shop in Insadong has its unique charm, loved by both young and middle-aged people.

Insadong Antique Stall (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Among them, galleries are the center that sustains Insadong's lifeline. More than 100 galleries are gathered here, allowing visitors to enjoy various exhibitions like Korean painting, prints, and sculptures. Representative ones include Hakgojae, once a center for folk art; Gana Gallery, a base for talented painters; and Gannart Center. If you want to feast your eyes on the most famous galleries in Insadong, you can take the "Gallery Tour Car" to visit over a dozen well-known galleries at a low cost.

Rodin Sculpture Exhibition Poster (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

When we arrived here, we saw posters for the "Rodin Sculpture Art" exhibition hanging side by side on lampposts along both sides of the entire Insadong Street, very eye-catching. It shows that although the area focuses on local traditional culture, it does not reject Western culture and art.

Starbucks Coffee Shop (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

A companion pointed to a Starbucks coffee shop sign written in Korean and told the journalist: Insadong places great emphasis on promoting Korean traditional culture. For instance, the sign of a global chain like Starbucks written in Korean can only be seen on Insadong Street.

Famous Two-Person Shop (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Other sights on Insadong Street include traditional tea houses, restaurants, and specialty food stalls. These small shops appear frequently as one strolls along the long shopping street. Some are on the main street, others in the alleys. In particular, shop owners, seeing passersby, would warmly greet us. When they saw us, they first spoke in Chinese; when we didn't respond promptly, they switched to Japanese—quite amusing.

Patrol Police Car (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Every Sunday from 10:00 to 22:00, Insadong becomes a "car-free street," turning into a cultural space shared with citizens. On that day, not only do existing shops operate, but there are also traditional performances and exhibitions on the street, and vendors selling maltose candy and fortune tellers make an appearance.

Insadong Shopping Street Entrance (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Moreover, foreigners come here for fun. To appreciate Korean traditional culture, these foreign tourists will browse antique shops, buy some old paintings, or purchase maltose candy or traditional scallion pancakes on the street. Many foreigners become completely immersed in the charm of traditional culture in this urban center.

Street Statue (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

On the morning of June 15, 2010, after Insadong, the journalist and companions arrived at Myeongdong Shopping Street, which offered a different bustling scene. Myeongdong Street is located in the center of Seoul, South Korea. Due to the dense concentration of various brand specialty stores, department stores, duty-free shops, etc., it has become a representative fashion district in Korea.

Myeongdong Shopping Street (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Although there are a wide variety of purchasable items such as clothing, shoes, accessories, cosmetics, and other trendy goods, the design and quality of the products are higher than those in Namdaemun Market and Dongdaemun Market, so prices are also within the affordable range for mid-to-high-end consumers. In terms of positioning, "Myeongdong" can be classified as "Korea's Ximending."

Street Building (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

In Myeongdong, large department stores include Lotte Department Store, Shinsegae Department Store, and shopping centers like U2Zone Building, Miliore Building, and AbaTar Building on Myeongdong Street.

Seoul Shopping Street Photo (Photo by Feng Shi)

In large department stores, high-end goods are the main purchases, while at duty-free shopping centers like Miliore Building and AbaTar Building, fashionable items can be bought at low prices. Additionally, various brand stores are clustered on the central street and in the alleys on both sides.

Myeongdong Promotional Game (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Around Myeongdong Street, various street food stalls are everywhere. The colorful and dazzling array of small goods is overwhelming. The sound of hawking is incessant. Some stores even promote products through entertainment activities in front of their shops, which both adds to the store's popularity and sells goods.

Myeongdong at Night (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

In Myeongdong, besides shopping, there are also many delicious foods and fun activities. For dining, there are Western restaurants, fast food restaurants, and various Korean, Western, Japanese, and other types of restaurants, among which Myeongdong tonkatsu and knife-cut noodles are the most famous. In addition, Myeongdong has beauty shops, banks, theaters, and other facilities for the convenience of visitors.

Myeongdong Cathedral (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Especially worth mentioning is that when in Myeongdong, one must visit "Myeongdong Cathedral." Because it is the earliest Catholic church in Korea, a purely Gothic building with antique charm. Behind the church, there is a place for people to rest amidst the chaotic city, where visitors can relieve travel fatigue.

Daehak-ro Surrounding Shopping Street (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Among Seoul's shopping streets, besides Itaewon and Insadong, which resemble Beijing's Sanlitun and Liulichang respectively, I think there is a place like Beijing's Wudaokou and Xueyuan Road area, with a strong cultural atmosphere—that is the shopping street scene around Daehak-ro.

Daehak-ro Shopping Street Night View (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Daehak-ro is a youthful street centered around the former site of Seoul National University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, spanning Dongsung-dong and Hyehwa-dong. Since the 1980s, many theater troupes moved to Daehak-ro, turning it into a cultural street.

Daehak-ro Theater Photo (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Since then, live performance cafés, cinemas, theaters, and ordinary cafés and bars have gathered here, becoming a comprehensive cultural space. In particular, the long-established Cheongnyang Theater and Hakjeon Small Theater sustain their lifeline here, rooting Korean art in this area.

Daehak-ro Theater (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Daehak-ro is a popular gathering place for young people in Seoul because of its many attractions and rich food. The shopping street is filled with restaurants, fast food joints, bars, and other places that young people like. After watching a play or performance, young couples or groups of friends can enjoy happy times in nearby cafés or pubs. Hence, its unique atmosphere is especially loved by people.

Daehak-ro Shopping Street (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

In Daehak-ro, there is also a very famous performance in Korea called "The Drawing Show." I remember last year when I came to Seoul, I saw a performance of "Nanta," a symphony of pots and pans. That unique performance left a deep impression on me, and it is said that in Seoul, "The Drawing Show" and "Nanta" are considered sister performances.

"The Drawing Show" Venue (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

The venue for "The Drawing Show" is a very inconspicuous small place on the shopping street around Daehak-ro. The theater is not at all luxurious, but the performance is very distinctive. The small theater can only accommodate about a hundred spectators, mostly tourists from all over the world who come by reputation.

"The Drawing Show" In Progress (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

"The Drawing Show" is also called "Drawing: Show." As a non-verbal musical, it is a performance that shows the entire process of creating a painting on stage. It was first performed in Korea, and it is hard to find its origin elsewhere in the world. The actors draw on small pieces of paper or use the entire stage as a canvas to create more than ten artworks. They use the sea or shells to create special effects for the paintings, presenting diverse materials and techniques to the audience.

Four Performers (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

After the show began, the four protagonists "looks" appeared one after another. They interacted with the earthlings (i.e., the live audience) through humorous performance, using art and body language. The looks: one that creates paintings in an instant, one that is clumsy and always makes mistakes, one that is good at dancing, each with a distinct personality. The entire performance presents classical and modern, Eastern and Western artistic elements in a comprehensive form. It blends painting techniques with special effects, bringing unexpected surprises and emotions to the audience, leaving a lasting impression... (Text and photos: Feng Ganyong)