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SHOPPING in South
Korea
Shopping in Seoul can be a unique experience where you can get
anything from dried squids to DVDs’. The locals markets are
perfect place for bargain shopping and you can get a whole lot of
discount if you buy anything of the Korean produced consumer goods
such as clothing, shoes and leather goods.
Seoul
There quite a number of shopping malls in the city with Central
City Mall in Gangnum-gu leading from the front. It is a popular
store with bookshops, food court and a Central 6 Cinema multiplex.
The Coex Mall in Jamsil is an underground mall with huge number of
shops including an excellent bookshop. However this is not a place
for bargain lovers. The Lotte Department Store in Myeong-Dong is
one of the busiest places in Seoul. It has a multiplex cinema,
food court, duty free shops and a number of restaurants. There is
another mall in the same area by the name of Migliore. This place
is a huge hit among the teenagers and it has a number of fashion
shops inside with a food court on the 7th floor.
If you are looking for bargain shopping then Itaewon is the place
for you. The prices are superb. Marc Jacobs and DKNY are some of
the brands that are on sale here. The place is perfect for fake
Louis Vuitton and Chanel. Just to be on the safe side do not
attempt to visit the place on your own. Genuine Gucci, Prada and
Armani collections are available in the up market Apkujong. This
place is a haven for class shoppers and there is every chance that
all your credit cards will get exhausted here.
Busan
Home plus Department Store in Busanjin Gu is the most popular
departmental store in Busan. It has a 10 screen multiplex, 10 pin
bowling alley, health club and a very good supermarket. The health
club is ultra modern and a pair of running shoes is all that you
need to bring to the fitness center. If you are adventurous in
food habits then you can try dog meat which is readily available
in the Gupo Market. In Seomyeon you will get to visit the Hyundai
Department Store which is slightly cheaper than Lotte Store.
Almost all stores have ready to eat food and Western goods.
Another striking feature of the store is the plethora of sales
assistants and free food samples in each floor. In the same area
you have the Lotte Department Store which is definitely more
expensive than the other stores and malls. This place is for
shoppers who revel in exclusive and designer goods.
Daegu
The place is not exactly renowned for quality shopping but then
there a few places where you can get goods at a good bargain. One
such place is the Seomun Market at Dalseo-gu which is also known
as the shopper’s paradise. This is a multi-storied building with
over 4000 shops in six sections. Even if you don’t have an
intention to purchase anything here it will be a good walk around.
The market is closed on 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month. At the
center of the city you will get Daegu’s Herbal Medicine Market
which is Korea’s one of the largest and the oldest market dating
back to 1658. From lizard’s tail to magic mushroom you will get
everything here or if you are lucky you might see someone getting
an acupuncture done. Six days in a month you will also get to see
a wholesale market taking place in the Exhibition Hall.
Gwangju
The chungjang Shopping Precinct Area is the one and only place
where you can shop to heart’s content in the city. Chungjangno is
a semi-pedestrianized shopping district with an underground
shopping arcade. The place is always bustling with people all day
and night. It has a number of restaurants, bars, nightclubs,
accessory stores, fast food joints et al. If-U is a place for
youngsters with a food court and six floors of fashion shopping.
Migliore has five cinemas, fashion stores, luxury sauna and an
event stage. The admission to the sauna will make you poorer by
5000 Ringgits. A full body massage oil and scrub beauty treatment
will cost you 12 000 Ringgits.
Jeju-Si
Not much on offer for hardcore shoppers though the Chiseongno
Shopping Precinct is a place trough you can take a leisurely
stroll. Dongmun Market is spread over a large area but nothing
special to offer really. Jungang Underground Shopping Center is
another place where you can get retail goods but does not deserve
any special mention.
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