Shopping

The Gangnam or Kangnam area though upscale is very popular. The famous COEX mall is also in this area and is easily reachable. Keeping in mind the high priced shops be sure to come here with a wallet that is suitably loaded!

COEX Mall in the heart of Seoul is where shopping, culture, education and leisure are integrated within one complex. With 85,000 square meters of underground dining, shopping and family entertainment facilities, you will find lots to do to occupy you for hours. This traffic-free and all weather environment at the mall is perfect for you to visit the theaters, see the aquarium, get a taste of international food, or simply stroll along and browse through shops selling the latest books, clothing, computers and more.

This multi-brand boutique with an ambience of a sleek urban fashionista is a favorite haunt of the Korean celebs. Visit the store and you're sure to come face-to-face with the affluent, the young trend-setters and the sporty type. There is also a good selection of books, magazines and music here. Tel: (02) 317 0397 Address: Gangnam-gu

If you are the type that eats, breathes, sleeps and lives fashion, then this is one place you simply can't miss. Everything branded and top-notch and all under one roof..........that's the Galleria for you! Take your pick of world famous designer labels from the dozens of luxury boutiques packed into two buildings. One of the buildings is covered in plastic discs which gives the impression of a disco with psychedelic lights. An Italian restaurant with a vineyard patio on top of the west wing serves set meals.

Two top Seoul designers create hand-made jewelry in award-winning designs which are available at this shop. Tel: (02) 733 9394 Address: Gwanghwamun

Kim Gyu-sik, the up and coming Seoul fashion designer and his associates have set up this little boutique in Apgujeong and in Lotte department store in Myeong-dong.

Apkujong is the fashionista haven of Seoul. Situated in the Kangnam area, it has several upscale department stores and funky boutiques almost everywhere you look. The Singsegae department store here, near the JW Marriot, is very popular. There is an underground mall in B1 of the bus station at the Express Bus Terminal Station there and is a great place for the fashion conscious as is the Hyundai Department Store, which is at the foot of the Donhgo Bridge. The Galleria is also a very famous department store there.

Possibly one of the best markets in the city to find knockoffs of almost anything found at the department stores or boutiques in the Kangnam area, at a fraction of the price! The Doota B/1 is a great place to find such products. Upstairs is a great place to find accessories and their shoe department has almost the same shoes as available at the Galleria at one third of the price. The quality is somewhat questionable and the styles are sometimes not as good as their more expensive counterparts, but nevertheless, they are great hit or miss places.

Jamsil is a great place for younger people as it has got tons of stuff for the younger generation. An ice rink, movie theaters, a sports center, and several other attractions are just the icing on the cake. Lotte World is geared toward a more upscale clientele but the prices are actually quite moderate. The department store carries a number of Korean and international brands and the top floor has an excellent food court.

Reasaonably priced and with a reputation to uphold, Dynasty makes sure they tailor-make your clothes to perfection. Pure wool custom-made suits that cost around 250,000 take about three days to make.

Buy books from this amazing bookshop which has a collection so large it will take you hours before you feel like leaving. Boasting the best selection of books in English, this shop has seating arrangements for your comfort and you can go through the immense collection leisurely before making up your mind to buy. The COEX Mall houses another branch of this shop.

A well-known local designer showcases his creativity in this boutique where he artistically transforms hanbok, the spectacular traditional clothing, into apparel suited for the modern times.

In this tiny shop you can watch with fascination as an elderly artisan lovingly hand crafts leather goods as per your requirement. Tel: (02) 392 4453 Address: Sinchon

One genuine reason for you to say,"My foot!" Shoes galore at this store will have you dazzled by the enormity of the selection displayed. The range and number is enough to make even Imelda Marcos swoon. The shop is spread across a number of floors with thousands of pairs of shoes just waiting to be bought. Cinderellas, look carefully, you just might find those glass slippers here for that all important ball!

The best place to find bargains in town is Myong Dong. A trendy area filled with clothes that teens and a younger crowd will definitely love. It is mostly filled with Japanese tourists and is home to brightly colored garments that younger Japanese are more likely to wear. There are tons of great shops for sports supplies and clothes that are great for a hip hop night in town. Myong dong also has several superb shops for accessories and shoes, and the sunglasses that can be found there are just great!

Within walking distance of the South Gate, this is one of the city's most popular open-air markets that carries almost everything at extremely low prices. A great place to find anything at dirt cheap rates!

Itaewon is bargain hunter central! It is a great place for people who can go treasure hunting in piles of stuff to look for Korea manufactured, rejected-for-export designer clothing, and accessories. Marc Jacobs, DKNY, Catherine Malandrino are just a few of the brands you can find here at extremely low prices. Though some of the clothes will be outdated and might not fit all that well, they are still great as they can always be altered to fit. Adidas and Nike outlets in these areas have great workout and casual wear available, as well as great footwear. The street stalls are a great place to find imitation handbags and hats.

This huge market has its roots in history, dating back to the 15th century. A haven for tourists and locals, this market has on sale in its shops and stalls an amazing variety of goods from ginseng, dried seaweed, clothes shoes, accessories and hiking gear to watches, handicrafts, sunglasses, spectacles and contact lenses. The low prices and variety here are the main attraction for the buyer. At this market you will also find food stalls that sell cheap meals. Though Sunday is the weekly off for the market, plenty of shops along with the stalls do remain open. Children will definitely love to shop at Alpha with its range of toys and stationery each of which occupy two floors. Second hand goods are also available and you can find shops selling second-hand cameras, LPs, CDs and DVDs in Hoehyeon underground arcade.

If low prices and sassy style are what you are looking for, then look no further. You will find all that your heart desires at this new youth-oriented fashion store and café. The store employs Russian staff to serve the customers.

The custom-made business shirts available here are mostly plain (you couldn't walk into your office sporting an Aloha shirt) though the shop does offer a range of designs for you to choose from. The cost varies from around 280 to 550.

This small Saturday market in the park outside Hongik University definitely gives you the feel of a local fun fair. You will find stalls selling handmade jewelry, hand painted hats and T-shirts, appliqué bags, fans with a political message and soap made from rice and honey. There are hair- braiding stalls and tarot card readers too. There's entertainment galore with singers and pasty-faced magicians putting on shows in the entertainment corner. Be prepared for fun and frolic at this colorful market.

Insadong is a great place for souvenir shopping and is a great place to get antiquities and art.

Get the feel of the 60's Woodstock era at this tiny shop where hand crafted goods are all individually made by the owner.

Pretty handmade Korean- style embroidery of all types is sold at this shop. Any queries you have about the work will gladly be answered by the staff, all of whom are embroidery experts and fortunately speak English.