Korea Tour : Seoul’s 5 Best Underground Shopping Malls

 

Korea’s four distinctive seasons, with cold winds in winter or the sudden downpours during the rainy season in summer may cause much inconvenience in having a pleasant shopping experience in Korea. However, the weather causes no problem at the underground shopping malls in Seoul, where you can go and fully enjoy shopping, without being restricted by the conditions of weather. These underground malls boast a large number of shops and offer more reasonable prices than stores at shopping zones such as Sinsadong Garosu-gil Road or Myeong-dong. In addition, these malls are near public transportation, allowing you to visit the malls and enjoy shopping while keeping your feet dry even in the middle of a rain storm.

 

COEX Mall

 

COEX Mall is a well-known underground shopping mall in Korea housing many brand stores. A movie theater, aquarium, duty-free shops, casino, COEX InterContinental Seoul, and department stores are delightfully connected to the underground mall, making it possible to enjoy shopping and cultural experiences without leaving the building. Famous restaurants and trendy dessert cafés, along with character pop-up stores and kid’s cafés located in the mall provide a fun day for all generations.

 

☞ Directions: Samsung Station (Seoul Subway Line 2), connected to Exit 5 & 6

☞ Operating hours: 10:30-22:00 (Hours vary by shop)

☞ Closed: Open all year round (Closed dates may vary by store)

☞ Nearby attractions: Bongunsa Temple, Seven Luck Casino – Seoul Gangnam, Seolleung & Jeongneung Royal Tombs

☞ Website: www.coex.co.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)

* Shopping Tips : While some stores may accept credit cards, it is recommended to bring cash as well.

Goto Mall

 

Goto Mall, situated at Express Bus Terminal. is often called a shopping heaven for women. The 880-meter-long alley consists of a multitude of stores offering various goods, making it the largest underground shopping mall of its kind in Seoul. The latest clothing trends, accessories, cosmetics, interior products and whole sale flowers - you name it, Goto Mall has them.

 

At the end of the mall’s long asiles, restaurants and food courts are available for shoppers to ease their hungry stomachs after a big shopping spree. Goto Mall offers relatively cheaper deals than Dongdaemun and Namdaemun markets, which are frequently visited by foreign shoppers. You can also enjoy the fun of bargaining for great deals on great products.

 

☞ Directions: Express Bus Terminal Station (Seoul Subway Line 3, 7, 9)

☞ Operating hours: 10:00-22:00 (Hours vary by shop)

☞ Closed: The day of Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving)

☞ Nearby attractions: Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain, Shinsegae Department Store – Gangnam Branch, Sinsadong Garosu-gil Road

☞ Website: gotomall.kr (Korean only)

 

Gangnam Underground Shopping Center

 

Gangnam is very popular among international travelers, and the new underground shopping mall is where you can enjoy affordability and quality as well. Gangnam Station, on Seoul Subway Line 2, boasts the greatest concentration of clothing, cosmetics, and telecommunications stores, making it easy for shoppers to do price comparisons before making purchases. Also, the Sinbundang Line Underground Shopping Center, which is attached to Gangnam Station, features low- to mid-priced brands and franchised coffee shops spread out over a large area, offering one of the most convenient and comfortable underground shopping experiences. For those who are determined to go on a big shopping spree, try walking through Gangnam Underground Shopping Mall all the way to Sinnonhyeon Station, and exiting out on to Gangnam-daero Road. The much-loved Gangnam-daero Road is known for its sprawling shopping district.

 

☞ Directions: Gangnam Station (Seoul Subway Line 2, Shinbundang Line)

☞ Operating hours: 11:00-23:00 (Hours vary by shop)

☞ Closed: The day of Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) (Other closed days may be different by shop)

☞ Nearby attractions: Samsung D’light, Kukkiwon, Gold Spa (Hwanggeum Oncheon)

 

Jamsil Underground Shopping Center

 

Another shopping center in the heart of Seoul is located at Jamsil. This underground shopping mall is rather small in scale, yet offers sufficient options for shoppers. Jamsil Underground Shopping Mall is connected to Lotte World and Lotte Department Store – Jamsil Branch, offering the chance to enjoy exquisite Korean cuisine at a variety of restaurants. With the opening of Lotte World Mall, the shopping center has begun to draw in more and more traffic.

 

☞ Directions: Jamsil Station (Seoul Subway Line 2, 8)

☞ Operating hours: 10:00-22:00

☞ Closed: First and third Monday of every month (Other closed days may vary by shop)

* All stores operated by Lotte have the same closing days as Lotte Department Store.

☞ Nearby attractions: Lotte World, Lotte World Tower & Mall, Songpa Naru Park (Seokchonhosu Lake), Jamsil Sports Complex, Olympic Park

Yeongdeungpo Underground Mall

 

Yeongdeungpo has long been a hub of public transportation in Seoul that is always crowded with people arriving and leaving. Since the opening of Times Square, a mega shopping mall in 2009, it has been drawing even more traffic. Yeongdeungpo Underground Mall offers a variety of products marketed to different age groups from teenagers to seniors. Yeongdeungpo Underground Mall mostly caters toward menswear but is also near Shinsegae Department Store and Times Square for a variety of shopping options.

 

☞ Directions: Yeongdeungpo Station (Seoul Subway Line 1)

☞ Operating hours: 10:00-22:00 (Hours vary by shop)

☞ Closed: The day of Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) (Other closed days may vary by shop)

☞ Nearby attractions: Times Square, Lotte Department Store – Yeongdeungpo Branch, Yeouido Hangang Park