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AsiaESLbound
Joined: 07 Jan 2010 Location: Truck Stop Missouri
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Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 8:44 pm Post subject: Real liquor store offering a selection? Cognac selection? |
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Liquor stores are common the world over, but I haven't seen any other than small marts selling Korean soju, beer, and a sampling of English whiskeys. Lotte and Emarts sell pricey Hennessy and expensive Camus cognacs as well as Jack Daniels. I want some more import selections such as Courvesier and Crown Royal. There was a small liquor store near me called, "Cutty Sark," but it went out after only being open for a month. Back home, you could find 3 real liquor stores in a small town along with a huge Walmart and 2 grocery stores, but I can't find much in a town 10 times larger.
Where can you go shop for the goods? |
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SMOE NSET
Joined: 25 Feb 2010 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 8:57 pm Post subject: |
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There is a shop on the opposite side of the street of Jongno tower at Jonggak station. Exit 2, walk about 100m and you will see it. I don't know how much they are asking though. Most likely the same price as the larger marts. It has a large selection though to what I remember seeing through the window.
You could go to the black market in Namdaemun. They have a large selection of liquors. This is where I have found the cheapest prices for alcohol (besides Costco).
Of course, this is all relevant if you live in Seoul. |
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goingtothecountry
Joined: 15 Aug 2010
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Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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There is a place in Hongdae, maybe a couple of blocks from the subway station that sells only wine and liquor. Obviously was marked up from the prices back home but all in all not too bad. I got a bottle of Cognac there 55,000. The name brand I can't remember... But it tasted good and was recommended to me when I balked at the prices for the brands I recognized. |
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nathanrutledge
Joined: 01 May 2008 Location: Marakesh
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Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 9:18 pm Post subject: |
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I second the Namdaemun suggestion. I bought some rum there for about the same price I'd pay in the US.
Liquor stores are not TOO hard to find, but there really isn't a liquor store district like so many other goods. There is one on the southwest side of the main gangnam road by Nonhyeon station, line seven. There are a few between Songpa and Seokchon Lake stations on line 8. There is one on the north side of the street, east of Chungmuro station, across from the movie theater. Those are the three that jump out to me, and that's just what I remember from wandering around town. |
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AsiaESLbound
Joined: 07 Jan 2010 Location: Truck Stop Missouri
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Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 10:18 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the responses. Yes, I'm expecting them all to be in Seoul and that's where I go to shop. I don't live there, so I don't know where to go for everything, but need to know how to find sellers in a time efficient manner. From new pants to oats to liquor, I expect to have to go shop in Seoul as the outer laying rural small town areas offer little of what I want and need. |
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SMOE NSET
Joined: 25 Feb 2010 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 11:11 pm Post subject: |
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Well Namdaemun market would be best then as you can find all three of those in the near vicinity.
Namdaemun market has oats and alcohol. Depending on what type of pants you want to buy, they have those as well. Or, you could just walk 10 minutes to Myeongdong and shop to your heart's content, clothing mind you. |
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diarmuid2k
Joined: 29 May 2010 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2010 12:31 am Post subject: |
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I know of one near Omokgyo station in Mokdong if you like. PM for details. |
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AsiaESLbound
Joined: 07 Jan 2010 Location: Truck Stop Missouri
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Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2010 1:41 am Post subject: |
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SMOE NSET wrote: |
Well Namdaemun market would be best then as you can find all three of those in the near vicinity.
Namdaemun market has oats and alcohol. Depending on what type of pants you want to buy, they have those as well. Or, you could just walk 10 minutes to Myeongdong and shop to your heart's content, clothing mind you. |
What's the best time to go to Namdaemun? I tried entering the below ground level several times, but was stopped by security. I understand the below ground areas have imports, but was stopped from entering. The above ground market seemed to be one of Korea's coolest markets, but I only found heaps of cheap Chinese stuff and little worth really digging into the wallet over. It was more of a cultural experience, but I've read there's all this good Western stuff for sale some place down there. |
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nathanrutledge
Joined: 01 May 2008 Location: Marakesh
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Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2010 3:52 pm Post subject: |
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AsiaESLbound wrote: |
SMOE NSET wrote: |
Well Namdaemun market would be best then as you can find all three of those in the near vicinity.
Namdaemun market has oats and alcohol. Depending on what type of pants you want to buy, they have those as well. Or, you could just walk 10 minutes to Myeongdong and shop to your heart's content, clothing mind you. |
What's the best time to go to Namdaemun? I tried entering the below ground level several times, but was stopped by security. I understand the below ground areas have imports, but was stopped from entering. The above ground market seemed to be one of Korea's coolest markets, but I only found heaps of cheap Chinese stuff and little worth really digging into the wallet over. It was more of a cultural experience, but I've read there's all this good Western stuff for sale some place down there. |
Stopped from entering? Where were you trying to go? I don't know about the other posters, but the place in Namdaemun I was talking about is right next to the Namdaemun gate. A low, squat building that has a couple of basements. THAT place is open Mon-Saturday, closed Sunday. Hours are pretty regular, maybe 8-8 or thereabouts. There are other buildings that have different hours, and there are some areas where going underground would be a no-no as it is like a loading dock/storage area in some parts. |
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SMOE NSET
Joined: 25 Feb 2010 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2010 7:34 pm Post subject: |
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Go to Hoehyeon Station Line 4 and take exit 5. Take an immediate right when you exit. You will be looking at the entrance to the market. Head straight down this walkway. You will pass an information booth in the middle. A little passed that, you should see a ramp (with a green roof) heading down below. This is where I always go. Visit all of the basement as it is not all in the same area. Some import stores are surrounded by clothing stores.
**I would be careful if you are buying any perishable items. If it is not in a refrigerator, don't buy it even if it is cold. They like to freeze the items over night and then keep them out all day slowly thawing. Then freeze them again at night.
Hours vary from store to store but the general time is between 5pm and 7pm for closing time.
Here is a great site that explains all of the buildings better than I ever could.
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[url]http://www.asia-planet.net/korea/namdaemun.htm[/url] |
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AsiaESLbound
Joined: 07 Jan 2010 Location: Truck Stop Missouri
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Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2010 4:43 am Post subject: |
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SMOE NSET wrote: |
Go to Hoehyeon Station Line 4 and take exit 5. Take an immediate right when you exit. You will be looking at the entrance to the market. Head straight down this walkway. You will pass an information booth in the middle. A little passed that, you should see a ramp (with a green roof) heading down below. This is where I always go. Visit all of the basement as it is not all in the same area. Some import stores are surrounded by clothing stores.
**I would be careful if you are buying any perishable items. If it is not in a refrigerator, don't buy it even if it is cold. They like to freeze the items over night and then keep them out all day slowly thawing. Then freeze them again at night.
Hours vary from store to store but the general time is between 5pm and 7pm for closing time.
Here is a great site that explains all of the buildings better than I ever could.
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[url]http://www.asia-planet.net/korea/namdaemun.htm[/url] |
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Thanks a bunch. I would say the half dozen or so vendors are the best for liquor in all of Korea. Not only for selection, but prices that makes bar tenders happy. They got many different kinds and the prices seem fair. I got 1 liter of Courvisier VSOP for 55,000. This much cognac would run you around 95,000 won at an Emart. They have many things I'd never seen. The booze bottles appear to be Chinese market imports due to Chinese labeling. The underground market appears to be a wholesale market geared towards proprietors, but anyone can shop it. It's very tight conditions where a closet sized liquor shop is the biggest liquor store in Korea. It's amazing how many items they stack up close together so you really have to take a close look in cramped conditions. I noticed the vendors expect you to immediately make a purchase decision within 10 seconds of approaching their stall. Look out for those big azz motorcycles hauling in goods on ground level streets coming at you like you are a motorcycle magnet. Even if plenty of room on the street, the motorcycles like to path directly at you until the last second. No sense in trying to dodge them as it gets tricky how they change their minds 100 times in 10 seconds on whether to go left or right; just wait for them to come to you and put it up to them to miss you. Despite the motorcycle hazard, you can make out like a bandit better than you would at a big box store or your cookie cutter mart.
I also seen Levi 501 jeans and Calvin Klien underwear, but not cheap. I noticed the Korean vendors barely budge a discounted price upon negotiating. They will happily let you walk away from a sale if you aren't willing to pay something more than 2,000 to as much as 5,000 won off asking price so this isn't another country where they are desperate to sell it by offering huge discounts when you walk away from an offer. They'd rather hoard a big mound of stuff than to let go of it at lower prices. Overall, Namdaemoon offers many more goods than you commonly see elsewhere, but they don't budge much, if any, on price since they know they are stocking rare commodities. Seems to be good liquor prices, but not so good on the American food items. Well, it's a really large version of the Red Door. |
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ForceOne

Joined: 25 Aug 2005
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Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2010 8:17 am Post subject: |
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Kim's Club @ Beomgye Station (line 4), 20 mins south of Sadang Station sells Crown Royal--39,900. I believe there are some scattered throughout Seoul.
There is also a liquor store outside of Pyeongchon Station (line 4) that sells Crown for 43,000. |
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Son Deureo!
Joined: 30 Apr 2003
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Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2010 6:16 pm Post subject: |
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There's a black market with a decent liquor selection as well as some other hard to find Western products by exit 8 of Shinchon Station. |
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Subtitle
Joined: 05 Nov 2010 Location: Hwaseong-si
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 4:10 am Post subject: |
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Some weekend I might print this out and go searching. If I might make a suggestion, this is perfect for wikimapia. Grocery stores and post offices are other useful things to add.
Anyone know of any liquor stores in Suwon? |
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pecan
Joined: 01 Jul 2004
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 4:55 am Post subject: |
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According to the NTS, fake liquor is more than a 752 million dollar industry in Korea.
Many don't know, can't tell the difference, or simply don't care. However, if you happen to have a discerning palate, I strongly recommend for you to do your shopping for liquor at legitimate businesses, like Costco.
Avoid XYZ, aka 남대문, as it is full of fakes.
Nut |
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