Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Beageal]

Does anybody know some good stores to buy guitars, strings, amps, etc. in Seoul? Or even better, in Bundang?

And are these the kinds of places you can haggle for prices, or would the tag price on a new guitar be set in stone?

[eamo]

The only really big music store in Seoul where you can haggle is the Nakwon arcade near subway station Jongno-3-ga.

I looked for a place to buy strings in Gangnam as that's where I live and work. One little pokey store was all there was. And that was using the korean g/f and the power of internet.

Bundang is the same story. I lived there for a year and never noticed a music store. But then I wasn't looking for one.

[Harvard Material]

Bundang? No. Seoul? Nakwon. It is at the Jongno 3-ga subway station. Look at the area map when you get off of the train. Easy to find, but if you have any problems just ask someone. You will get pointed in the right direction.

Yes, you can haggle for prices. Last time I bought a guitar there the salesman threw in a soft case, two sets of strings, a strap and a cord (accoustic/electric), free of charge. Close to $50.00 worth of accessories just for shopping at his booth. I didn't even bother to haggle on the guitar price. It was very reasonable in the first place.

You'll get everything you need there, and the selection is great.

[Swiss James]

Just another agreement to what people have already said, I never have much luck haggling on price, but you can basically just ask for every reasonable accesory, even on very cheap guitars (mine was 120,000 including bag, strings, leads etc.)

There are other guitar shops, one in the little shopping arcade adjoined to Hong-Ik station for a start, but if you're making a special trip up to Seoul, you should really just go for Nagwon-dong.


It's the building with movie posters on it that you can see from the Jong-no end of Insa-dong.- get in through the doors on the second floor, right hand side.

[Beageal]

Thanks for the spots. I'm gonna check them out this weekend. But I have to say: it's kind of surprising that there are so few music stores in this city. It seems like every one of my kids plays at least three different instruments...

[Swiss James]

it's the korean style- concentrate 90% of the specialist shops in one small area- see also flowers, watches, wedding clothes...

If you're not particularly fussy about price/selection then you might find some stuff in a nearby department store, the Grand Mart opposite my old place had a few keyboards, guitars and violins, but nothing like the huge selection at nagwon-dong.

[Eunoia]

In Bundang, there is a small shop where you can get your basic accessories like strings, picks, string winders, tuners, etc. It's not the kind of place you'd wanna go to buy a really great guitar, but it is good enough in a pinch if you don't happen to feel like going all the way to Seoul just for another G string (the lamest of all guitar jokes).

Let's see if I can remember... go to Yatap Stn. Exit across the main road from Carrefour. Look for a building with a big "Blue Moon" sign on it. It's actually called the (blah blah) Golden Shopping something-or-other. Yeah, it's been a while since I actually lived in Bundang, whaddya gonna do? Anyway, wander around in there. I''m pretty sure it was in one of the basements.






(And if you fancy a jam, wander up the hill on the left side of the building {as you're facing it}, head on up to Woodstock and drop in on Mr. Lee - he'll be happy to see you.)

[keithinkorea]

Kim's club in Bundang may still have a guitar-music shop. I used to buy strings picks and things there. Bought my first guitar (in Korea) there, but it was a piece of crap.

Nagwon is the best place I've found. No comparison to Denmark ST in London but the best that Korea has to offer in my experience.

[barneyy]

This thread is OLD (2 years), but it's still valid as I learned today. Just wanted to second what Eunoia said about the music shop in Yatap. If you get out of exit 2 at Yatap Station, if you go straight (well lean left), you'll find the "golden..." plaza. You'll know that you're going in the correct direction if you have to walk up hill a little bit. The plaza should be on your right. On the 1st floor, there is a small music shop where you can buy basic things.

Nakwon is still definitely the best place though if you need something in particular or are looking for better prices. For simple stuff though, that place in Yatap should do.

hope this helps someone, as the original post just helped me.

[Carlyles Ghost]

Agreed. I stumbled on Nakwon by accident, but found everything I was looking for. Good guys, too.

[Don Mario]

Hey axe grinder!

I found this place behind the Insadong temple.

Walk through the alley that is beside the temple palace.
You walk through some run down vendors, back alleys
and then eventually come out onto a busy street.

You will see music shops on the main street level.

Look for an open doorway with a cardboard cut out of
a guitar play (Eric Clapton?). Go up the stairs and you
are in Guitar Muse.

www.guitarmusc.co.kr

This guy has electric guitars, amps, strings, accessories.
It is good quality gear and the two dudes are real
rocker types (Scorpion fans?)

Good luck!

DM

[lycheeman]

do you know if the music shop near subway station Jongno-3-ga sells traditional korean musical instruments? also do they sell instruments that traditionally come from china? (i know these are very specific questions but any info will help)
cheers in advance
Rik

[Oreovictim]

Yes, the post is old, but I'll respond, anyway. In Bundang, ext Ori, and walk towards, Yong-In. Once you cross the first busy street. You'll see a 24-hour soo-jehy-bee joint on the corner; keep walking straight. From that corner, you'll see a building with a Yamaha store on the third or forth floor. It's about a five-minute walk.

The place is a little too classy for my tastes. Plus, I like having more variety than just a bunch of Yamahas. But it's good if you need strings, picks, and little things like that.

[korea2011]

hey all
where can I find guitar strings & accessories in Gangnam, specifically? I'm sick of travelling all the way to Insadong for stuff. could someone hook me up with directions from gangnam station?

[matthews_world]

Don't forget either the 4th or 5th floor of Yongsan, not the electronics mart but in the same complex as the train station.