Korean Job Discussion Forums

[shamash]

I had the extreme misfortune of my only pair of glasses breaking this morning, the 3rd day I'm in Korea

I'm going to try to find some tape (hoping they sell tape at 7-11) but are there cheap glasses stores here? I don't have my prescription, are they able to use my lenses or just get the prescription from my lenses? How much am I looking at spending?

[tardisrider]

If you're in Seoul, the part of Namdaemun market nearest Namdaemun itself (aka Sungneymun) is full of eyeglass shops. From what I understand, prices there are much lower than in the US though I don't know how the prices compare to other countries. I'm guessing you can take your old lenses and have them put in new frames or they can make new lenses by looking at your old ones--my mother did that when she was visiting and was very happy with the prices and results. Sorry not to be able to estimate precise costs, but I imagine it varies widely depending on the frames you choose and so on.

There are many optometrists and eyeglass shops around, but from what I understand that's the best (cheapest) place to go if it's convenient for you. If you're too far from there, just walk around your neighborhood or some busy area and you'll probably find a shop or two.

And yes, you should be able to find tape at 7-11.

[shamash]

[ttompatz]

You will find a glasses shop on just about every main road in the city. You don't need to go all the way up to Namdaemun (by city hall).

Glasses with single vision lenses will cost between 50-150k won (lenses and frames) and be ready in an hour or so.

They will take your current prescription off of your current glasses then check it (and your eyes again) by machine.

They won't do a full optical check unless you ask for it.

.

[FMPJ]

Glasses are cheap and easy here and the optical check is free. You're in luck.

[Yaya]

The stores will try to pitch the more expensive pairs to you but stick to your budget. One chain of glasses stores I like is Alo, which has branches all over Seoul.

[WadRUG'naDoo]

Paid 15,000 won for frames near Kongik Stn about 3 years ago. Still have them. Lenses don't cost much, either.

[nora]

I would go to Yongsan myself. On the 4th floor, by the escalators, the store there is having a huge sale right now. You could get a new pair for about 30,000 right now.

But yeah, the glasses places are everywhere. I would probably get out of Gangnam (it is a pricier area) and go west towards Guro/Yeongdeungpo area (it's a poorer area), or as stated earlier, head to Namdaemun. Of course, if money isn't really an issue (depending on what you want, you could save 10-20 k by getting out of Gangnam) then just find a place near your house.

The words you are looking for are 안경 (an-kyeong). That's a glasses shop.

[NYC_Gal 2.0]

I go to Yongsan on the 6th floor. It's near the candy shop that has jelly beans. It used to be called Rainbow, but, yesterday, when I went, it had been renamed Eye Avenue. I broke my favorite pair of glasses a couple of weeks ago, and I'd purchased them there in January, and the salesman ordered me a new frame (which will take a few days to come in) for 45,000 won. It's not a designer name, but it's lightweight, somewhat-flexible plastic.

[figshdg]

[SeoulNate]

[figshdg]

[NYC_Gal 2.0]

[madoka]

[NYC_Gal 2.0]

Designer glasses would go for about that. The prices for designer glasses are on par with what they cost back home, give or take a hundred dollars. If you got a brand name, you weren't ripped off.