Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mee]

It seems shopping is a nightmare. First, I haven't found these great deals or shopper's paradise so far. I was trying to find a toy store and it was quite a hassle too. Also, the stores that seem convenient are really far away or it's hit and miss just by walking around and noting what store has what product you are looking for.

Nightmare.

Back to the toys, I ended up in some redlight district and found a store that had some unknown, barbesque dolls and she insisted on charging me 23000 won. I said no way in hell was i going to pay that and she believed her product was worth it. No bargaining whatsoever took place.

Please let me know of a shoppers paradise or a really good place to shop.

Itaewon is tacky and lotte mart is too pretentious and expensive. also, is there a cosmetics line that is geared towards lower or middle income people such as maybelline and cover girl is to westerners?

I would have thought there would be some kind of chain store but even with emart, the selection is really poor. I'm really surprised and actually disappointed that walmart doesn't exist here.

It would be SOOO convenient. LOL

[DrOctagon]

I thought the shopping was SO great in Seoul...

[mee]

It is? the prices seem comparable to the states. Where are the real bargain shopping areas? I tried to buy this rain type jacket that everyone seems to be wearing in the subway and it's listed at 99000 won. The saleswoman said she would give me a discount and charge me 69000 won. Well, that's not really a bargain, AT ALL.

[Otherside]

[Draz]

[Draz]

[mee]

[Starla]

For makeup, I like Missha which can be found everywhere including train stations. Like the other poster mentioned, Skin Food and the Face Shop are other reasonably priced brands. If your skin has pinkish undertones though, Korean makeup may not be for you since most of the foundations are yellow-based. I have a slightly yellowish undertone even though I'm white so I can get away with it.

As for clothes, Lotte Mart at Nowon-gu was having an outdoor sale this weekend. I got a cute and stylish black wool coat for 20,000 won and a beautiful skirt for 10,000 won. I would've bought more but I didn't need it all. My Korean co-workers recommend Lotte Mart when they have sales and I've heard there's an outlet somewhere in Seoul but I have to ask exactly where.

Namdaemun has lots of stores if you venture underground and of course, there's Dongdaemun but that's only if you're a size 2/4 or smaller with size 8 or smaller feet.

It all depends on whether you like Korean fashion that determines whether you see Korea as a shopper's paradise. Things I really like in Korea include shoes, accessories and skirts. The rest I could do without and prefer to wear from back home. As a New Yorker, I'm kinda spoiled when it comes to shopping so I can understand why some might say the shopping isn't that great. But I'm sure you can find something that you like if you look a little harder.

[Ukon]

Here's what I've noticed from my excursions:

Most of the department stores are really expensive, especially shinsegae. E-mart can be aswell.....There are duty free cosmetic counters in Coex....you might find better prices there.

Some things such as clothing is far move expensive compared to the west. I've been looking for an outlet mall so far have found two small ones:

In Yongsan Station....at yongsan station....it has guess premimum jeans as low as $50!

Gasan Digital complex has one near the subway station....there are a couple of other malls in the area I didn't check out.

If you find more, let me know.

Shopping in seoul has been really hit or miss.

[sistersarah]

The shopping here IS great if you look around a little and have fun with it.

Namdaemun. It's frustrating as hell sometimes, but if you can go on a weekday, it's not so bad and there are great deals to be found there. Check out Mesa department store(near exit 7). The other weekend I stumbled upon a great women's clothes place by accident in Namdaemun. Wandered into a baby mall and went up to the second floor and got some fantastic deals.

The 20+ all night shopping malls in Dongdaemun (the wholesalers behind the old stadium ACTUALLY DO carry tonnes of sizes, often 44 through 99!). They're open from 8pm to 8am. Doota (although not a wholesaler and a bit pricier) carries a lot of cool stuff.

I sometimes pick up great buys on clothes at Homeplus, Emart, or Lotte Mart.

As someone mentioned, subway shopping is good. The Gangnam underground center is great.

Edae is good. Go into the alleys behind the main streets.

As for makeup, you just have to experiment and if you're trying the Korean young brands, it's not that expensive to do some sampling. Right now I'm into Innisfree and LaNeige (LaNeige is a little more expensive, but better quality).

Have fun shopping!!

[mee]

Heh, I thought i was going to find a real bargain basement type deal somewhere like off-name jeans under ten dollars and other clothing items and accessories around the same or under twenty max!

Apparently, not so much a great deal anymore like it was rumored to me in the 80's and 90's. I guess that's what happens when a country becomes industrialized and more on the wealthy side, they start charging the same prices as anywhere.

Hmmph

[mee]

I really wish they had a goodwill store. My god, the goodwill in florida was like shopping at the mall. All the wealthy people donating thier clothes every season. I literally could get a whole slammin wardrobe for under 100 bucks! And I mean tons of clothes as wednesday was half off day on every item so a button down calvin klein shirt would be 75 cents!

But on the other hand, you don't even need clothes in florida. It's too damn hot, just flip-flops and short.

Isn't life like that?

[ciccone_youth]

Apparently you can get great deals in the underground shopping malls, such as Express Bus Terminal... nice clothes for 10,000 won a piece. I still haven't been but I heard great things about it.

As for makeup, I agree with everyone who mentioned Skin Food and The Face Shop- good products, and cheap.

If you want Maybelline or other Western names, you'll have to pay a lot more, so stick to Korean brands. I'm on a tight budget so I'm only using Skin Food and such, and I'm actually liking their products a lot.

[mee]

I was amazed they had a Krispy Kreme here, i saw it at a Busan subway station.

I'm sure they do have everything you could possibly think of but where is the question and finding it.

I'm very glad that the krispy kreme i saw is so far, far away from me. If i lived next to it, I would be in trouble.

[mee]

I am fascinated and intrigued by the sheer quantity of businesses and restaurants. They are above and below and around through every crevice. I just by curiosity went up the elevator of some building around the corner from me and inside were several restuarants and coffe shops, businesses etc.

Wow, I would have NEVER known that had I not even investigated as it looked totally benign and trafficless.

Just like when i was looking for carne station(it wasn't that great, small selection, good for alcoholics and parties though), I almost passed right by it as it was underground.

Very interesting.