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Myeong-dong, The Place to see and be seen. Oh, Yeah! You can go shopping, too.
Have you ever heard a expression that says 'go to Myeong-dong to see people'? As this expression indicates, large number of people gather at Myeong-dong in spite of its small size. Therefore, Myeong-dong is one of the most densely populated area in Seoul. The dense population of Myeong-dong also makes itself famous as a place where people will most likely meet someone new or someone they already know. The average number of people visiting Myeong-dong everyday is one million, and the number even increases up to one million and five hundred sixty thousand during weekends. Until the 80's, Myeong-dong had been a popular place for couples. However, it is better known as a shopping mecca now days because many people come in groups to just enjoy shopping.
Myeong-dong has been a city of art and romance, and a residence of fashionable literary men. Myeong-dong became a street of bank industry in some part as many banks were built in it in the mid 70's. Therefore, it is a convenient place to exchange foreign money to Korean money. It will be wise of you to exchange your money to Korean money while you are still in Myeong-dong. Myeong-dong had gradually gained the reputation for the best fashion place as large department stores like Lotte, Metro Midopa and Shinsegae dept. store began to appear during the 80's. Today, there are more than three thousand six hundred stores in Myeong-dong because many stores of middle and low price continuously joined in during the 90's. Moreover, multi-shopping centers like Utoo Zone, V Exchange and Trend 20 are becoming very popular among young generations as they provide shopping, food, accessory, make-up and etc. all together.
There is Migliore also in Myeong-dong where you can buy clothes, shoes and bags in very cheap price. Unlike well-known expensive brands, thousands of small wholesale merchants sell unique fashion style clothes in very cheap price in Migliore. It's open from 11 a.m. to 5 a.m.
There is a place tourists should never miss in Myeong-dong. It's National Souvenir Center. You can buy various kinds of Korean souvenirs that contains the beauty of Korea. The best quality and service are guaranteed since KNTO(Korea National Tourism Organization) operates it. National Souvenir Center contains various of souvenirs. For example, it has small souvenirs like fabrics, hand crafts and accessories and also has the best products from 8 provinces of Korea and wood carvings. Just looking around the National Souvenir Center will help you understand Korean culture better. Tea cafe is located on the third floor of the National Souvenir Center where you can try Korean traditional tea as well.
If you are a collecting mania for antiques, try Hoehyeon underground shopping center in front of Shinsegae Dept. Hoehyeon underground shopping center has some antique stores for collecting manias. There are about ten stores that deal with old LPs. They are famous for numerous old LPs that they possess. There are about twenty cool stores that arouse interest of collectors of phone card, lottery ticket, old money and seal. Every weekend, 'Stamp Culture Street' is open in the area within 100m of the Central Post Office. 'Stamp Culture Street' is held from 2 p.m to 7 p.m. on every Saturday and from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on every Sunday.
If you begin to feel tired of shopping, visit Myeong-dong Cathedral. You might feel a little bit confused to find a cathedral in the middle of crowded stores. However, you will feel silence and holiness secluded from the world outside.
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