.**FOR MORE INFORMATION: WWW.VISITSEOUL.NETHowever, thanks to a number of famous
Korean celebrities and respected political
figures opting instead to purchase goods at
lesser-known, traditional districts and
unique boutique stores, shoppers are now
provided with more options on where to
purchase products that will set trends.
With that in mind, I start my tour off at
Seongsu’s hand-made shoe street. Steps
away from Seongsu subway station, the
area is absolutely packed with larger shoe
stores and smaller boutiques where
footwear is made-to-order according to
individual wishes and tastes, one customer
at a time. In fact, that is what makes this
area so special. Orders are written down or
spoken, giving the experience a much more
personal appeal. Presently, there are
roughly 500 different establishments
related to the art of shoe-making. Visitors
can find shops that sell accessories and
heels to customize their shoes, as well as
stores selling finished shoe designs. If you
can’t find what you’re looking for here,
chances are it simply doesn’t exist.
My journey takes me to 8 Seconds in
Seodaemun-gu, near Sinchon Station. The
area is close to Hongik University so,
needless to say, the shops are brimming
with younger crowds. 8 Seconds isSamsung Fashion’s highstreet brand and
was made famous by K-Pop’s superstar
G-Dragon. The two teamed up last year for a
groundbreaking collaboration, with the
shop launching G-Dragon-themed
merchandise. G-Dragon worked behind the
scenes with designers and merchandisers
since April 2016 and even personally
contirbuted to the creative and production
process.
When it comes to eyewear, Gentle
Monster has the market cornered. The
brand has attracted all kinds of fans,
namely Zion-T, one of the country’s most
famous singers. Under the philosophy of
“high experimentation”, the shop almost
appears like a laboratory in parts, with the
first and second floors featuring displays of
scientific instrumentation and bottles to
lend a really organic feel to the interior. The
first display on the second floor features
several columns that look almost like ice
cream cones with round discs displaying
the merchandise. The decor is extremely
creative and like nothing I’ve seen
elsewhere. Other sections of the store even
have hanging artwork and sculptures on
display to entertain shoppers. It truly
offers a fully immersive shopping
experience.SEOUL:
WHERE
KOREAN
CELEBRITIES
GO TO SHOP
The entrance to 8 Seconds
in Seodaemun-gu.Creative displays of Gentle
Monster eyewear.Artwork installation at
Mapo-gu’s Gentle Monster.Seongsu’s hand-made
shoe street.Trendy footwear on display
in Seongsu’s shoe district.MANY WOULD ATTEST THAT,
when it comes to shopping in Seoul the
areas of My yeongdong, Apgujeong and
Garosugil in Sinsa-dong are often the ones
visitors and Seoulites gravitate to.