7 Best Shopping Malls In Seoul For A Top-Class Shopping Experience
Experience Seoul's top luxury shopping malls, offering high-end fashion, gourmet dining, and tax-free shopping.
Source: Seoul Metropolitan Government
Seoul is a city of many charms. One of those biggest charms is shopping. The best shopping malls in Seoul stand as a testament to this, as they are in a class of their own.
Curious about where to shop in Seoul for high-end fashion and cosmetics brands? There are many shopping malls in Seoul, South Korea, that could tickle your fancy.
However, we’ve got you covered with a comprehensive guide to the luxury shopping malls and department stores in Seoul that you must visit on your next trip.
If you are particularly interested in tax-free shopping in Korea, make sure to bookmark this article as it has information on the global tax refund policies and duty-free shopping store services available (as of September 2024).
Best & Biggest Shopping Mall In Seoul, Korea
1. The Hyundai Seoul
Source: KED Global
The Hyundai Seoul prides itself on being more than just a luxury shopping hotspot (which it is) but more of a lifestyle curation space. With an emphasis on curating experiences through space and sound, The Hyundai Seoul is a lifestyle movement with features like a Waterfall Garden, Sounds Forest, and Creative Ground.
The Hyundai Seoul is especially known for its pop-up events from all sorts of hip and/or high-end brands, meaning not only can you shop till you drop, but there is also room for fun experiences to be had.
Their gourmet food court, Tasty Seoul, also stands out as one of the best with the biggest food selections of any department store.
Not only does The Hyundai Seoul offer tax refunds, but they also have a service where you can get a shopping guide who will make sure that you get the proper gift certificates and tax refunds that you’re entitled to.
*Travel Pro-Tip:
If you would like a similarly lavish shopping experience but with bang for your buck or you are simply curious about Korea’s outlet shopping culture then The Hyundai brand also has Hyundai Premium Outlets sprinkled across Seoul’s surrounding areas where you can enjoy similar luxury brands with extra discounts included.
Address: 108 Yeoui-daero, Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul
Naturally, Shinsegae Department Store Myeongdong Main, as one of the best shopping malls in Seoul and the main branch of the Shinsegae Group’s department stores, has some of the best world-class stores ready at your disposal including brands like Burberry, Salvatore Ferragamo, Alexander Wang, etc.
This luxury shopping mall not only offers the best in shopping options but also in service. With services like gift wrapping, repair for handbags and shoes, a porter service, childcare rooms, and more, you can have the ultimate comfort whilst shopping until you drop.
Additionally, Shinsegae Department Store offers a global tax refund for purchases that exceed 15,000 Korean Won.
Now you may be asking yourself why we’ve mentioned two of the same brand’s department stores in one article, but the fact of the matter is that despite some general similarities, your shopping experience at either Shinsegae Department Store will be different. Here’s why.
One of the reasons that Shinsegae is one of the best department store brands in the country is because of how convenient and accessible they make their shopping experience, as you would’ve noticed with the services they offer.
As part of the Shinsegae Central City (comprised of the Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam, the Shinsegae Central City Terminal where you can take the Express and Intercity buses, the JW Marriot Hotel Seoul which we also had featured in our article about the best luxury hotels in Seoul mentioned earlier, the Shinsegae Duty-Free Shop, and the Famille Station & Garden), the Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam is the epitome of accessible.
Not only that, but the prime location will allow you to experience a high-class lifestyle, starting from your shopping experience.
Of course, we can’t forget Korea’s great duty-free shopping system. At the Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam, the same tax refund conditions apply as with the main branch.
The Starfield Coex Mall is one of the most popular shopping malls in Seoul. Whilst it doesn’t focus exclusively on housing luxury brands, it is in itself a high-end brand in other aspects.
Not only is it a shopping mecca with its incredible scale, but the mall hosts some of the best entertainment facilities in the city. For instance, Starfield Coex Mall is famous for its Starfield Library, pictured above, which is named after the fact that it replicates a quite literally star-studded aesthetic.
It is probably one of the most beautiful libraries you can visit in Korea. Additionally, it features facilities like the Coex Aquarium which showcases various aquatic ecosystems.
Some of the Seoul Coex Mall shops include brand names like Giordano, & Other Stories, etc. You’ll also find Lotte Duty Free here for your duty-free shopping convenience!
Starfied Coex Mall is also considered the biggest underground shopping mall in Asia.
Address: 513 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam District, Seoul
Source: Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts Official
The Parnas Mall is connected to the Starfield Coex Mall. They pride themselves on being a space where, “…art, culture, and shopping coexist.” This is thanks to the fact that the Parnas Mall uses the know-how of the lavish international hotel brand InterContinental to provide a refined atmosphere that can’t be found easily in many of Seoul’s shopping malls.
Located in the affluent neighborhood of Apgujeong, The Galleria Department Store (the main store) stands out as it takes up either side of the street and is divided into two wings - the east and the west wing.
Divided into a west wing and an east wing, The Galleria Department Store is home to all of the luxury and high-end brands that your heart could desire.
With luxury boutiques such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Miu Miu, and Prada in the west wing, the wing also boasts lavish cosmetics brands such as Aesop, Chanel Cosmetics Privee, Jo Malone London, La Mer, and many more. This wing is also where you can find your luxury leather goods such as designer bags and shoes.
Meanwhile, in the east wing, other luxury MVPs include Dior, Fendi, Hermes, and the like. This wing is where you can find luxury jewelry and watch brands such as Cartier, Chaumet, Tiffany & Co., and much more. Some of the more niche luxury giants can be found on this side of the mall as well for those who prefer quiet luxury or the old-money aesthetic.
There is also a concierge service at the Galleria Luxury Hall for those who would like to have an exclusive and custom personal shopping experience. Don’t worry about the language barrier, as it is especially catered to foreigners and you can make a reservation in either Chinese, Japanese, or English, or simply go in person at their global VIP lounge.
Additionally, The Galleria offers a tax refund if you make purchases over 30,000 Korean Won.
Another of the best shopping malls in Seoul is the Lotte World Mall located inside the extravagant Lotte Tower.
With the vision of imagining a new Korea, not only is this mall centered in one of the signifying landmarks of innovation in Seoul, but it offers its visitors a new type of shopping experience. It is also connected to key tourist attractions like the Seoul Sky Bridge and Lotte World Amusement Park, and the mall in itself offers a treasure trove of shopping options to enjoy once you’re done with those activities.
Ranging from luxury shopping brands like Giorgio Armani, Yves Saint Laurent, Hera, and more, the Lotte World Mall also offers gourmet cuisine, even featuring restaurants like the world-class chef Gordon Ramsay’s ‘Gordon Ramsay Burger’.
Naturally, there are also tax refund stores galore inside of Lotte World Mall.
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