Where To Go Thrifting in Seoul
Nowadays, it is trendy to go thrifting. Korea is no exception to the rest of the world and there is many options in Seoul to go secondhand shopping. Also, second hand shops are nice places to find unique souvenirs. Today, I will share with you some tips and some good address to find the best vintage items ! If you need more info about thrift store in Korea, you can check YO’HOMERGIRL youtube channel.
VINTAGE SHOPS
The easiest shops to find in order to do “secondhand” shopping are vintage stores. They are not cheap but if you are searching for “rare” and “unique”, it’s the place to go. In those shops you can easily find branded items (like Gucci, Levis, Louis Vuitton etc) but at a reduced price ! There is vintage shop all around Seoul, you can find some in every “shopping” area like Hongdae, Sinchon, Gangnam, Myeongdong etc… Just type “vintage” into Naver Map to find some around you.
RECOMMENDED SHOP :
Address: Vintage Salon, 124 Eoulmadang-ro Mapo-gu Seoul
This is my favorite address in Hongdae, as it is the best one to find luxury items for a very good value.
SECOND HAND SHOPS
If you are searching for good deals, like Goodwill or Value Village in the States, there is second hand shop that are not only selling good brand clothing. Those shops are located a little bit everywhere around Seoul but mainly around Gangnam. Here are some names of shop you can find: Vinprime, The Beautiful Store, The Salvation Army… Those shops are less organised than Vintage shop so if you are willing to really search to find the best pieces, it’s the place for you !
RECOMMENDED SHOP :
Address: Vinprime, 705-1 Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
This shop is one of the biggest and they often have some dedicated parts for good value items. If you like searching it’s the nicest shop.
Bonus Tips : If you want have time and want to see many options in the same place, up from the famous Gwangjang Market on level 2 the whole floor is dedicated to secondhand shop.
DONGMYO FLEA MARKET
This is for the one who wants to go secondhand shopping outside ! This market is open starting 2 PM during weekdays and 10 AM during weekends and close before the sunset. This flea market is composed of hundreds of street stalls but it’s not only second-hand clothes, you can also find antiques, records and various items. The market is the best place to find good deals as you can also bargain easily. Most of the clothing are big piles so do not hesitate to dig through it.
Dongmyo is not the only flea market in Seoul but it’s the only one open all year round. If you are searching for another place, you can look for : Seoul Folk Flea Market, Seocho Saturday Flea Market…
HOW TO ACCESS :
Dongmyo Station, Line 1 or 6, Exit 3.
Then walk less than a minute to find the entrance of the market
Bonus Tips: They are closing every 2nd and 4rd Tuesday each month. Also bring in some cash money.
Do not hesitate to share with us if you have any other address to go thrifting. You can also share with us your good deals. My best thrift deal was a pink bomber jacket for only 10,000 won !
FAQs
In Seoul, the popularity of second-hand clothing markets has increased among millennials and Gen-Zs, and wearing second-hand clothes is considered fashionable, trendy and eco-friendly.
What is the Korean second-hand site? ›
Bunjang is South Korea's largest online second-hand trading platform, with users of over one-fourth of South Korea's population. Most users are young Korean fans who often trade their favorite idols' goods, such as rare photocards, collab goods, signed albums, and more.
Does Korea have second-hand stores? ›
There are a couple of thrift store chains that exist in Seoul as well as a few standalone stores which fall more in line with American standards of a thrift or charity shop. One of the more famous chains includes Vin Prime, which has seven locations throughout the city, though concentrated south of the Han River.
What is the second-hand market app in Korea? ›
Koreans use apps like Joonggonara (중고 나라), Karrot (당근 마켓), Bunjang (번개 장터), etc. to sell used goods. These apps are very similar to Craigslist, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace. Especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, people are purging their old stuff and selling them online.
What is the best city for thrifting? ›
Here is the definitive list of the best cities for thrifting in the country. According to our data, the top five cities for thrifting in the U.S. are Riverside, CA, Atlanta, GA, Columbus, OH, Orlando, FL, and Tampa, FL.
What is the largest online marketplace in South Korea? ›
The first marketplace and largest online retailer in South Korea, Coupang's annual revenue as of 2021 is US$18.4 billion.
Why do Koreans accept things with two hands? ›
Receive things with two hands
In Korea, it can be considered rude to use only one hand when receiving something. Therefore, when receiving something, make sure to take it with both hands.
Is Korea cheap for shopping? ›
Beyond its breathtaking palaces and bustling markets lies a paradise for bargain hunters. Whether you're a fashionista searching for trendy outfits or a souvenir collector on a budget, Seoul offers an array of cheap shopping destinations waiting to be explored.
What is a Korean store like Wal-Mart? ›
Emart Inc.
With new store openings and the acquisition of Walmart Korea in 2006, Emart enjoys its retail leadership in the discount store market. Emart offers everything from food to clothes to diapers and provides a huge variety of merchandise. Emart has a website where products can be bought or viewed online.
Does Wal-Mart exist in Korea? ›
Wal-Mart is the biggest retailer in the world, with sales of $135 billion in 26 countries outside the U.S. But it doesn't have stores in some of the world's biggest markets. Not in Germany, not in South Korea, not in Russia.
Ubuy Shopping App for Buying Korean Items Online
This app enables one to get their hands on imported Korean goods that you can't buy locally or are not able to get hold of on any other local shopping platform.
What online shops do Koreans use? ›
We asked South Korean consumers about "Most popular online shops" and found that "Coupang.com" takes the top spot, while "G9.co.kr" is at the other end of the ranking. Find this and more survey data on most popular online shops in our Consumer Insights tool.
Is Seoul expensive for shopping? ›
Beyond its breathtaking palaces and bustling markets lies a paradise for bargain hunters. Whether you're a fashionista searching for trendy outfits or a souvenir collector on a budget, Seoul offers an array of cheap shopping destinations waiting to be explored.
Is Seoul good for luxury shopping? ›
Seoul, the vibrant capital of South Korea, is not only renowned for its rich cultural heritage and delectable cuisine but also for its thriving luxury shopping scene. From skincare to fashion items and exquisite jewelry, Seoul offers a plethora of options for the discerning shopper seeking luxury goods.
What is South Korea famous for shopping? ›
Dongdaemun is one of South Korea's largest wholesale and retail shopping districts. It has around 26 shopping malls, 30,000 specialty shops, and 50,000 manufacturers. Items range from textiles, clothes, shoes, and jewelry, to leather goods, toys, electronics, and office supplies.
Is Zara cheaper in Seoul? ›
Interestingly enough, the country where shopping at Zara is more expensive than elsewhere is South Korea (96 percent more expensive than in Spain) followed by the USA (92 percent) and China (78 percent).
