Read Part 2 HERE !
Dusk had fallen by the time we resurfaced at Myeongdong station some thirty minutes later. The evening gradient was irrefutably stunning, providing a blue-pink ombré backdrop for the infamous, multi-storey Daiso building.
Surprisingly, we didn't enter the Daiso at all. Rather, we became distracted by The North Face flagship and entered into the building without a second thought.
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The product lineup was arranged across three floors. B1 was the equivalent of ground level, and featured a basic selection. It was also the busiest floor at our time of visit, naturally prompting me to escape to the upper levels.
Unfortunately, the other levels were strictly accessible by a single elevator; stairs were not an option. Due to its compact size, a member of staff hovered nearby to control entry numbers. A queue began to form in front of the elevator, and eventually cleared about three rounds of transporting customers up and down. Although the elevator offered service to the basement level as well, there were posted instructions to use the stairs outside the physical store as opposed to navigating directly. Suffice to say, the store design and navigability were remarkably poor.
Unfortunately, the other levels were strictly accessible by a single elevator; stairs were not an option. Due to its compact size, a member of staff hovered nearby to control entry numbers. A queue began to form in front of the elevator, and eventually cleared about three rounds of transporting customers up and down. Although the elevator offered service to the basement level as well, there were posted instructions to use the stairs outside the physical store as opposed to navigating directly. Suffice to say, the store design and navigability were remarkably poor.
I had my eye on level 1's White Label, for the collection was exclusive to Korea and advertised heavily by celebrities and media portals. Surely enough, posters and standees of celebrity spokespeople greeted us at entry. Promotional posters of Cha Eunwoo were positioned throughout the store. Meanwhile, an autographed standee of Jeon Somi was placed by the elevator.
Down coats were still thoroughly stocked, despite the arguably warm temperatures (low to mid teens). Both of us were drawn to the sale rack. While a discounted waterproof jacket caught my attention, the sizing and fit was off. I ultimately took to a small, black crossbody pouch instead, sheerly for the purpose of owning a White Label product. This floor also carried non-The North Face-branded items, thus allowing acquisition of an Outdoor Research waterproof cap by my browsing partner. The cashier noted the store did not issue instant tax refunds, but that customers could use the self-serve kiosk at the airport or in the store. As for the kiosk's precise coordinates, this was not specified.
I don't recall perusal of the Special Price/Pop-Up area on level 2, which leads me to believe that the floor was either closed or featured minimal items of interest. Generally speaking, the store offered a smaller selection than anticipated, with few sales to boot.
Down coats were still thoroughly stocked, despite the arguably warm temperatures (low to mid teens). Both of us were drawn to the sale rack. While a discounted waterproof jacket caught my attention, the sizing and fit was off. I ultimately took to a small, black crossbody pouch instead, sheerly for the purpose of owning a White Label product. This floor also carried non-The North Face-branded items, thus allowing acquisition of an Outdoor Research waterproof cap by my browsing partner. The cashier noted the store did not issue instant tax refunds, but that customers could use the self-serve kiosk at the airport or in the store. As for the kiosk's precise coordinates, this was not specified.
I don't recall perusal of the Special Price/Pop-Up area on level 2, which leads me to believe that the floor was either closed or featured minimal items of interest. Generally speaking, the store offered a smaller selection than anticipated, with few sales to boot.
Near the front of the store was a Hangul capsule collection. Crafted in collaboration with a local artist, the assortment spanned T-shirts, hats (beanies and caps), and canvas totes. In essence, the designs were simplistic, deriving from modern day Hangul and re-configured into a single symbol - or at least a compact variation of it.
I was intrigued by the 사람 design on black, but wasn't completely convinced to purchase. There was absolutely no shortage of bags in the store, causing me to debate between a multitude of black TNF canvas totes - some illustrating the silhouette of Seoul while others adorned with the Myeongdong label for specificity. In the end, I couldn't decide on any. All tote bags were returned to the shelves or racks from which they originated.
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Notably less opposed was I to the impromptu purchase of a waterproof travel cube. Discoveries were gradually made throughout the store, primarily due to my browsing partner's probing and pointing out of items I had initially overlooked. Although I was able to secure a pair of office-appropriate pants (that didn't need tailoring!!) on sale as a consequence of this probing, it also led to us spending much more time in the store than necessary. Two hours passed before I came to the realization.
Over the course of our stay, we spotted many Japanese tourists flocking into the store with excitement. Apparently, there was a certain degree of hype associated with The North Face brand.
In addition to vast assortment of apparel, the basement level also carried bags of all sizes, luggage carriers, outdoor/water sports/camping-related items, and a customization station at its centre. Purchases could be personalized on the spot with one's chosen embroidered designs and/or logos! A handful of fitting rooms located in proximity to the cashier and inventory room was another convenient feature, though it was annoying that only one size of each product was available on the floor. Staff would strictly open inventory on an as-needed basis, transitioning open items to the floor after unsuccessful try-ons. While this methodology was better for managing inventory, it slowed the overall shopping process, reducing appeal in the face of extended wait times.
It is worth noting that a water dispenser and two tax refund machines were also spotted on site. Similar to the dispensers found at the airport, the machines included a compartment to hold thin paper cups - so thin its edges could slice dry lips.
Over the course of our stay, we spotted many Japanese tourists flocking into the store with excitement. Apparently, there was a certain degree of hype associated with The North Face brand.
In addition to vast assortment of apparel, the basement level also carried bags of all sizes, luggage carriers, outdoor/water sports/camping-related items, and a customization station at its centre. Purchases could be personalized on the spot with one's chosen embroidered designs and/or logos! A handful of fitting rooms located in proximity to the cashier and inventory room was another convenient feature, though it was annoying that only one size of each product was available on the floor. Staff would strictly open inventory on an as-needed basis, transitioning open items to the floor after unsuccessful try-ons. While this methodology was better for managing inventory, it slowed the overall shopping process, reducing appeal in the face of extended wait times.
It is worth noting that a water dispenser and two tax refund machines were also spotted on site. Similar to the dispensers found at the airport, the machines included a compartment to hold thin paper cups - so thin its edges could slice dry lips.
At the late hour of 8:30 PM, we traversed through the Togye-ro underpass to the north exit of Myeongdong station.
A plethora of vendors lined the corridors of the tunnel, making it difficult to trek briskly without encountering sluggish shoppers - namely tourists.
A plethora of vendors lined the corridors of the tunnel, making it difficult to trek briskly without encountering sluggish shoppers - namely tourists.
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Connecting the subway exit to the ground-level retail scene was M PLAYGROUND, a women's clothing store that had been heavily popularized on social media. To be frank, the size of the shop alone was a bit overwhelming. I cast a quick glance at their displays, but deemed the spread visually unappealing and unsuitable for my purposes back home.
Before long, we came face to face with a giant Olive Young store. I entered into the store, not expecting to be met with volumes comparable to Sephora on a weekend afternoon. Nearly every single aisle was blocked. The environment was chaotic and stuffy. Frustrated, I dashed for the exit, announcing that I'd take my beauty shopping needs elsewhere, potentially at another time.
Before long, we came face to face with a giant Olive Young store. I entered into the store, not expecting to be met with volumes comparable to Sephora on a weekend afternoon. Nearly every single aisle was blocked. The environment was chaotic and stuffy. Frustrated, I dashed for the exit, announcing that I'd take my beauty shopping needs elsewhere, potentially at another time.
Distractions in Myeongdong are countless. A live performance was taking place immediately outside. Behind the guitar-wielding man was the striking yellow signage of HBAF Almonds. Of course, I couldn't resist sprinting into the store. These specimens were easily thirteen dollars or more back home!
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Again we browsed some more. HBAF was home to an astoundingly broad selection of almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, popcorn, and more in every flavour imaginable. We spent a decent amount of time deciding between the pre-determined assorted flavour packs, as some boasted a higher proportion of savoury to sweet, and vice versa. Each of us took to the signature Honey Butter, but I appended wasabi popcorn, a standalone Coffee Biscuit Almond (assumed to be inspired by Biscoff), and an 8-pack "HBAF Mania" sampler comprising of: Honey Butter, Injeolmi, Caramel Pretzel, Baked Corn, Cookies 'N Cream, Garlic Bread, Wasabi, and Cheddar Cheese. Honey Butter Makgeolli had also sparked curiosity, though I resisted temptation on the basis of not wishing to carry the bottle around Myeongdong.
Our combined total somehow came to a whopping 85,000 KRW.
Our combined total somehow came to a whopping 85,000 KRW.
Kyochon had kept hunger at bay for at least five hours. By 9 PM, I was ready for sustenance and eagerly eyed the street vendors in proximity. With most restaurants reasonably closed by this time, food stalls made for the optimal quick and convenient solution. (Best of all, I wouldn't be held back by slow eaters! My browsing partner refused the thought of food altogether, describing the battling food smells as being "nauseating". I wholly begged to differ, as our surroundings were no different than the typical GTA night market, except less fumy.
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I obtained a stick of flat fish cake at my earliest opportunity, excitedly sinking my teeth into the gratifying 2000 KRW specimen. After relaying cash funds, customers were gestured to serve themselves from one of the bubbling pots. Steaming broth, inclusive of daikon pieces, scallion, and more, could be spooned into a paper cup to pair alongside the fish cake.
At long last, I'd live my flat fish cake dreams! - at a ridiculously affordable price too!
At long last, I'd live my flat fish cake dreams! - at a ridiculously affordable price too!
Each stall would also offer garbage disposal pertaining to their products. In the case of fish cake skewers, the vendors affixed different-sized compartments for separating the skewers and cups. This aspect was admittedly refreshing, for it prevented overflow of common waste disposal bins and safety hazards such as skewers piercing garbage bags at odd angles.
We continued along the street, taking note of the multitude of beauty brands around every corner. Foreign visitors were the norm, but, unlike Hongdae, they weren't intrusive. Their attire reflected an older demographic with spending capacity. East Asians, primarily Japanese and Chinese, were more prevalent; the only English speakers observed was the handful of Filipinos and Latin Americans.
Although the district was busy, visitors kept to a consistent pace to maintain flow of traffic. Those pausing to eat would cluster on the side, keeping the main corridor clear for movement. Myeongdong's facilities weren't particularly pristine, though griminess wasn't perceived either.
We continued along the street, taking note of the multitude of beauty brands around every corner. Foreign visitors were the norm, but, unlike Hongdae, they weren't intrusive. Their attire reflected an older demographic with spending capacity. East Asians, primarily Japanese and Chinese, were more prevalent; the only English speakers observed was the handful of Filipinos and Latin Americans.
Although the district was busy, visitors kept to a consistent pace to maintain flow of traffic. Those pausing to eat would cluster on the side, keeping the main corridor clear for movement. Myeongdong's facilities weren't particularly pristine, though griminess wasn't perceived either.
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My biggest purchase of the evening was none other than Innisfree. I was greeted immediately upon entry in Mandarin, but the staff member swiftly transitioned to English when a response was not received. As I browsed the aisles, we witnessed the same staff member effortlessly switch between Korean greetings and using Japanese, Chinese, and English to assist customers. Both of us reacted with awe. The lady was friendly and patient, yet efficient all the same.
I succeeded in restocking my inventory, checking off nearly every item on my list. In addition to an instant tax refund, the staff member applied an additional 30% discount on the bill. Those paying with the WOWPass would receive a further 5% discount, though I reasoned that I'd suffer a loss with WOWPass' hefty 8% credit card fee.
In the end, I spent just $115.87 CAD for the skincare equivalent of $300+ back home! (Not to mention, my browsing partner tacked two items onto my transaction.)
I succeeded in restocking my inventory, checking off nearly every item on my list. In addition to an instant tax refund, the staff member applied an additional 30% discount on the bill. Those paying with the WOWPass would receive a further 5% discount, though I reasoned that I'd suffer a loss with WOWPass' hefty 8% credit card fee.
In the end, I spent just $115.87 CAD for the skincare equivalent of $300+ back home! (Not to mention, my browsing partner tacked two items onto my transaction.)
Returning to the main pathway, Tanghulu was spotted on offer for 5000 KRW. Given that this price was at least 50% cheaper than the likes of Toronto, it was concluded that the opportunity to try was now or never.
My pick lay with a strawberry and green grape (muscat?) variety. Biting into the top strawberry had me recoil in shock, for the layer of sugar was extremely hard. As the fleshy fruit caved underneath, sharp shards of solidified sugar were angled in all directions, capable of piercing one's mouth if not careful. After a few more bites, I handed the stick over to my browsing partner, who grimaced at the sticky and troublesome consumption process
My pick lay with a strawberry and green grape (muscat?) variety. Biting into the top strawberry had me recoil in shock, for the layer of sugar was extremely hard. As the fleshy fruit caved underneath, sharp shards of solidified sugar were angled in all directions, capable of piercing one's mouth if not careful. After a few more bites, I handed the stick over to my browsing partner, who grimaced at the sticky and troublesome consumption process
Personally, the sugar coating was found far too thick and hard to be enjoyable. The result was a cloying cluster that inevitably led to syrupy drippings. For those that have never tried the Korean spinoff of the treat, the price was fair enough to enable sampling circumstances. In my opinion though, tanghulu is nothing more than a waste of good fruit, and the equivalent of biting hard candy.
Off-season Ontario fruit is likely too tiny for this application, but gargantuan, greenhouse Korean strawberries lend a sweet and juicy profile to tanghulu.
Off-season Ontario fruit is likely too tiny for this application, but gargantuan, greenhouse Korean strawberries lend a sweet and juicy profile to tanghulu.
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Let it be known that, an avid hoddeok lover, I desperately wished to try the 3000 KRW honey hoddeok. Again, due to the presence of my browsing partner, I was forced to abstain due to the peanut content. Sharing food is a non-negotiable element of travel for me, but especially in Korea where portions are extraordinarily generous.
After one more skewer of Oden, we found ourselves at the entrance of another Olive Young. This time, I went in with a mission.
After one more skewer of Oden, we found ourselves at the entrance of another Olive Young. This time, I went in with a mission.
The aisles supported greater degrees of movement than the larger location near Myeongdong station. Staff members were also eager to assist when it came to locating specific products. Save a bottle of foundation by CLIO, I was able to replenish/locate practically all the items on my wishlist.
From sun cream to wash-off masks to 1000 KRW sheet masks, Olive Young was truly the one-stop shop for beauty needs. The upper level featured a small haircare section, foreign brands (priced higher than back home, of course), and supplements.
From sun cream to wash-off masks to 1000 KRW sheet masks, Olive Young was truly the one-stop shop for beauty needs. The upper level featured a small haircare section, foreign brands (priced higher than back home, of course), and supplements.
I continued roaming the store until its closing time of 10 PM. Around 9:55 PM, we joined the winding queue at the checkout. Cashiers worked with amazing speed, though their faces were hardly amicable. I was instructed to begin bagging items as they were scanned such that the checkout line could keep moving. All in all, I spent just $127.97 for my entire haul. The same amount would have earned me no more than three products at Sephora.
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Most retailers shared the same closing time of 10 PM. While the streets were still bustling with foot traffic, other POIs such as the LINE Friends store, a nearby McDonald's, and Daiso had ceased operations for the day.
My browsing partner seemed unwilling to leave, in spite of all attractions being closed. Fatigue wearing down on me, I hastily led the way to the closest subway station.
We eventually arrived back at the hotel a mere few minutes short of midnight.
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