Dongdaemun (Great East Gate), Seoul

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K-Pop sensation is making a big hit in Asia. Aside from the music, the fashion statement from the Korean celebrities is another thing that influences the people.

There's a souvenir shop at the 4th floor (as I can remember) that sells "I love Korea" shirts, keychains, magnets, even some stuffs with the faces of their local celebrities, and many more.
I recommend you to buy your souvenir items here instead in Insadong since the stuffs being sold in Doota Mall are cheaper. In Doota Mall, the "I love Korea" shirts colored white, gray and black has only 1 price- 5000KW while in Insadong, the shirts' prices vary from the color. The whites and grays cost 5000KW while the black 6000KW. A set of refrigerator magnets in Insadong cost 10000KW while in Doota Mall 8000KW. I found out about the price differences after I bought some in Doota Mall then I realized that I had to buy additional souvenir items in Insadong. Good thing is that I have a good memory especially when it comes to prices, haha.

The disadvantage in Doota is that you can't bargain. All items are on fixed price.

When you use credit card as payment, you will have to pay for the tax in using the credit card. But you can have the refund on the 5th floor. You must bring your passport with you so that the lady in the tax refund counter can give you a tax refund envelope. You'll have to write down you complete name in the official receipts. The receipts must be put inside the envelope then outside, you'll have to write down the address you wish to receive the refund. You have to drop the tax refund envelope in the airport before your flight departure. There's a written instructions posted outside the tax refund counter but it's not like what it says. The posted instructions says that you can have the cash refund right away, but when I double checked it with the lady, she said that after the customs confirmed stamps on the receipts, the envelope will be dropped on a box, then wait for about 2-4weeks to receive the cash refund.

Unfortunately, after doing all the steps for the tax refund, I forgot to go to the customs.
(sigh...) It was too late to go in the customs since I slid my tax refund envelope inside my bag which was already checked-in.
(No worries, I already scolded myself)

What to buy: For people who love Korean Fashion, the Doota Mall can provide you with all the things you need.
This mall doesn't look like an ordinary department store because every store has its own touch of style though sometimes only a curtain separate each store from the other.
It offers a variety of dresses/apparels, fancy jewelries, souvenir stuffs, boots/shoes, all available for both genders.

What to pay: All the stores/shops accept credit card.
blouses/dresses cost 35,000KW-80,000KW, the items are a bit expensive but I believe the price wouldn't matter if you really like something.

The Dongdaemun Shopping Complex is one of Korea’s most representative markets and was founded on December 23, 1970 as the largest of its kind in Asia. In December of 1985, the Dongdaemun Shopping Town was established, and now the area encompasses five buildings in total (A, B, C, D, and the Shopping Town). There are over 5,000 shops located in this district, selling various fabrics, materials, accessories, wedding products, and more. The fabric and clothing here are of the latest fashion trends in the world. Inventory is imported and exported in real time, making Dongdaemun a must-visit fashion market for everyone.

What to buy: Fashion Shops / Fabrics, fashion accessories, clothing materials, wedding products, household goods, and more.

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Dongdaemun Market covers a large area with many shopping malls with multi-layers of product diversity. You can find everything you need here such as clothing, accessories, bags, shoes, textile and fabrics. Ask the price and bargain before you get anything. If you came to Seoul for shopping, you shouldn't miss here.

What to buy: Clothing

What to pay: Always Bargain !!!

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There are many tiny shops in these malls, so you may have to come back again to shop if you are thinking only a few hours would suffice. Best for feminine young women clothes.

At Doota, many of the stores have tax refund, so get the tax refund receipt from them and claim from the tax counter at level 5. However, it's not a full cash refund, only half of the VAT. You'll need your passport, and credit card (as a guarantee they say) for on-the-spot cash refund at the tax counter. And you still need to chop and drop the form in at the customs counter at the airport. If you don't do the latter, they'll charge the VAT right back to your card. (ah, so that's the guarantee they were saying)

At migliore, there's more sizes up to L and XL (doota's almost only s-m sizes)
Cash payment will also give you a better price compared to paying by credit card, like 10,000won cheaper sometimes. Stores in migliore give discounts, so you can bargain. Doota mall is fixed price.

What to buy: Doota mall - everything? It has different floors for mums& babies, career, men, accesories, children, casual.

Migliore - mainly young women's fashion. Think Bangkok's Platinum.

Cute umbrellas at Doota's 5fl! my fave =)

What to pay: Varies. A dress usually ranges from 50,000 - 80,000won. Jackets are slightly more expensive, and can go up to 120,000won. A top is like 15,000 - 40,000won. Bags and shoes around the same - I bought a bag for 53,000 won.

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Korea's largest wholesale and retail shopping district has 26 shopping malls, 30,000 specialty shops, and 50,000 manufacturers. Within the ten blocks of the market area, you can find silks, clothes, shoes, sporting goods, plumbing and electrical supplies, electronics, office supplies, toys and just about everything else imaginable.

The market was traditionally a night market and wholesalers once operated from 1:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Now, the area is open for 18 ½ hours a day from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 a.m., with some stores open 24 hours a day, although most stores close on Sundays and holidays.

What to buy: clothing materials, bedding, dishes and silverware' clothing, shoes, bags, colored wigs, CDs, inexpensive jewelry, and other fashion accessories and a whole lot more!

(like in Namdaemun Market, you can find "Super Copy" Luxury Leather Goods like LV, Prada, Bulgari, etc here too!).

for latest fashion trends, you can go to Doosan Tower (Doota) and Migliore, which are today's hottest shopping areas for college students and teens in Korea (and way cheaper stuff than in Myeongdong!)

What to pay: again it depends on your haggling skills and the need of a korean interpreter.

Like Namdaemun Market, Dongdaemun Market is located near its namesake of Dongdaemun (Great East Gate). Korea's largest wholesale and retail shopping district has 26 shopping malls, 30,000 specialty shops, and 50,000 manufacturers.

We spent a lot of time at the AM/PM and Migliore buildings. On the whole, area stays open from 10am to 5am with most stalls closed on Mondays and public holidays.

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Dongdaemun Market is said to be Asia's largest shopping district. There are 30 shopping malls which houses about 27,000 retail and wholesale outlets. Dongdaemun is known to have the largest apparel shopping areas especially targeted for young Korean women. The most popular malls are Migliore (my favorite!), Doosan Tower and Freya Town. Indeed, for fashionistas, this is the place to be!

March-Oct open from 9am -10pm
Nov-Feb open from 9am to 9pm

What to buy: mostly clothes, clothes, clothes in all sizes!

I'm in LOVE with Dongdaemun!! Floors and floors of great fashion buys! lol. Every girls dream! I swear one stop shop for sure. For yourself, for your friends and family. You can spoil yourself in this fabolous shopping place. Wear comfortable shoes and get an early start. Because you really need one day to shop around the entire place! hahaha. I like it how you start from the bottom and work your way up. Ninth and last floor is the food court. So you can eat after your done your shopping madness!

There's like three or more floors of Women's Clothing, there's two to three floors for men's and unisex. Accessories and Shoes. Halleluyah! halleluyah!!

Cheap clothing and I must say you must explore and bargain hard. But its good to do it with a smile and be very polite. Add some "annyohaseyo" and "eol mayayo?" and they mite be very impressed with you, and give you a better price.

What to buy: Dongdaemun has everything to complete a great outfit. Good gifts for friends and family and a great place to spoil yourself rotten!

What to pay: Good to bargain and compare prices. Mostly each stand over the same stuff! You mite get lost and not find that stand anymore. So its best to look hard for it, trace your steps or just buy it! lol