If you’re a K-Pop fan, you do know that a trip to Seoul won’t be complete without shopping for items featuring your favorite idols—from albums to cosmetics to snacks! After all, it’s not everyday you are spared the bank-breaking shipping fees of online K-Pop stores and shopping apps. 

So if you’re traveling to the land of Hallyu anytime soon, make sure to read up because this is the only K-Pop shopping guide in Seoul that you will ever need.

Albums

Not all K-Pop fans know this, but for your faves’ albums to rank on major charts like Gaon and Hanteo, you’ll have to buy albums from official record stores like Hottracks, Synnara, and Yes24. Yes, the prices of albums are comparably higher at these stores than those sold at other retailers, say, the stores in Myeongdong’s underground mall. But if you want your purchase to count, here are the places you should check out:

Synnara
I’Park Mall: 140-780  55, Hangang-daero 23-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 
Closest Subway Station: Yongsan
Website: www.synnara.co.kr

Hottracks
Gwanghwamun: Kyobo Book Centre, 03154  1, Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Closest Subway Station: Gwanghwamun
Website: www.hottracks.co.kr

Yeongdeungpo: Times Square Mall, 07305  2nd Fl, 15 Yeongjung-ro (Times Square Mall), Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul 
Closest Subway Station: Mullae
Website: www.hottracks.co.kr

Yes24
Hongdae: 2, 3F, 25, Hongik-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Closest Subway Station: Hongik University
Website: www.yes24.com

Mokdong: YES24 Secondary Store, University Building, 406-21, Mok1-dong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul
Closest Subway Station: Omok Bridge
Website: www.yes24.com

Gangnam: CES Bldg., 816 Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Closest Subway Station: Gangnam
Website: www.yes24.com

Music Korea
Myeongdong: 3F, 52, Myeongdong 8na-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Closest Subway Station: Myeongdong
Website: musickorea.com

KTown4U
Dongdaemun Design Plaza: D281, Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul Design Market B2 No.7
Closest Subway Station: Dongdaemun History & Culture Park
Website: www.ktown4u.com

M2U Record
Sinchon: 87-14 Sinchon-ro, Sinchon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
Closest Subway Station: Sinchon

Books and Magazines

When it comes to books, magazines, and other printed items (like the annual season’s greetings), most major bookshops in Seoul have all the titles and current issues you’re looking for. A good place to start is Kyobo Book Centre in Gwanghwamun. This massive bookshop is the flagship branch of the biggest bookstore chain in the country. Another trusted bookshop that K-Pop fans frequent is YP Books. 

Kyobo Book Centre
Gwanghwamun: 03154  1, Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 
Closest Subway Station: Gwanghwamun
Website: www.kyobobook.co.kr

YP Books
Jongno: 41, Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Closest Subway Station: Jonggak
Website: www.ypbooks.co.kr

Cosmetics

The largest concentration of cosmetics shops in Seoul can be found in Myeongdong. 

We kid you not, every block in this ever-busy shopping district has countless stores of skincare brands endorsed by some of the most popular K-Pop groups and idols.

For you to be able to score exclusive artist freebies, though, you’ll have to spend a certain amount at your chosen store. But, hey, you could always use a new shade of lip tint, some sheet masks, and moisturizing creams, right? 

Dolls

K-Pop doll owners, you’ll be thrilled to know that there are stores in Seoul dedicated entirely to selling plush versions of your bias as well as miniature clothes and accessories! I Doll Look opened its first store in Hongdae in 2018, attracting collectors looking for cutesy items to spice up the look of their prized dolls. The shop currently has branches in Seomyeon and Busan. 

Also in Hongdae, SP Factory is a known one-stop shop for EXO doll essentials. The store is also very much active on SNS, so feel free to send in your queries to their Twitter or Instagram pages.

I Doll Look
Address: 74, Hongik-ro 6-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Closest Subway Station: Hongik University
Website: www.idolllook.co.kr

SP-Factory
Address: 6F, 31, Wausan-ro 21-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Closest Subway Station: Hongik University

Cheap K-Pop Souvenirs

When it comes to affordable K-Pop souvenirs, there’s no better place to look than the fan-favorite Myeongdong Underground Mall. 

This not-so-hidden shopping area is directly connected to Myeongdong Station, making it easy to access.

Here, you will find a plethora of K-Pop goods—both official and unofficial—sold at incredibly low prices! Go gaga over posters, L-folders, back issues of magazines, lightsticks, keychains, enamel pins, and other K-Pop fan paraphernalia that you’d love to keep for yourself or bring home to share with your fandom mutuals. 

More Shops!

Can’t get enough of K-Pop goods? Don’t worry! Seoul is brimming with stores that will answer your fangirl/fanboy needs. Here are other places in the city where you can get your K-Pop merch fix:

withDRAMA Offline Shop

If you’ve attended or are attending a K-Pop concert in Korea, chances are, the concert goods of your idols were coursed through the website of withDRAMA, which is, perhaps, the biggest Korean wave merchandising company. If you didn’t have any luck during the online sales period, you can always drop by one of their physical stores to check out what they have to offer. They have an extensive selection of goods featuring top acts like BLACKPINK, TWICE, and SEVENTEEN among many others.

Gangnam
Address: Lotte El Cube (Garosu-gil) 2F, 22, Apgujeong-ro 12-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Closest Subway Station: Sinsa Station
Website: withdrama.net

Yongsan
Address: I’Park Mall 55 Hangang-daero 23-gil, Hangangno 3(sam)-ga, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Closest Subway Station: Yongsan
Website: withdrama.net

Myeongdong
Address: Lotte Young Plaza, 67, Namdaemun-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
Closest Subway Stations: Euljiro 1(il)-ga, Myeongdong
Website: withdrama.net

Insadong
Address: 7, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Closest Subway Stations:  Jonggak, Jongno 3(sam)-ga
Website: withdrama.net

SMTOWN COEX Artium

Amid the fears of it closing down, SMTOWN COEX Artium remains as a wonderland of sorts for stans of SM Entertainment’s artists like EXO, Super Junior, SHINee, TVXQ, and Girls’ Generation. The multi-level entertainment complex boasts a shop for artist merchandise, a cafe, a museum, and even a cinema!

Address: 06164  513, Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Closest Subway Station: Samseong
Website: www.smtownland.com

Aside from SMTOWN COEX Artium, SM Entertainment has made their goods available at other spots in Seoul:

SMTOWN Stardium
Address: 281 Eulji-ro, Euljiro 7(chil)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul
Closest Subway Station: Dongdaemun History and Culture Park

SUM Cafe and SUM Market
Address: 06084  648 Samsung-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Closest Subway Station: Cheongdam

BT21 & LINE Friends Store

Who could resist the cute members of BT21? These cute characters created by BTS in partnership with LINE are featured on countless memorabilia that are too cute to resist. Although BT21 items are usually available (they sell out fast!) at LINE stores all over Seoul, you might want to visit the largest flagship branch in Itaewon. 

Itaewon
Address: 04405  200 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 
Closest Subway Station: Itaewon
Website: store.linefriends.com

Buru’s Ddeurak

One of Seoul’s original music stores, Buru’s Ddeurak is a gem of a place that sells albums across a wide variety of genres, including K-Pop. So if you want to experience a Korean record shop with an old-time vibe, include it on your must-visit list!

Address: 37-1 Myeongdong 8na-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Closest Subway Station: Myeongdong
Website: buruttrak.business.site

Supermarkets and Convenience Stores

Keep your eyes peeled when you visit supermarkets and convenience stores in Korea because you might just spot products with your faves’ faces emblazoned on the packaging! From coffee with BTS illustrations on the bottle to Pepero featuring EXO members on boxes, these edible finds sure taste better with your bias’ face on them.

Excited to take a K-Pop shopping trip to Seoul? Make sure you’ve got your T-Money with you for a hassle-free commute around the city! (Tip off: ARMY will absolutely LOVE this special edition BTS-themed Discover Seoul Pass!)

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