Visiting Seoul of South Korea, Myeongdong is a not-to-be-missed area simply because the atmosphere is great, particularly at the weekend evenings. There are so many cosmetics shops everywhere. Many of them have more than one branch to make sure you won’t miss them. Restaurants and cafes are mixed in the street but most tend to be on the side or upper floors. Shops open late around 11am and close around 9pm at night during the weekdays (except for cosmetics shops). The area gets very busy at the weekends with more stalls and street food in the middle of the street.
Lotte Young Plaza is relatively new, next to Lotte Department Store, targets younger market. There are lots of young fashion and accessories. 樂天年輕廣場位於明洞大街對面，是樂天百貨比較新的商場，主打年輕市場，潮流時裝及時尚精品。Myeongdong is not exactly in the middle of Myeongdong Station. If you take Subway Line 4 and get off at Myeongdong Station, take exit 6 and walk into the main area near UNI QLO and Nature Republic. 明洞並不是在明洞站中心，假如你搭地鐵4號線到「明洞站」，出6號出口，然後在 UNI QLO 和 Nature Republic 行入中心地區。Design Place is a relatively new shopping plaza that sells mostly fashion and accessories. Design Place 是比較新的商場，規模不大，主要售賣時裝和精品。These red mannequins hanging down from the ceiling and the pictures on the wall is very attractive. 商場入口十分吸引，高樓底，天花吊著紅色的人形衣架和牆上掛滿相架，走過都會看看。Most of the street food starts later in the afternoon. These are potato chip sticks. 明洞好玩是可以邊逛街邊食小吃。大部份街邊檔是下午才開始，白天來到沒有那麼熱鬧。Chestnuts and gingko nuts. 栗子和白果。Steamed octopus and snails. 八爪魚和螺。There are a lot more variety of street food now. These cheese balls are not traditional Korean. 近年明洞路邊小吃也多元化，這些芝士球當然不是傳統韓國小吃。Waffles are also new. I like the way they specialize in one kind of food and make a larger than life product ad a signage to attract customers. 窩夫。他們都喜歡用一個巨型「產品招牌」，遠遠就知道他們賣什麼小吃。Strawberry desserts. 士多啤梨甜品。Many stalls are run by young generation. Hence more improvised in product offering. This is wrapping sausage with fish cakes. 有不少路邊小吃都是年輕人經營的，所以食物和賣相都比較創新，這是魚肉包香腸。The fresh pomegranate juice is pretty expensive. 新鮮石榴汁蠻貴的。Myeongdong gets busy at night. Street hawkers selling all kinds of clothing, accessories, food, promoters trying to get customers into the stores. 晚上的明洞十分熱鬧，化妝品店有店員在門口招客，路中心有小販售賣衣服、手袋、精品、玩具、小吃。You may find all Korean cosmetics brands in Myeongdong. They used to give away a free face mask or some souvenir to entice customers to walk into the shops but less often now. 所有韓國品牌化妝品都可以在明洞找到，很多都會送面膜或小禮物引你行入店內，現在比較少。Hats On, a shop that specializes in hats obviously. Hats On 是帽子專門店。The kids hats are cute. 兒童帽子挺可愛。ALAND is a trendy fashion shop that sells Korean designer goods. It is really big in Myeongdong with separate stores for men, women and accessories. 韓國時裝店 ALAND 在明洞的店相當大，男裝、女裝和雜貨都有獨立店。So crowded on Friday and Saturday evenings. 星期五、六晚上人山人海。Artbox is one of my favorite stores in Korea. You may find many “made in Korea” goods and souvenirs. Artbox 是我在韓國最喜歡逛的商店之一，因為可以買到許多「韓國製造」的產品和小禮物。Many socks in Korea are local made. 很多襪子都是韓國造的。“How are you” pouch. 「你好嗎？」小袋。mmm…. I am perfect. I love you. Just a touch of short message and cute design make a big difference. 「完美的我」、「我愛你」。。。。。。簡單的產品就是多一點生活情趣。I bought quite a lot of stationeries every time I visit the store. These are also great souvenirs “made in Korea”. 我每次到Artbox都會買文具和一些「韓國製造」的手信送朋友。The Line Friends store is new in Myeongdong. It’s packed any time. 明洞的 Line Friends 專門店是新開的，永遠擠滿顧客。This KM Place store is gone. 這間 KM Place 已經結業了。Getting there and around: Myeongdong is in between Subway Line 4 Myeongdong Station exit 6 and Line 2 Ejiro-1 (202) exit 5 or 6. It’s like a maze so make sure you get a map and remember some landmark buildings so that you won’t get lost. Well, there’s always a Google map if you have wifi/data. 明洞位於地鐵4號線6號出口和2號線「乙支路一街」（202）5或6號出口的中間，商店很多重複，人又多，最好有一張地圖和記住地標，以防迷路。 當然今時今日，你可以用手機定位。
Comments are closed.