The Journal

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Every story in one place. Browse Seoul life, places, and Korean beauty, or follow a keyword across them.

Browse by keyword · Myeongdong

3 stories · Newest first

Shoppers walking past cosmetics and tax-free storefronts on a busy Myeongdong street

Neighborhoods4 min

Myeongdong to Namsan at Sunset

An afternoon-to-evening route through Myeongdong, the cathedral and Namsan without pretending the climb is effortless.

Shoppers on a Myeongdong street past K-beauty storefronts advertising cosmetics, sheet masks, and tax-free sales

Places7 min

The One-Day K-Beauty Itinerary, Stop by Stop

A full K-beauty day in Seoul written out hour by hour — flagships before the queues, a park reset in the middle, and the shopping bags at the end where they belong.

Split Seoul street scene comparing Myeongdong beauty shops with Seongsu storefronts

Neighborhoods6 min

Myeongdong or Seongsu: Where to Actually Spend Your Beauty Afternoon

Myeongdong and Seongsu get compared constantly and shouldn't be. One is a shopping floor built for visitors, the other is where Korean beauty brands actually work. Here's which one your trip needs.