2013 Dongdaemun's Shopping Scene and comparisons!

Directions:

Dongdaemun History & Culture Park, Subway Line 2, Exit 14 

*I prefer to exit from here cause upon exit, you hit the popular shopping areas spot-on

Also accessible via Dongdaemun, Subway Line 1 & 4, Exit 8 or 9. 

*A distance to walk and if you are there for the first time, you may not be able to spot the shopping belt (Hello aPM, Migliore, DOOTA etc.)

By now, Dongdaemun is highly commercialized and everyone knows it is a wholesale shopping place and wants to go there. Though it's still a recommended shopping area, I do find the things costing a little more than before and yet the quality is just so-so unless you really scrutinize the merchandise and have an eye for quality, you may end up buying some things that are "made in china".

Nevertheless, there is no harm visiting Dongdaemun as it's just strange to visit Seoul and NOT visit Dongdaemun - who knows, you may be able to find some treasures hidden in the multitude of apparels!

In this entry, I will dissect the shopping areas to 3 main categories (as far as I have observed):

1. Shopping for the mass (wholesale look-alike environment): Hello aPM, Migliore

2. Shopping in chic (department store look-alike enviroment): DOOTA 

3. Shopping for the aunties (market loook-alike environment and I am not even talking about Namdaemun): Pyeonghwa Fashion Town

1. Shopping for the mass - Hello aPM, Migliore

This is what I feel resembles Fareast in Singapore. These shopping centres are about 4-5 storeys tall and all the shops are in an open-concept. The levels are usually segregated like Ladies Wear, Men's Wear, Denim, Kids etc. All the stores are small, and cramp looking and everything in the shop can be seen in 1 glance. There is no "window displays" pe se. Much less ANY shopping experience. It's a bargain city! And there are times when I do find "all the shops selling more or less the same things!" You will know when you visit. Price varies from 5,000 won to 40,000 won.

But still. Don't forgo visiting Hello aPM and Migliore just because of my descriptions. You may still find pretty decent stuff  after going-through piles of clothes as you will see in the following pictures. And some stuff are really cheap, but please do check the quality and "made in" tags clearly to ensure you are buying something "made in korea" as the qty control is better.

Also, if you like a piece, please, please BARGAIN! They usually hand you calculators to press your preferred price when you start to ask for discounts. One word of caution though - ONLY bargain when you WANT to buy the piece sincerely. DO NOT just bargain for the fun of it. You will be glared upon with a rude stare and some loud hospitality.

Whilst walking from 1 building to another, you may also spot stand alone stores like Faceshop, Etude House, Tony Moly, Nature Republic etc. Do take time to enjoy walking down the street cause there are pretty tasty hawker stores selling sausages and random on-the-go snacks!

2. Shopping in chic - DOOTA

This is more of a proper shopping centre with a nice ambiance and lighting. Doota is 5-6 (or was it 7) storey tall? Similarly, every level is categorized via the merchandise they sell, but they have high-end leather goods, clothes, shoes etc complete with a household level and some randomly planted cafes in the likes of starbucks or coffee bean so shoppers can take a break and then continue shopping.

I must say, the shopping experience here will be better simply cause it is more organized and has stylish window displays (that you will see in the following pictures). The quality of goods are also significantly better (though you may chance upon "replicates" from aPM and Migliore, yet selling at 1.5 to 2 times the price you saw there!). Goods are likely to vary from 15,000 won to 200,000 won and even more! So shop - but wisely!
  

3. Shopping for the aunties - Pyeonghwa Fashion Town

This is  a walk away from the previous mentioned shopping centres, directions below.

More like a market in a departmental store setting. I reckon this to be the real wholesale as each shop only specializes in that 1 item in multiple variation. But the kind of merchandise is limited. You will certainly NOT find your favorite jacket of tank top etc there. Most items will consist of accessories like belts to caps, gloves, hiking jackets, ties, aprons, etc (which is why I say this place is more for the aunties, though I DO ALSO shop there! haha)

And the items are really cheap, say 4,000 won for 1 belt. 8,000 won for a tie and 2,000 won for a cuff link? They sell things really cheap, in bulk (1 pair of socks can cost just 1,000 won).

Now the directions: At DOOTA, if you back-face DOOTA, on your left you will spot a small road. Cross it and follow the lane (which will lead to the Cheonggyecheon Stream) but before you get there, you will spot this old-looking building that is parallel to the stream (see 2nd photo) and that is Pyeonghwa Fashion Town)

Cross this small road

 

Now, if you are interested, you can cross to the opposite side of the road from this fashion town.

(that mean another parallel building but on the other side of the stream)

That is more of a wholesale for textiles, accessories, housing stuff (possibly where people go shop when they are getting married, cos you'd see curtains, cutlery, kitchen sets etc) more importantly, they sell those raw materials for accessories so, it's pretty fun to scan through that location  - I did find a few nice costume jewelry pieces at super good prices!

See what I mean?

This was quite a mouthful for me tonight and I hope you found it informative for your travel plans!

The REAL Dongdaemun Wholesale Centre

So this evening Rose was on for a mid night shopping encounter at Dongdaemun, and though I was reluctant because I really AM ON A BUDGET, plus its super cold at night these days -  I gladly obliged because if not with her right now, then when will I go to the real Dongdaemun wholesale centre?

The common buildings associated with Dongdaemun are usually Hello aPM, Migliore and Doota, but did you know those are not really the wholesale centres?

The REALS ONEs open only at 10pm in the night (or even later) through till the morning and are just a stone's throw away from Doota.

Directions:
Get off Dongdaemun History & Culture Subway Station, Line 2, Exit 14.
Walk pass aPM, Migliore, and when you get to Doota, cross the huge main road in front of Doota to the other side. 
Walk straight and you will see some brightly lit buildings as per the below pictures.
 

 These are the brightly-lit buildings I was referring to.

The buildings are obviously tall and big so you gotta prep yourself mentally in order to spend the whole night shopping!

Sometimes, they have extended shopping where they set up tents at the exterior of the building. Like our Singapore style "pasar malam".

These! These are the shopping bags of people who have shopped and are still shopping. And they "trustingly" leave their paid goods in the open. Amazing isn't it? That's why they say Seoul is a safe place!

 And here, the inside of the centres. Please don't expect some awesome shopping experience because the merchandise is just gonna be all over the floor like this.

And just so you know, to purchase, you have to buy a minimum of 5 pcs and some, up to 10 pcs. Some stores do allow 1-pc sale at retail price, but there are some that do not allow that... The material and qty are also decent along with it's price. 

The sight of ABUNDANCE!

Alright that's so much for tonight!

 

Touring Junbu Si Jang - Dongdaemun - Cheonggyecheon

Location: Cheonggyecheon via, Dongdaemun History & Culture Park, Line 2, 4 & 5

As usual, i woke up only in the afternoon today..

And the rain doesn't help make things better cos gloomy weather = gloomy mood = no want to go out....

Again, i forced myself out of the house without having any plans in mind... I did think of visiting the Gimbap store i came across the last time i came to Seoul... (and would only find out it IS CLOSED!)...

Down the subway i went... (in order to "pressure" myself to make a decision), i sat at the subway station and tried to figured out where to head for...

Dongdaemun was it, indeed, my headed for the Gimbap store....my only motivation!

As it was located at Dongdaemun, a location with MANY subway lines intersecting...i had absolutely no idea which stop to alight...i randomly got off at one of the stops called "Eujiro Sa Ga" (means line 4 to be more exact) i kindof know that was not the best line to get off at, but i just wanted to try my luck and see what was in store for me...

Lo and behold, on a Sunday, upon exit, that area was a GHOST TOWN except for a few others who also got off at the same stop, nobody else seemed to hang out there. All the businesses were closed, mostly electronics and home fixtures...

I was tempted to head back into the subway, but my intuition said to go straight and find a way to Dongdaemun. So that was what i did and i m so glad i did it cos i stumbled upon a wet-market sort of place where they sell dried and wet food. It was really one of the places i would like to visit as tours didn't bring us to such local areas.... I went trigger happy!

Jungbu Si Jang is its name (only discovered uon exit from that market)

They sell all sorts of wet and dried foods for cooking... All sorts of kimchi, preserved salted vegetables, ginseng, dried fish, seafood...the list continues...

It was actually not smelly at all!!

I quite like this photo - has that rustic old Singapore 1970s look... keke

So at the end of the street, there was an uncel frying these balls and though i know not what they are i just wanted to give it a try! And my intuition was right - it was YUMMY!

I was lost again the moment i exit.

But again, i followed my intuition and looked out for the most familiar landmark around, then i found an APM sign on a building about 500m ahead (that is one of the fashion buildings located in the Dongdaemun tourist zone....) haha! Straight was the road!

As i approached my destination, signs of confirmation popped up. I passed familiar places, like the hotel (Uljiro Co-Ops) i used to stay in previously and the familiar streets, nothing has changed and i felt some sense of peace and assurance!

This was the sign (see the aPM sign behind the striking green board?) Yes, this helped me find my way to Dongdaemun from the "lost world"

Ah-Ha! Co-Ops residence, which further confirms that i m on the right track....

Yummy street food at Dongdaemun! I ate one of those fat and thick breaded sausages with fries stuck on the outside! It would have tasted better if there was mayonnaise, but i dunno what to call that in Korean... LOLs



Ultimately I arrived that the Gimbap store which happened to be closed.... (how sad)

 This is the kimchi shop that i targetted to go - which started this whole "project" - but it was close - how SAD!!

The Auntie here is very nice and hospitable...

So I ended up people-watching. More like tourist-watching

Although i was really disappointed, i thought of it positively "at least i could enjoy the very tempting food lined along the roads - especially the one which has a sausage in the middle and covered with bread and fries!! SUPER YUMMY!"

I became one of those random tourist, sitting by the streets and eating... there seem to be some simple joys in sitting around and watching the people pass by... with no sense of rush or purpose....

There were random thoughts of why i was sitting there on my own and whether i was "wasting time" watching people... To some extent, i still cannot believe i AM in Korea on my own, having no touring plans and just felt like a soul out of my body, just watching myself....

Almost like, i am watching myself in a dream? The feeling is slightly unrealistic...

The walk continued and i decided to start the Cheonggyecheon Stream project.

So happened there was a traditional dance performance in the middle of the stream

Stroll, stroll, stroll your foot, gently down the stream...

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, where all the couples meet...

Water features (i suppose are man-made) starts to become more prominent near the end of the stream...

An art gallery.... and the photography shots are beautiful...

This snowmy scenery looks exceptionally peaceful...

By now, i was inspired to take more artistic pictures! hahahah

Couples here, couples there, couples EVERY where...

Not that i want to say, but i think my shots not bad right - under those lights! hahaha

I have reached the end of the stream....

And realised i was at Gwanghwamun... That is about 5-6 subways from my start point....

Of course i had to take a picture of myself to prove i was there... But this is one of the trips where i took the less-est (ya - i know the word is "least" - just be more candid, relax!) pictures of myself... I cant "zi pai" very well....

ARH.... my brain shutting down... i need to sleep! It's 4.30am and i need to get up at 8am for school! What am i thinking, blogging away in the middle of the night!

Anyways, like i mentioned in my earlier Myeongdong entries... i did find a brochure relating to "Walking Tours" and so, since i was in Dongdaemun, i decided i should just go for the self-organised "Walking Tour" down the Cheonggecheon (Stream in the City).

The weather was not cold, but neither was it warm. There was a nice breeze and so the walk completely did not feel like 2.7km as per indicated in the brochure.

This is one of the hot spots for quality time hang out. You'll see people of all ages gathered here, majority in groups, most are dating couples - they walk around hand-in-hand or sit by the stream hugging one another, whispering what i suppose should be "sweet-nothings", followed by family clusters mum, dad, kids, running past and happily splashing water from the stream and getting scolded! (kidding!)

Then followed by groups of grannies and grandpas who sat on mats laid by the stream, dining from their take-aways / bentos and gossiping about which actor committed suicide, whose daughter married whose son and who just got a divorce and of course, speculating what is the outcome of the top Korean drama showing on TV. (What great imagination!) They were mostly reciting lovely poems from the 1900s.... HAHAHAHA

Of course there are a couple of others who were just strolling around on their own - like me, but most of the "singles" i spot are people who are occuppied taking photos- so there i went trigger happy once more! (Trying to pretend i am a pro!) LOLs

Somehow, such walking did not tire me out, it had instead re-energised me. To see that apart from work and sleep in Singapore there are so many beautiful things out there to experience and live....

I dont think this is the MOST BEAUTIFUL sight in Seoul or Korea, but i think this is the beginning of one of my most memorable experiences....

Yes, you can say going for a tour does the exact same thing, but for me, this is completely different because you have total serenity with no "noise" surrounding you (mentally). No tour guides trying to explain the concept/history of the site, no friends talking to you about whosoever/whatsoever happenings, nor any pressure about catching the tour bus, making sure your friends are not tired...etc...

"Everything i did, i chose, and eveything i chose, i enjoyed..."

 I was free to leave if i felt bored, free to stay when i am interested.... this is the serenity and calmness i enjoy.... which was probably why i had to write till 4 + and still had so much to say, so much energy! :)