Myeongdong Turns Into a 'K-Brand Showroom' - Musinsa Standard Opens 500-Pyeong Second Store Today

Myeongdong, Seoul's busiest district for foreign tourists, is turning into a 'K-brand showroom' (Segye Ilbo). Going beyond simple retail, brands are weaving Seoul's identity and Korean culture into their stores - and on September 8, Musinsa Standard opened its second large store in the district, 'Myeongdong Central' (floors 1-4, roughly 500 pyeong or 1,650㎡) on Myeongdong 8-gil, gathering fashion, home and beauty in one place. Foreigners already account for 56% of sales at its original Myeongdong store this year.

For travelers planning a Myeongdong shopping day, this means two things. First, the district's shopping map has widened from cosmetics-only to K-fashion and lifestyle - you can fold beauty stores and fashion flagships into a single itinerary. Second, the new stores carry more Seoul-themed items (city-brand and character collaborations), giving you the option of taking home 'wearable Seoul' instead of the usual souvenirs. The store sits near Myeongdong Station, so subway Line 4 is your baseline access.

By Park Jeung Min, Korea Tourism Times