Korea
/ Seoul / Shopping
Tourists
may purchase tax-free souvenir items at any of the hundred shops
located in modern department stores or shopping arcades in Seoul
and major cities throughout the country. Prices are fixed. Among
the most popular souvenirs are traditional furniture, lacquerware,
brassware, leatherware, ceramics, jewerly, gold, silver and bronze
articles, dolls, and ginseng.
Artistically
designed and expertly crafted jewelry of smoky topaz, amethyst,
amber, jade and other semiprecious stones are available at reasonable
prices. Lacquerware, produced in many colors and intricately inlaid
with silver, brass, or multicolored mother-of-perl, is especially
appealing to tourists. Seoul's Tongdaemun (East Gate) Market is
famous for satin, damask, brocade, and other silks.
Insa-dong
is a well-known street, located near central Seoul, which is lined
with antique stores, art galleries, traditional tea-houses, restaurants
as well as book stores. Visitors are invited to wander and browse
at leisure. Known for its vast collection of antiques, and in
particular, its collection of various types of Choson chests,
it is a place that beckons both the casual shopper and the serious
collector. West of Insa-dong is Chogyesa temple, one of the largest
buddhist temples to be found within the city limits. It is famous
for its Lantern Festival which is held every spring to commemorate
Buddha's birthday.
It'aewon
is a popular spot for visiting bargain shoppers and entertainment
seekers. The area's main street runs for more than a mile and
is lined with stores, boutiques and sidewalk stalls. There are
also numerous antique shops and stores specializing in Korean
art and calligraphy. There is also an abundance of fast-food restaurants,
coffee shops, small bars, discos, and cafes that offer a wide
selection of music, including jazz, country and pop.
Tongdaemun
(East Gate) is the original east gate of the ancient city wall.
The public market sprawls east, west, and south of Tongdaemun
and offers a variety of bargains in everything from clothes and
colorful fabric to household goods. Furniture, bedding, sports
equipment, cooking utensils, electronics and food are in plentiful
array. Namdaemun (South Gate) Market is popular among local residents
and tourists alike for its vibrant atmosphere and its bargains
in everything from clothes to flowers and foodstuffs.
The Yongsan
Electronics Market, specializing in electric and electronic
goods, is the largest electronics market in Asia. With approximately
5,000 stores housed in 22 buildings, this shopping area is filled
with a mind-boggling array of electric and electronic products,
such as TVs, VCRs, computers and cellular phones, among other
things.
Lotte
World, a mammoth indoor leisure and shopping complex, is located
in Chamshil. It consists of a deluxe hotel, a folklore center,
an indoor theme park, movie theaters, a sports complex, a shopping
mall and department stores. "Lotte World Adventure" is a full-scale
indoor theme park equipped with ultramodern rides.
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