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.

Back to Asiatour