From Myeongryebang to K-Beauty Street, a 2 Hour 30 Minute Walk Through Myeong-dong

Myeongnyebang, Myeongchijeong, Myeong-dong: Names Changed Between 1914 and 1955

Myeong-dong was part of Myeongnyebang in the southern district of Hanseongbu during the Joseon period, and it was called “Myeongnyebanggol” or “Jonghyeon.” The Korean Culture and History Encyclopedia explains that the name Myeong-dong is believed to have originated from Myeongnyebang.

During the administrative district reorganization in 1914, this area became Myeongchijeong 1 and 2 Jeongmok, and after liberation in 1946 it was renamed Myeongdong 1-ga and Myeongdong 2-ga. In 1955 the two areas were merged into today’s Myeong-dong, which grew into a busy commercial district after 1923 and also played a cultural and artistic role before and after the Korean War.

A 2 hour 30 minute route that does not try to see the entire 0.99 sq km commercial area at once

The administrative neighborhood of Myeong-dong covers 0.99 sq km and borders not only Myeongdong 1-ga and 2-ga, but also nine legal neighborhoods including Jeodong 1-ga, Chungmuro 1 and 2-ga, Namsan-dong 1, 2, and 3-ga, and Yejang-dong. Therefore, rather than aiming to see “all of Myeong-dong,” it is more practical to divide the route using two subway stations as reference points.

If this is your first visit, it is best to start near Exit 6 of Myeong-dong Station on Line 4, pass through the Myeongdong 8-gil commercial area, move on to Myeongdong-gil and Myeong-dong Cathedral, and then walk toward Euljiro to Exit 5 of Euljiro 1(il)-ga Station on Line 2. If you include shopping and a light meal, 2 hours 30 minutes is suitable; if you also include Myeong-dong Cathedral and the history museum, about 3 hours 30 minutes is appropriate.

• Start: around Exits 5 to 10 of Myeong-dong Station on Line 4
• Middle: Myeongdong-gil and the Myeong-dong Cathedral area
• Finish: Exit 5 of Euljiro 1(il)-ga Station on Line 2, Myeong-dong Tourist Information Center

Different business hours for each store; “open every day” refers to the street itself

Myeong-dong Street is a public commercial area that you can enter without a ticket, so admission is free, and according to the Seoul Tourism Organization it is open every day. However, this applies to the street itself; the actual business hours and closing days of cosmetics shops, department stores, restaurants, and street vendors all differ.

Official Seoul tourism information says the central shopping streets of Myeong-dong are especially crowded from late afternoon into the night. If you are planning to visit specific stores, it is better to check department stores and indoor shops in the morning, then walk the alleys where street food and pedestrian traffic concentrate in the evening. On holidays and weekend evenings, you should allow extra time because of the heavy crowds.

• Street admission: Free
• Street operation: Open every day; hours vary by store
• Main inquiry: 120 Dasan Call Center

From Myeongdong 10-gil 29 to Myeong-dong Cathedral: a 1898 building in the middle of the commercial district

The given address, 29 Myeongdong 10-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, is located within the Myeong-dong pedestrian shopping district. If you move from there toward Myeong-dong Cathedral, the density of the shopping streets and the atmosphere of the cathedral hill contrast within a short walking distance.

Myeong-dong Cathedral was completed in 1898 and is designated as Historic Site No. 258. The former bishop’s residence, now the Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul History Museum nearby, was built in 1890; according to Seoul City information, it is one of the oldest surviving Western-style brick buildings. Even if your plan is only to look around the shops, including the cathedral and the 1898 Plaza lets you connect the urban history before and after Myeong-dong became a commercial district.

The Myeong-dong Tourist Information Center, 147 m from Exit 5 of Euljiro 1(il)-ga Station

If you are lost or need to check performance, transportation, or tourism information on-site, you can use the Myeong-dong Tourist Information Center. The center is on the first floor of the annex of Hana Financial Group Myeong-dong Building at 66 Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, and it is 147 m from Exit 5 of Euljiro 1(il)-ga Station on Line 2.

The center’s phone number is 02-778-0333, and the information desk and souvenir shop operate from 09:00 to 18:00. It is closed on Seollal and Chuseok day. Official Seoul tourism information also notes that you can meet tourist guides in red uniforms who can provide guidance in English, Chinese, and Japanese on Myeong-dong Street, so foreign visitors can use both the information center and on-site guides.

• Address: 1st floor, annex of Hana Financial Group Myeong-dong Building, 66 Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
• Phone: 02-778-0333
• Hours: 09:00-18:00
• Closed: Seollal and Chuseok day

Using Exits 5 to 10 of Myeong-dong Station on Line 4 and Exit 5 of Euljiro 1(il)-ga Station on Line 2 separately

The main entry point to the Myeong-dong shopping street is Exits 5 to 10 of Myeong-dong Station on Line 4. If you are starting from the direction of Namsan or from lodging near Myeong-dong Station, this side is convenient, and the Seoul Tourism Organization Informations Myeong-dong Station as the gateway into the central commercial district.

If you are departing from the main branch of Lotte Department Store or from the Euljiro area, or if you plan to stop by the tourist information center first, Exit 5 of Euljiro 1(il)-ga Station on Line 2 is more efficient. When going to Myeong-dong Cathedral, Seoul City information says it is about a 5-minute walk from Exit 8 of Myeong-dong Station and about a 10-minute walk from Exit 5 of Euljiro 1(il)-ga Station. On weekends, both the area around the cathedral and the central Myeong-dong area have heavy pedestrian traffic, so subway travel is better than driving.

If you drive, you must separately check the conditions for private parking lots or building parking at each destination. The Myeong-dong Cathedral parking lot is small and paid, so bringing a car just to visit the shopping district is not recommended.

The Myeong-dong Cathedral History Museum is open Tue-Sun 09:00-17:00, closed on Mondays

If you want to see Myeong-dong Cathedral in greater depth, you can include the Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul History Museum in your schedule. The museum operates from Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00 to 17:00, and is closed every Monday. General admission is available without a reservation, but group visits are recommended to be arranged in advance by calling the main number.

Whether photography is allowed inside the museum must follow on-site guidance, and because of the nature of a religious facility and exhibition space, quiet viewing is required. It is a good indoor stop when you want to take a break from rain or from the noise of the shopping streets, but if your schedule falls on a Monday, you should exclude this space and adjust your route to focus on the exterior of the cathedral and the 1898 Plaza.

Who Myeong-dong suits, and which times are better avoided

Myeong-dong is suitable for travelers who want to compare shopping, duty-free stores, and K-beauty products in a short time, as well as for travelers who prioritize subway connectivity in downtown Seoul. The Myeong-dong, Namdaemun, Bukchang-dong, and Dado-dong Mugyo-dong tourism special zone is introduced as a commercial and financial center in the heart of Seoul, with Lotte Department Store, Shinsegae Department Store, shopping malls, and specialty stores concentrated in the area.

On the other hand, if your goal is a quiet stroll or browsing independent shops, late afternoons and weekend evenings in the central alleys may not be ideal. In that case, it is relatively easier to visit Myeong-dong Cathedral and the history museum first on a weekday morning, then pass through Myeongdong-gil after lunch and exit toward Euljiro 1(il)-ga Station. Street vendor menus, prices, and operating status may vary depending on the date and weather, so you should choose based on the posted information on site.