Myeong-dong in Seoul is one of the tourists' Mecca where foreigners mostly visit in Korea. Especially, this is the favorite sightseeing place for Chinese tourists, as well. Japanese tourists used to visit here mostly, but Chinese tourists started crowding into here 2 years ago and have changed a lot of Myeong-dong's landscape.
Above all, as cosmetics have become one of favorite shopping items among Chinese tourists, many cosmetic stores have opened.
Chinese customers are occupying 80% of whole customers of cosmetic stores. So those stores have no choice but to hire employees who can communicate in chinese.
Coming out of exit 6 of Myeong-dong station, you can see streets lined with cosmetic stores. After arriving at Incheon international airport, take Korail airport railroad and transfer to subway line 4 at Seoul station. Myeong-dong station is two ones away from Seoul station. There is no direct transfer passageway to go to subway line 4 at Seoul station of Korail airport railroad. After coming out through the ticket gate, you should go about 100m along the guide sign and then get to the entrance of Seoul station of subway line 4. It has brought about discomforts to users. If a direct transfer passageway will be opened around by the end of this March, it is more convenient for passengers to transfer to subway line 4 at Seoul station.
After transferring to subway line 2 at Hongdae station of Korail international railroad and getting off Euljiro 1-ga station, you can go to Myeong-dong streets as well.
Cosmetic stores in Myeong-dong started to increase since 2007. Japanese who was main clientele in Myeong-dong street at that time purchased lots of cosmetics. This boosted cosmetic boom and increased cosmetic stores in Myeong-dong streets. From the stating point in 2013, Chinese tourists surpassed Japanese with big crowds, accelerating cosmetic booms in here.
Cosmetic stores which stood at 27 in 2007 jumped to 74 in 2009 and 108 in 2013, respectively. As of Jan. 2015, there are current 134 cosmetic stores in here.
25 cosmetic stores is lined within just Myeong-dong streets from Euljiro 1-ga station to Myeongdong Cathedral where tourists get crowded. Some stores selling only mask packs which are Chinese favorites have also appeared.
Even chimac(chicken+beer) alleys have showed up within Myeong-dong. SBS drama 'Love from star' became an unprecedented hit in China and so chimac which this heroin enjoyed became popular along with that drama.
The increase of Chinese tourists made some changes in selling items of street vendors here. Various kinds of eating items have been replacing souvenirs and accessories.
You can enjoy many kinds of Korean foods in street stalls from tteok-galbi(grilled short rib patties) that is the typical korean food and was sold only in restaurant previously, to jajangmyeon(black-bean-sauce noodles).
Newly changed landscapes have drawn more tourists in Myeong-dong and so tourist police force has been organized to help foreign tourists' safe shopping and sightseeing. Police officers who are proficient in English, Chinese and Japanese play a guardian role in guidance of sightseeing and also solution of discomfort for foreign tourists around Myeong-dong.
Thank you for taking the time to publish this information very useful!
ReplyDeleteSt.Thomas Taxi