Seoul pleasure of shopping
In a city that never sleeps, you can shop until the wee hours

By Agnes Tan

If you are holidaying on a budget and would rather splurge on shopping than on accommodation, search the Internet.

For a recent trip to the South Korean capital of Seoul, I managed to find the Uljiro Co-op Residence — a no-frills serviced apartment that comes equipped with a tiny kitchen with basic cooking utensils.

The small but spotlessly-clean room also comes with a bed, wardrobe, television set and an attached bathroom. Bring your own toiletries, though.

At S$110 per night, it is considered good value for money, given its convenient location near the Dongdaemun Stadium station and major shopping malls.

The famous Dongdaemun night market is also a stone's throw away, and right across the street from the Uljiro are several eateries and family-run restaurants.

The public transport system in Seoul is efficient, so travelling free and easy is no sweat.

But make sure you are armed with a local map in case you get lost.

Don't bother to ask for directions as you are likely to get replies in Korean.

Shopping in Seoul is said to be the next best alternative to shopping in Japan, as you can find the trendiest fashion for the season at much lower prices.

Korean skincare products are one of the best buys as they cost much less than in Singapore.

But the best part about shopping in Seoul is that some of the malls around Dongdaemun remain open until five the next morning, so you can go back and rest for a few hours before hitting the shops again!

For late-night shopping, check out the swanky Doota Mall with nine storeys of the latest fashion craze in the country.

If you love to accessorise, head straight to the Shoes & Bags Plaza on the fourth floor.

Here, you can find a variety of the latest and hippest footwear and totes.

The other shopping malls in the vicinity that open until the wee hours include Hello A/PM and Migliore.

If you are still bouncing like the Energiser Bunny after all the mall-hopping, you might want to drop by the famous Dongdaemum night market, just around the corner.

This mega-sized, open-air market boasts an enormous number of shops and stalls selling mainly clothes, accessories, Korean souvenirs and food products at wholesale prices.

You might even come across the occasional stall selling pungent fried bugs.

Another shopping haunt popular with tourists and the Korean youngsters is Myeong-Dong.

This fashionable shopping district is like Orchard Road, with hip fashion boutiques, upscale shopping malls and plenty of eateries.

Itaewon is the other popular shopping belt — mainly among tourists, as most of the shop assistants here speak some English.

When it comes to food, there is no shortage of eateries and restaurants in Seoul.

But some of the best Korean foods can be found in small family-run eateries or street stalls.

Though communication can be a hindrance as most Koreans do not speak English, the whole experience of ordering your food by pointing at the menu pictures is really quite exciting.

Be adventurous and check out the street food stalls that selling Korean snacks and noodles.

The stalls are covered shielded by plastic sheets, so you can eat inside without car fumes blowing in your face.

When in Seoul, do check out Lotte World, one of the country's largest theme parks.

It is located at the top of the huge Lotte World shopping mall, which also boasts a spacious indoor ice-skating rink and a myriad of retail shops.

Buy your entrance ticket to the theme park after 5pm for a discount.

If you like sightseeing, a good place to visit is the Deoksugung Palace, located within walking distance from the Seoul Metropolitan Government building.

The palace's many magnificent sights include a huge statue of King Sejong, the fourth monarch of the Joseon Dynasty.

And for a token entrance fee, you get to see centuries-old but well-maintained royal architecture, with all its intricate design carvings and surreal gardens — it is definitely well-worth the trip. - TODAY