Seoul’s Myeongdong is bustling with tourists. At first glance, it might seem like a shopping area exclusively for travelers, but a slight change in perspective reveals numerous convenient ‘Asian supermarkets in Myeongdong’ and local community marts that support the lives of long-term residents and international students.
Whether you need to stock up on vegetables and fruits for home cooking, want to buy drinks and daily necessities at a lower price than convenience stores, or are searching for ‘serious souvenirs’ for a temporary return home, we’ve carefully selected local marts and specialized convenience stores that offer excellent convenience and cost-performance to meet these real-life local needs. Please refer to these resident-specific tips for smart shopping right in the heart of a tourist district.
Harmony Mart
📍 Address: 58 Myeongdong 10-gil, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea
Hidden away in the basement of Myeongdong’s bustling downtown is ‘Harmony Mart’ (formerly Myeongdong Mart). This is an excellent everyday supermarket not only for tourists staying at nearby hotels but also for residents living in the vicinity.
Though compact, the store boasts a comprehensive selection, from daily necessities to popular Korean snacks and instant ramen. Its biggest draw is that bottled beverages and soju can be purchased nearly 20% cheaper than at surrounding convenience stores. For stocking up on daily drinks and small snacks, you won’t find a more reliable ally.
Additionally, many staff members speak Japanese and Chinese, providing peace of mind when you’re looking for something. If you’ve bought a large quantity, they offer flexible services like delivery to the surrounding area (within a 5km radius or nearby hotels) and temporary luggage storage. Tax refund procedures can also be smoothly completed at the terminal next to the cash register, making it perfect for ‘time-saving shopping’ when quickly gathering bulk souvenirs for a temporary return home.
Lemon Mart
📍 Address: 45 Myeongdong 9-gil, Euljiro 2(i)-ga, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea
For international students and long-term residents who cook for themselves in the Myeongdong area, ‘where to buy fresh produce’ is a critical issue. In such a context, ‘Lemon Mart’ stands as a valuable presence.
It stocks fresh foods like vegetables and fruits that aren’t typically found in souvenir shops, fully serving its role as a community-focused supermarket. While prices are roughly similar to convenience stores and not dramatically cheaper, it perfectly fulfills the nuanced need of, ‘I don’t have time to go to a distant large mart, but I just need a few vegetables for tonight’s home cooking.’
With a balanced selection ranging from popular tourist snacks to instant noodles commonly eaten by locals and almond-based snacks, it’s also a great place to check out local trend products while replenishing daily necessities. It’s a shop to remember as Myeongdong area’s ‘kitchen’.
Emart24 Myeongdong Station Branch
📍 Address: 2nd floor, 13-4 Namsan-dong 3(sam)-ga, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea
Don’t underestimate it as just another convenience store. This Emart24, located right next to Myeongdong Station, is a specialized ‘K-FOODLAB’ store that fuses Korean culture with culinary experiences, becoming a popular hangout spot for local youth and international students.
Its main highlight is the spacious eat-in area on the second floor and the impressive ‘Ramen Archive Wall’ displaying over 170 varieties. You can use the dedicated ramen cooking machines in the store to prepare and enjoy ‘instant ramen’ on the spot, just like you would in a Han River park. It’s also valued as a rest spot to recover from shopping fatigue at places like Daiso, and sharing different flavors of ramen with friends is a truly local way to spend your time.
In addition to microwave oven access, it offers Wi-Fi and smartphone charging facilities, with students often using it as an alternative to a cafe. For quick meals during a busy schedule or a late-night snack when hunger strikes, be sure to enjoy some local convenience store food.
Lotte Mart Zettaplex Seoul Station Branch
📍 Address: 405 Hangang-daero, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea
Directly connected to Seoul Station, just a short subway or bus ride from Myeongdong, is ‘Lotte Mart Zettaplex’. It’s no exaggeration to say this is the only choice for weekend bulk shopping or stocking up on a large quantity of souvenirs before a temporary return to your home country. After its renovation in 2023, it has evolved into an even more overwhelmingly vast store with an expanded product range.
The expansive store offers ‘everything’ you need for daily life, from fresh produce like meat, seafood, and vegetables, to daily necessities, clothing, and specialty stores like Daiso and Muji. The exhilarating feeling of tossing bulk snacks, Korean seaweed, and large quantities of instant noodles into your cart, much like at Costco, is unique to large marts. Furthermore, the deli section is well-stocked, making it a great help when you want to add an extra dish to your dinner.
It can get quite crowded on weekends as it’s frequented by many locals as well as tourists, but the thoughtful provision of free lockers near the entrance (up to 3 hours) allowing you to shop hands-free is impressive. Instant tax refunds are also available at the self-checkout counters by presenting your passport, allowing for quick and smart shopping.
3K Sangsa
📍 Address: 1st floor, 44-9 Juja-dong, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea
While not a supermarket, ‘3K Sangsa’ is a Korean seaweed specialty store located slightly off the beaten path in the Myeongdong area, which every long-term resident wanting to experience the deep culinary charm of Korea absolutely should know about. It gained fame after being featured on Japanese TV shows and YouTube, but its quality is genuinely authentic.
It comes in handy when you’ve lived locally for a while and feel that ‘the seaweed and sesame oil available at regular supermarkets are just not enough,’ or when you want to buy ‘undoubtedly serious souvenirs’ for your boss or family upon returning to your home country. You can purchase high-quality Korean seaweed unique to a market wholesaler, fragrant sesame oil that tastes freshly pressed, and exquisite gochujang and octopus kimchi, even just one item.
The lively and humorous Japanese conversation with the famous President Kim, along with the generous tasting service, is also a highlight of this store. It’s a heartwarming spot where you can fully enjoy a different kind of shopping experience from the usual transactional supermarket visit—true local ‘communication with merchants’ in Korea.
Shop Smart and Enjoy Authentic Local Life
While Myeongdong strongly presents itself as a tourist destination, by simply venturing into side alleys or looking for shops catering to locals, you’ll suddenly find a much more authentic atmosphere. Utilizing the strengths of each store—’Lemon Mart’ for quickly buying fresh produce, ‘Harmony Mart’ for cheaper drinks, and ‘Emart24’ for experiencing local food culture with its ramen cooking machines—is a smart technique for residents.
Furthermore, for weekend bulk shopping when you’ll have a lot of items, the classic route is to extend your trip to ‘Lotte Mart Zettaplex’ at Seoul Station. Make full use of the delivery services and tax refund procedures offered by each store to save costs and time, and enjoy a richer, deeper Korean life.
