[Thrift#1] BEST PLACES TO THRIFT IN KOREA

Here is a review of three of my favourite (and most affordable) places to go thrifting in Seoul, South Korea. Because thrifting is increasingly becoming more expensive, these three places are really such gems because of their low prices.

Gwangjang Market:

How to Get There:

- Jongno 5-ga Station (line 1, exit 7/8). 3 mins walk.

- Euljiro 4-ga Station (line 2/5, exit 4). 5 mins walk.

Opening Hours:

9am - 11pm

Closed on Sundays (Most stalls)

This place was so crazy difficult to find I almost gave up and went home! The thrift section in Gwangjang Market is located in a hidden corner of the market, slightly after the seafood stew stalls. After going up different staircases, we realised that there are two different “Level 2” sections in the market and the other one was for Hanboks. Anyways after walking around for like 15min, we finally asked a kind ahjussi who directed us to the correct staircase and finally made it to the “vintage” section, so I would recommend just asking around if you are lost. Anyways this place had so many nice items, ranging from non-branded unique pieces to vintage brands. There were even Korean brands like THISISNEVERTHAT, which is rare to find in thrift stores in Korea. While items were priced from 20 000 Won (SGD $20) onwards, the place is very bargain friendly and you can try to lower the prices significantly. Remember to bring cash as well!

Pros:

- Affordable prices for the brands and quality

- Even offers Korea brands

- Able to bargain

Cons:

- Very difficult to locate

- Many Stalls are closed on the weekends

Dongmyo Flea Market:

How to Get There:

- Dongmyo Station Exit 3

Opening Hours:

- 9am-6pm

- Weekends and Weekdays

This is my favourite place to go thrifting when I go to Seoul because it really encompasses the original spirit of thrifting. Most clothing items were around 1 000 - 10 000 Won ($1 - $5 SGD) and I had to dig through piles of clothes just thrown on the ground. I would recommend coming on weekends as there are more items but just be prepared to fight with the ahjummas as they will legit push you aside to get to clothes! Items here range from clothes, to household items and even to stuff like film cameras so really look carefully for some hidden gems. For the piles themselves, don’t expect to find too many branded items (although there are sometimes) but there are some really unique pieces thrown inside, so it is worth a look! Just a tip, most stalls only deal in cash and may not have small change so I would recommend preparing small notes before coming here! Also remember to visit the alleyways near the flea market as many stalls are setup there as well.

Pros:

- Very cheap and affordable

- Easy to find using Naver Maps

- Long stretch of stalls nearby the flea market also sell cheap clothes

Cons:

- Clothes are by season, so no summer clothes during winter season!

- Fewer branded pieces

- Need to dig through the piles

Hongdae Vintage:

How to Get There:

- Hongdae Station

Honestly, this place is for you only if you prefer cheap items that aren’t super unique but are branded! They offer a lot of vintage items from brands like Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Burberry and even Dickies. However, these items are pretty plain in design so if you just want a standard vest or shirt, you can get it from here. Clothing options here are mainly knitwear, corduroy pants and jeans. They do offer a unique selection of Christmas sweaters though which I thought was pretty cute. The prices here were insanely low, with most of the items being 5 000 Won (SGD $5) and the highest being only 19 000 Won (SGD $19). However, we had to thoroughly check our items before buying because we realised many of the items that were priced super low were torn or stained quite badly. Overall, I do think it is definitely worth checking out because of its low price range and selection of clothes.

Pros:

- Very cheap for the brands offered there

- The more you buy, the higher the discount

- Changing rooms

- Easily accessible

Cons:

- Mostly knitwear

- Some items are stained or torn so remember to check!

- Unable to bargain

- Not a lot of unique pieces

#WhereToShop #southkorea #thrifting