Myeongdong is Seoul's premier shopping and tourism district, located in the heart of the city near Namsan Tower and Namdaemun Market.

About Seoul City Center (Myeongdong)

Myeongdong is Seoul's busiest commercial district, a neon-lit maze of narrow streets packed with K-beauty shops, fashion boutiques, street food vendors, and department stores. Lotte Department Store, Shinsegae, and dozens of Korean cosmetics brands have flagship stores here. The street food alone—from hotteok (sweet pancakes) to tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes)—draws millions of visitors annually.

Myeongdong sits at the heart of Seoul's tourism zone. Namsan Tower (N Seoul Tower) on the hill above provides panoramic city views and is reachable by cable car. Namdaemun Market, Korea's oldest market dating to 1414, is a five-minute walk south. Cheonggyecheon Stream, a beautifully restored urban waterway, runs nearby.

The district is a hub on Seoul's excellent subway network, with Myeongdong Station (Line 4) and Euljiro-1-ga Station (Line 2) providing connections across the entire metropolitan area. Gimpo Airport's location within Seoul makes Myeongdong one of the fastest city-center destinations from any airport in a major global city.

Nearby Landmarks

Myeongdong Shopping Street Namsan Tower Namdaemun Market Cheonggyecheon Stream

Transport Options

Taxi

Cost $12-18
Time 25-40 min

Follow "Taxi" signs at arrivals. Queue at official taxi stand. Metered fares, no need to negotiate.

Rideshare (Grab/Uber)

Cost $10-15
Time 25-40 min

Taxi stand outside arrivals

Train (Metro Line 5/Line 9)

Cost $2
Time 35-50 min
Frequency Every 3-6 minutes

Step-by-Step Directions

Take Metro Line 5 from Gimpo Airport Station to Chungjeongno, transfer to Line 5 towards Dongdaemun, or take Line 9 Express to Noryangjin and transfer to Line 1 for Myeongdong.

Quick Comparison

Option Cost Time Best For
Taxi $12-18 25-40 min Convenience, groups, heavy luggage
Rideshare $10-15 25-40 min Budget-conscious, app users
Train $2 35-50 min Budget, avoiding traffic

Good to Know

Late Night Transport

The Seoul subway runs until midnight. After that, night buses (called N-buses) cover major routes. A taxi from Gimpo to Myeongdong costs ₩15,000-20,000 ($11-15) at night and takes 20-30 minutes. Kakao T app is the best way to hail taxis late at night.

Luggage Tips

The subway has luggage space near doors and priority seating areas. Gimpo station has elevators. Myeongdong's streets are pedestrian-friendly but crowded—roll luggage carefully. Many Myeongdong hotels are close to the subway exits. Coin lockers are available at stations.

Accessibility

Gimpo Airport subway station has elevators and wide fare gates. All Seoul Metro trains have wheelchair spaces. Myeongdong station has elevator access (exit 1 and 2). Myeongdong's main streets are flat. Wheelchair-accessible taxis can be booked via Kakao T.