In a modern metropolis like Seoul, South Korea, it's hard to imagine that a second-hand market exists among robot baristas and high-speed trains. But in recent years, seeking second-hand wares whether it be furniture, jewelry, or clothing, has become a trending pastime. Nowadays, it's not uncommon to see high-end, luxury items for resale or thrift stores filled to the brim with bins and bins of 90s donations.

While shopping second-hand has definitely become more common in Seoul recently, it's still not so obvious how you find some of these havens of pre-loved gear. It can be a bit of a trek at times to find some of these gems but rest assured, it'll be well worth your time and journey, especially when it comes to price and finds!

UPDATE: 2023/01/16 10:19 EST BY TYLER GOLEC

A Vintage Lover's Guide to Seoul, South Korea

Seoul is an incredible modern metropolis that is full of everything "new" that can be found. However, those that know a little about the city know that Seoul is an incredible destination for vintage/thrift shopping. To help our readers have the best travel reading experience this article has been updated to be up-to-date and to include even more content.

How To Shop Thrift In Seoul

A little note about Seoul that's different from other second-hand shopping experiences in the world: the words "vintage" and "thrift" are used synonymously with one another, so if you try searching "thrift store" in your search engine (Naver is the recommended one in South Korea), then it may even pull up the higher end, second-hand shops.

This can be really confusing and disheartening for a first-time thrifter in Seoul when travelers can check the price on that gorgeous Fendi slip dress and realize it's more in line with traditional luxury resale.

There are a couple of thrift store chains that exist in Seoul as well as a few standalone stores which fall more in line with American standards of a thrift or charity shop.

One of the more famous chains includes Vin Prime, which has seven locations throughout the city, though concentrated south of the Han River.

Vin Prime stocks its stores daily, and you can score many things for under 20,000 won (about $18 USD).

You'll find that the stock resembles a nicely curated, just slightly higher-end thrift shop with some luxury item standouts.

Related: These 10 Fun Day Trips Are Worth Taking From Seoul

Another beloved and very mission-driven thrift store chain in South Korea, with its focus on sustainability and local craft wares, is called The Beautiful Store.

The chain is quite prolific with stores in 16 cities throughout the country, with one centrally located to all the tourist attractions in the Anguk neighborhood of Seoul.

Not only do they carry clothing and accessories, but they also carry furniture and household items.

It's a great one-stop shop for your second-hand, but also artisanal and eco-friendly needs at extremely reasonable prices

Vintage Shops To Visit In Seoul

Seoul is full of incredible vintage shops to discover. Here is a look at some of the best.

Gwangjang Market

If Travelers are a little pressed for time and need to multitask then head to the world-famous Gwangjang Market, home to Korea's most famous street food purveyors.

Why you may ask, should you go to a food market for thrift shopping? Well, on the second floor of this expansive marketplace, there are shops and shops of reasonably priced and organized vintage clothes and accessories.

Here, you can fill out your day with many kinds of activities from vintage shopping to eating some of the world's most delicious food!

While the food stalls are open quite late, the clothing stores tend to pack up at or near sunset, so it's a good idea to make your vintage trip earlier in the day.

Related: Book These 11 Budget-Friendly (But Still Nice) Hotels In Seoul

Million Archive

If you're looking for true curation, then look no further than Million Archive. Though the store is a little further away from most of the tourist destinations in the center of Seoul, this unique vintage shop is a social media darling.

Visitors are big fans of their themed monthly sales—some months its dresses sell for under 10,000 won (under $10) or sometimes it's "fill a bag for 35,000 won" (under $35).

This spot is a hot, local spot so make sure you give yourself time to pour through the racks and possibly fight off some crowds!

The Silo Store

Most of Seoul's second-hand and vintage shops feature that en-vogue Y2K aesthetic at the moment, but if you fancy something a little more antique (think 1890s rather than 1990s) then be sure to stop at The Silo Store in the Mangwon neighborhood of Seoul.

Not only is it a unique paradise of a bygone era for a city like Seoul, but it is also one of the most one-of-a-kind antique/vintage shopping experiences in the world.

Shop owner and curator Ethan truly knows the history of each and every piece because his family had personally collected the stock featured in the store.

If you're lucky, you may even stumble upon one of the shop's "salon nights" or tea parties.

While advance reservations may be an inconvenience to some, it is in fact a fantastic way to connect with the shop's operators (who speak English) and learn about the pieces you see.

Gangnam

Hongdae may be notorious for its underground culture, but Gangnam is recognized for its posh and high-end brands. Travelers visiting Gangnam will find Massimo Duty, Yves Saint Lauren, Gucci, Comme de Garcon, Louis Vuiton just to name a few-in these curated thrift stores. Travelers can expect prices to range from as high as ₩50,000($40) for the aforementioned brands and more, though travelers will be able to find items on the discount rack for prices closer to ₩20,000($16).

Curated thrift stores in Dongmyo Flea Market

Dongmyo Flea Market is a street market that perfect for travelers who don't know what they are looking for. They sell almost everything you can think of. Travelers shouldn't be surprised to find a large number seniors in the area though. It’s kind of their part of the city. This is where all the good stuff is found at the lowest prices. Some of these treasures include NBA windbreakers, Champion hoodies, and Ralph Lauren pullovers from ₩5,000($4). From Dongmyo Station Exit 3, Travelers just need to walk backward and turn right. They'll find a wide street with piles of clothes on the floor that goes for ₩5,000($4) for any three pieces.

Don't Miss Seoul's Upcycled And Trendy Luxury Resale Shops

If travelers are hunting for approachable, yet cool, second-hand luxury or creative upcycling of vintage pieces, then the Hongdae neighborhood is definitely for them.

The area itself is known for musicians and artists, so naturally, the creative environment drew in those looking for unique pieces.

While simply walking up and down the streets of Hongdae you'll see a vintage store every few feet (most of them are in basements so keep your eyes peeled and don't be afraid of going downstairs), some of the more popular ones offering trendy luxury pieces include Crew Vintage and Vintage Salon.

Sometimes travelers can find a decent bargain especially if there are transitional seasonal sales or holiday sales! Hongdae happens to be a part of the larger neighborhood of Mapo-gu, which boasts some of the most aesthetic cafes in Seoul.

So, grab your aesthetic vintage finds then grab some very aesthetic lattes afterward.