Image adapted from (left to right): @oldbrick_vintage, @_lianunez and @laretro_seoul
People often head to Korea for amazing street food, K-beauty products and over-the-top cafe aesthetics. But besides that, Seoul also has many Korean clothing stores for those looking to revamp their wardrobes back home. Instead of hitting the usual fast fashion stores like Stylenanda, check out these 9 Korean clothing stores where you can find vintage clothing from old-school graphic tees to one-of-a-kind ugly Christmas sweaters at a bargain.
It’s hard to walk past Vin Prime outlets without noticing its distinct royal blue signage and bright yellow walls.
Image credit: @_lianunez
As the largest thrift franchise with multiple outlets scattered across Seoul, this is the go-to thrift store for locals to snag rare finds for cheap. There are multiple stores found across Seoul, all of which are close to subway stations.
Image credit: @misanthropeindisguise
Here, you can find clothing of all styles. Besides basic tops and denim jeans, there are also winter wear and even evening dresses. Prices hover around KRW5,000-KRW15,000 (~USD4.10-USD12.30).
Tip: Go early to get dibs on new restocks and avoid the afternoon crowd.
Popular Vin Prime outlets
Vin Prime Gangnam
Address: 802-40 Yeoksam 1(il)-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Opening hours: 10AM-11PM, Daily
Telephone: 02-3452-8818
Vin Prime Express Bus Terminal
Address: 176 Sinbanpo-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul
Opening hours: 10AM-11PM, Daily
Telephone: 02-593-8818
Vin Prime Sadang Station
Address: 1112 Namhyeon-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul
Opening hours: 10AM-11PM, Daily
Telephone: 02-3474-8828
Website
Image credit: @millionarchive
Located in a converted old factory space, Million Archive specialises in the sale of second-hand clothing with a twist.
Image credit: @millionarchive
Unlike usual second-hand shops, Million Archive takes things up a notch by having curated themes that change monthly. One of the past summer collections was Hawaiian shirts, while “ugly” Christmas sweaters filled the racks when it came to the season of giving.
Image credit: @millionarchive
This store also brings in clothes from Europe and the US to cater to women of different shapes and sizes. A single piece will set you back KRW15,000 (~USD12.30), but if you do purchase 3 or 5 items, it’ll cost you a total of KRW40,000 (~USD32.80) and KRW65,000 (~USD53.50) respectively.
Address: 1F, 11, Seongsui-ro 26-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
Telephone: 010-4759-0126
Website
Image adapted from: @01_27_parker
The BeautifulStore is similar to Salvation Army, and best known for giving back to the community through its sale of donated items.
Image credit: @holystump_
Though majority of the clothes you’ll get here aren’t of big-name brands, they are of decent quality and condition, fitting for those who are on a tighter budget. You can expect to find tops from as low as KRW2,000 (~USD1.60), while blazers start from KRW5,000 (~USD4.10).
Popular The BeautifulStore outlets
The BeautifulStore Anguk
Address: 21, Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Opening hours: Mon – Sat 10.30AM-6PM, Closed on Sun
Telephone: 02-736-0660
The BeautifulStore Yangjae
Address: 34, Nambusunhwan-ro 351-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Opening hours: Mon – Sat 10.30AM-6PM, Closed on Sun
Telephone: 02-3462-3747
The BeautifulStore Seocho
Address: 35, Seocho-daero 56-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul
Opening hours: Mon – Sat 10.30AM-6PM, Closed on Sun
Telephone: 02-594-7854
Website
Image credit: @_wodudjy2_
If we didn’t tell you, you’ll probably never guess that Market In U carries second-hand items.
You don’t have to worry about steep prices over here as clothes go for as low as KRW5,000 (~USD4.10).
Offering you the best deals for second-hand footwear, Market In U has a little corner filled with sneakers like Air Jordan, classic Chucks, and Nike Air Force.
Popular Market In U outlets
Mangwon station
Address: 1F, 33, World Cup-ro 14-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Opening hours: Tue – Sun 12PM-9PM, Closed on Mon
Telephone: 070-7325-4415
Hakdong station
Address: B1F, 177, Hakdong-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Opening hours: Thu & Fri 12PM-8PM, Closed on Sat– Wed
Telephone: 010-4645-5220
Hongik University station
Address: 30, Wusan-ro 37-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul (Parkview Building)
Opening hours: Tue – Sun 12PM-9PM, Closed on Mon
Telephone: 010-8696-5220
Website
Image credit: @ippnee_world
Retro fashion enthusiasts will be in love with One Page’s specially-curated vintage floral pieces. It’s known to be one of the best vintage shops to visit to find items in great condition.
Image credit: @pageone__official
The shop has a wide range of clothing – from gingham print dresses and floral flannel skirts to crochet knits and sweetheart neckline blouses – arranged neatly by type. You can also expect some of the pieces to look a little more kawaii as they are specially handpicked by the owner and brought in from Japan.
The lady boss uses the shop’s Instagram account to promote new items and you can drop them a Kakao direct message if any item catches your eye. Special arrangement for online payment and delivery can be made.
Address: 316-13 Sangsu-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Opening hours: Tue – Sat 1.30PM-8PM | Sun 1.30PM-9PM, Closed on Mon
Website
Image credit: @laretro_seoul
If you find this 3-storey store familiar, it’s probably because it made an appearance on Netflix’s Love Alarm.
Image credit: @laretro_momo
Enter through the ground floor and you’ll find an array of vintage jewellery and accessories with strong 80s vibes. A stunning 4-strand ivory pearl necklace only retails for KRW138,000 (~USD114.20) – it’s a bargain considering the market price of pearl necklaces.
Image credit: @laretro_seoul
You can play dress up at La Retro – from an A-line midi skirt to a floral maxi dress, everything here just screams old-school cool. Its sale rack has clothing priced from KRW20,000-KRW30,000 (~USD16.80-USD25.20), which is reasonable for such good quality vintage pieces.
Image adapted from: @iam_hyun
And if you’ve always dreamt of throwing a tea party, head up to the 3rd floor to check out its collection of English tea sets and other homeware.
Vintage bags, earrings, and watches from high-end brands like Chanel, Prada, Gucci, and Omega can be found here. They are on the pricier end, but definitely cost a fraction less than getting brand new ones.
Address: 316-13 Sangsu-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Opening hours: 12.30PM-10PM, Daily
Telephone: 070-8937-5513
Website
Image credit: @pieceofpony
Street fashion lovers can’t miss out on Hantage, a basement store that carries an array of streetwear hailing from the 80s and 90s.
Image credit: @dottegimarket
The shop’s collection of hard-to-find Harley-Davidson leather biker jackets and boots is a hit amongst discerning street style stars.
Image credit: @hantage_official
The items are reasonably priced, with outerwear merely costing KRW35,000 (~USD28.80). A tiered maxi skirt goes for KRW15,000 (~USD12.30).
If you’re patient enough to go through the racks, you might end up finding hidden gems like a Givenchy suit at a steal.
Further into the shop, you’ll find vintage point-and-shoot film cameras kept in pristine condition. Film camera collectors will be thrilled to know that the shop has rare finds such as Minolta Weathermatic 35DL, manufactured in the 1980s, and Konica Big Mini BM 201, made in the 1990s.
Address: 402-3 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Opening hours: Mon – Fri 10AM-8PM, Closed on Sat & Sun
Telephone: 010-8579-4696
Website
Image credit: @oldbrick_vintage
Oldbrick is well-known for its second-hand vintage streetwear.
Here, the store not only carries popular brands like Stussy, Champion, Patagonia, and Nike, it also has higher-end labels like Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani, Burberry, and Gucci – just to name a few.
Pricing-wise, a vintage knit top will only set you back KRW15,000 (~USD12.30).
Image credit: @oldbrick_vintage
It’s also worth checking out Oldbrick’s duffle bag collection, as it’s occasionally stocked with brands such as Louis Vuitton and MCM.
Address: 41-2, Dongsomun-ro 24-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul
Opening hours: 12PM-10PM, Daily
Telephone: 010-3030-6692
Website
Image credit: @gg.chang
When you think of ÅLAND, the first thing that comes to mind is probably an all-in-one store to get the latest Korean designer clothing, skin care, and makeup products – kinda like your Korean Urban Outfitters. While this is true, you’ll be surprised to know that the 4th floor of the Myeongdong outlet is dedicated to a collection of vintage apparel.
This is where you can snag pieces from brands like Versace and Lacoste at affordable prices, and put together an outfit that seemingly came out of boutique stores.
Address: 30 Myeongdong 6-gil, Myeongdong 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul
Opening hours: 10AM-11PM, Daily
Telephone: 1566-7477
Website
While Seoul has many stores for you to shop till you drop, these hidden gems are where you can find good quality vintage items at a reasonable price point. The next time you visit Seoul, ditch the siren song of fast fashion and give these second-hand Korean clothing stores a go – vintage clothes are better for the environment, anyway!
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