Myeongdong retains lead in foreign shopping spending in South Korea
Jung-gu district in Seoul, where Myeongdong is located, accounted for nearly a quarter of all foreign spending on shopping in South Korea in the second quarter of 2026 using cards issued abroad. The district accounted for 568.4 billion won out of a total 2.36 trillion won spent at department stores, outlets, duty-free shops, large supermarkets, convenience stores and souvenir shops.
Jung-gu's share increased
Jung-gu's share of such spending amounted to 24.1%, compared with 20% a year earlier. As The Korea Herald reports, the district includes Myeongdong and Sogong-dong, where Lotte and Shinsegae flagship department stores, downtown duty-free shops and numerous clothing stores are located.
The highest concentration of spending was at department stores, outlets and large supermarkets. In the second quarter, foreigners spent 385.5 billion won at these establishments in Jung-gu, or 38% of the nationwide total of 1.02 trillion won.
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The popularity of other districts is growing
According to a separate analysis by Lotte Members based on Korea Tourism Organization data for May 2026, Myeongdong itself accounted for 27.8% of nationwide foreign spending. It was followed by Seongsu-dong with a 5.7% share, Jamsil-dong with 4.6% and Yeouido-dong with 3.2%.
At the same time, the number of foreign visitors in Seongdong-gu, which includes Seongsu-dong, increased by 60.2% year on year. In Yeongdeungpo-gu, where Yeouido is located, the increase was 27.6%. Both figures exceeded the growth in visitors to Jung-gu, which reached 25.5%. An industry representative noted that the Myeongdong area retains its status as a shopping hub where visits turn into purchases, in particular thanks to department stores with luxury boutiques.
