Songpa Is New Shopping Mecca

Munjong-dong, Songpa District in the southeastern part of Seoul is the new Rodeo Drive in Korea, surpassing the trendy Apkujong-dong area.
The place is now full of stores with renowned foreign apparel trade marks and lots of tourists from Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan are rushing for good shopping with low prices on quality goods.
Half of the road is packed with foreigners all day long who have moved from the traditional Namdaemun or Tongdaemun market sites.
On the afternoon of March 21, 40 people from Hong Kong were occupying a dress store as tourists from three other buses hovered nearby.
Ju In Kyu, a 31-year-old tour guide, stated, 'In my estimate, at least 1000 foreigners visit this area everyday.'
A Japanese woman, Koyama Natsugi, from Ryukoku College asserted, 'There are so many great products here at up to 10 times cheaper prices. I bought three full bags of pretty clothes.'
As the number of foreign visitors has been increasing, the street signs are also changing to foreign languages. Some stores have already hired professional interpreters.
Hwashik Bong : trojans@joongang.co.kr