5. The APM group of malls

Since its founding in 1999, Seoul’s APM chain of shopping centres has expanded into four separate venues – Hello APM, APM Luxe, APM Place and APM – occupying their own multi-floor buildings around Dongdaemun. The four entities each have their own positioning and target audience. While Hello APM caters mainly to the stylish, post-2000s crowd with its trendsetting fashion retailers, APM Luxe specialises in high-quality womenswear and fashion accessories with unique designs at wholesale prices. APM Place features wholesalers that sell made-in-Korea womenswear, with new designs released weekly. Finally, APM offers the most men’s fashionable attire of the group, with four floors of up-to-date styles, along with four floors of women’s clothing in a boutique-esque setting.

6. Migliore

Meaning “the best” in Italian, Migliore is a department store chain with several locations across South Korea. Its first location in Dongdaemun, opened in 1998, is especially popular with younger generations who seek the latest sportswear and athleisure. Elsewhere in the complex, you’ll find sections or floors that are dedicated to casual or formal womenswear, bags and travel accessories, as well as nail art products.