0 
0 
Shoppers visit Uniqlo’s new flagship store in Myeong-dong, May 22. Newsis
On the morning of May 22, more than 200 domestic and international shoppers lined up outside Uniqlo’s new global flagship store in Seoul’s Myeong-dong district, eager to enter as soon as the doors opened.
The Japanese fast-fashion retailer left Myeong-dong, one of Seoul’s premier shopping districts, in January 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Five years later, it has returned in grand fashion with a large-scale store occupying three floors of the Le Méridien hotel building, about a four-minute walk from Myeong-dong Station on Seoul Subway Line 4.
The new store spans 3,254 square meters and features 42 checkout counters and 54 fitting rooms, making it the largest in each metric among Uniqlo stores in Korea.
The store offers more than just scale. Living up to its flagship status, it carries Uniqlo’s full product lineup, including women’s, men’s, kids’ and baby clothing. Specialized spaces are located throughout the store, including a UT (Uniqlo T-shirt) zone on the first floor and a Re.Uniqlo Studio on the third floor, where customers can access repair and embroidery services.
Photographs depicting Myeong-dong through different eras are displayed throughout the store, while books in both Korean and English covering fashion, architecture, music and food introduce visitors to various aspects of Korean culture.
The retailer’s return reflects a broader strategy to move beyond the massive scale that characterized its former Myeong-dong Central Store and instead embrace the district’s growing role as a global destination for K-beauty and fashion.
“About 4.5 million foreign visitors came to Myeong-dong during the first half of last year, the highest among Seoul’s major commercial districts,” a Uniqlo official said. “With major Korean beauty and fashion brands, including Olive Young, opening large global-focused stores in the area, Myeong-dong’s importance within the retail industry has grown even further.”
As international tourism has rebounded since the pandemic, Myeong-dong has become both a battleground and a strategic gateway for Korean fashion brands seeking to reach global consumers.
Over the past two years, more than 20 major fashion and beauty stores have opened in the district. Earlier this year, Kolon Sport and Musinsa also launched new flagship-style stores there.
Kolon Sport’s Myeong-dong flagship store, located near Olive Young’s Myeong-dong Town branch and Daiso’s Myeong-dong store, draws predominantly foreign shoppers. International visitors account for more than 90 percent of purchases.
Driven by the tourism boom, the store posted its highest-ever monthly sales in April, with revenue rising 48.8 percent from the previous month. It also offers 26 exclusive products available only at that location.
Products featuring Seoul logos and tiger-inspired graphics have received positive attention from tourists for combining Korean traditional culture with modern design, making them popular travel souvenirs.
A view of the Musinsa Standard Myeong-dong store / Courtesy of Musinsa
Musinsa, one of Korea’s leading fashion platforms, is also expanding its footprint in Myeong-dong, in addition to its strong presence in Seoul’s Seongsu neighborhood.
Foreign shoppers accounted for more than half of purchases at Musinsa Standard’s Myeong-dong store, which opened in March 2024. That figure surpassed 70 percent in April this year.
Musinsa followed up on the store’s success by opening Musinsa Store Myeong-dong, a multi-brand retail outlet, in January. The company plans to launch another Musinsa Standard location within a one-minute walk of Myeong-dong Station during the third quarter.
“Strong sales from foreign customers at our existing Myeong-dong stores have reinforced our confidence in global market opportunities,” a Musinsa official said.
Global fashion retailer Zara also operates its only flagship store in Korea in Myeong-dong.
The Zara Noon Square flagship store reopened after renovations in May last year and now includes Zacaffè, the brand’s in-house café concept. Inspired by traditional Korean stone walls, the café offers visitors a unique brand experience that extends beyond apparel shopping and appeals to both domestic and international consumers.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.
