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March's Main Article

Fresh Fashion, Food, and Beauty Trends

A Refreshing Spring in Seoul

With winter over, it’s finally the start of a new season in Seoul – spring! Say hello to warmer weather and springtime by exploring Seoul. Buy new spring clothes, try some fresh seasonal spring food, and experience some of Korea’s beauty trends!

Hanbok of Every Variety

Wearing hanbok and visiting Seoul's grand old palaces has been a popular activity with tourists and locals for quite a while but the fervor for hanbok is continuing to grow. Tourists and locals have started to wear hanbok when visiting some of Seoul's older neighborhoods like Bukchon Hanok Village. No longer just for special occasions, an increasing number of people even wear hanbok in their daily lives. Hanbok are also popular as gifts and souvenirs. Visitors to Seoul are well-placed to purchase hanbok and rent hanbok during their time in the city. 

Traditional markets are great places to shop for affordable hanbok and some businesses even offer hanbok rentals. The Dongdaemun Shopping Complex and Gwangjang Market are two of the best traditional markets to visit for hanbok purchases. To purchase hanbok at the Dongdaemun Shopping Complex, head to the 2nd floor of tower A. At Gwangjang Market, hanbok sellers are concentrated on the 2nd floor of the market. At both markets, shoppers can purchase custom-made hanbok; shoppers are able to make decisions on every detail, from design, fabric colors, and more. 

Renting hanbok is very common and there are many hanbok rental shops clustered in areas throughout Seoul. The Euljiro Underground Shopping Center, the area around Gyeongbokgung Station, and the area around Anguk Station (Changdeokgung Palace is located nearby) are three of the main places when hanbok rental shops are located. There are all sorts of hanbok, from traditional, imperial-style, and trendy modern hanbok to rent out. Rentals are affordable and a fun way to tour Seoul and visitors wearing hanbok are even granted free entry to Seoul's palaces. 

Modern hanbok are hanbok that have been stylishly adapted to fit the rigors of modern life. Traditional hanbok are long and flowy, while modern hanbok tend to have streamlined silhouettes and shorter hemlines. Shoppers interested in modern hanbok should head to Sinchon, Jongno, and Kondae (the area near Konkuk University) or Insa-dong. Insa-dong’s hanbok shops often feature hanbok made from naturally-dyed fabrics. 

Most of Korea’s high-end designer hanbok brands are located in Gangnam in the Apgujeong and Cheongdam-dong neighborhoods. The famed hanbok designer Park Sul Nyeo’s store Park Sul Nyeo Hanbok, are both located in Gangnam.

Fashionable Garosu-gil

Garosu-gil is hands-down one of the most fashionable areas in the entire city. Though not always a well-known tourist area, Garosu-gil easily rivals Myeong-dong as a shopping and fashion attraction. The area has much to offer for fashionistas and non-fashionistas alike and in addition to fabulous shopping and dining; the area is beautiful to walk in as well. Garosu-gil changes appearance as each season comes and goes, and a springtime jaunt to the area is sure to be fun with lots to see. 

The main drag of Garosu-gil is full of stores featuring foreign and domestic designer brands. Makeup, clothing, and accessories abound and there is something for every taste. Visitors can refresh their entire wardrobe with a day's shopping in Garosu-gil - the stores here are that plentiful. Away from the main drag, if visitors explore the many side streets that branch off the main road, they will be rewarded with a huge host of different cafes and restaurants to choose from. The restaurants and cafes in Garosu-gil are known for having great food and great atmosphere.

Additionally, visitors looking for beauty treatments will have plenty of manicure shops to choose from in Garosu-gil. There are many skilled artists to choose from and all the shops here offer a variety of different manicure styles. From gradient nails, to gel manicures and French tips, visitors can choose a style that best suits them. Pedicures are also available at most shops. Most establishments have a recommended "design of the month" for patrons to select and visitors can also come up with their own ideas from these recommendations.

Fruit for Dessert

1, 2, 3. U:Dally 

The best way to finish off a meal is with dessert! With spring in swing, fruit is a wonderful, seasonal option. 

After a meal, going to a café comes next. We recommend desserts made with fruits that are suitable for spring. “Udally”’ offers drinks made from various fruits such as grapefruit, green grapes, mango, carrots, bananas, apples, oranges, blueberries, strawberries, and tomatoes. At the Gyeongbokgung Palace location, you get a free bottle if you buy a drink. Drinks, whipped cream, and fruits are placed inside a cute bottle, so you can feel spring’s vibe just by looking at it. Bagels with homemade fruit jam, cream cheese, Nutella, and peanut butter are famous.