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Vinyl record/music shops in Dongdaemun?
tbh dongdaemun itself is pretty dead for records, especially for indie/shoegaze stuff. but if you walk toward euljiro, like a 10 min walk from ddp, there's a small alley near the old printing district where a couple vintage electronics shops have bins of random cds and vinyl. nothing curated, just digging through old korean pop and trot, but i've found some weird 90s indie cds there before.
for actual shoegaze you gotta make the trip to hongdae, there's no way around it. take line 2 from dongdaemun history & culture park station, it's like 4 stops. get off at hongdae entrance and walk toward the playground, there's a spot called vinyl & plastic that always has a good selection of my bloody valentine and slowdive reissues. they also have a small used cd section with korean indie stuff from the 2000s.
yeah dongdaemun is not the spot for this, but if you're already there you could try the basement floor of ddp's design lab, they sometimes have pop-up record stalls on weekends. not a guarantee but i've seen a vendor selling japanese shoegaze pressings there before.
for something closer than hongdae, walk over to euljiro 3-ga and find this alley called namsan gongwon-gil, there's a tiny basement shop called gonggam that stocks mostly jazz but the owner has a personal collection of 90s korean indie and britpop cds. he's usually open late and will let you dig through boxes if you ask nicely. bring cash, some of those old stalls don't take card.
honestly there's not much for vinyl right in dongdaemun itself, most of the record spots are clustered around hongdae or gangnam. but you're not far from gwangjang market which has a couple random vintage stalls that sometimes have old korean rock records, not really shoegaze tho.
if you're willing to hop on line 2 for like 15 mins, head to hongdae and check out vinyl & plastic by the playground area. they've got a solid indie/shoegaze section, prob the best i've seen in seoul for that stuff. also there's a tiny shop called supermag in seongsu that specializes in underground stuff but it's a bit further out. cds you'll find easier at the big kyobo bookstore in gwanghwamun, they have a decent music floor.
Seoul on a Budget: Tips 2026
Stay in guesthouses or hostels in Hongdae or Myeongdong for as low as 20,000-40,000 won per night. For a private room, try a goshiwon (student housing) starting at 300,… 🏠 Affordable Accommodation
Stay in guesthouses or hostels in Hongdae or Myeongdong for as low as 20,000-40,000 won per night. For a private room, try a goshiwon (student housing) starting at 300,000 won per month. Book directly with the property or use local platforms like Yanolja for discounts.
🍜 Cheap Eats
A bowl of bibimbap or kimchi jjigae at a local restaurant costs 6,000-8,000 won. For budget meals, visit convenience stores like GS25 or CU for triangle kimbap (1,200 won) and instant ramen. Street food like tteokbokki (3,000 won) is filling and cheap.
🚇 Transportation Savings
Use a T-money card for subway and bus rides at 1,400 won per trip, with free transfers within 30 minutes. A day pass costs 5,500 won for unlimited rides. Walk between nearby attractions like Gyeongbokgung and Insadong to save even more.
🎫 Free Attractions
Many palaces, including Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung, offer free admission on the last Wednesday of each month. Cheonggyecheon Stream and Namsan Park are always free to explore. Visit Bukchon Hanok Village for a glimpse of traditional Seoul without spending a won.
💰 Local Money-Saving Tips
Locals often use apps like Coupang Eats for discounted meal deliveries or visit traditional markets like Gwangjang Market for cheap, fresh food. Avoid tourist-heavy areas for souvenirs; instead, shop at Daiso for affordable Korean snacks and gifts.
🎭 Free Cultural Experiences
Watch a free traditional performance at the Korea House or at the Namsangol Hanok Village on weekends. Many museums, like the National Museum of Korea, have free permanent exhibitions. Check out Hongdae street performances for live music and dance.
🍺 Nightlife on a Budget
Join a free walking tour of Hongdae or Itaewon to discover cheap bars and pubs. Many places offer happy hour deals from 5-7 PM with 50% off drinks. For a unique experience, visit a pojangmacha (street tent bar) for soju and anju under 10,000 won.
📱 Essential Apps
Download Naver Map for accurate transit directions and KakaoTaxi for affordable rides. Use Mango Plate to find restaurant discounts and coupons. For free Wi-Fi, connect to the city's public network at subway stations and parks.
this is a solid list, one thing i'd add is that the t-money card also works for the airport railroad express (arex) and you can get a discount if you buy a "climate card" from the subway machines for like 62,000 won a month, unlimited rides on seoul metro and buses. also, for free stuff, the seoul city wall hiking trail from naksan park gives you amazing views of the city and bukchon without paying a thing, plus it's way less crowded than namsan. gwangjang market is great but go for the sundubu (7000 won) at the stalls in the back, not the front ones near the entrance which are pricier for tourists
honestly the guide nails it, one thing i'd add is that the t-money card deposit is refundable at any convenience store when you leave, most people forget and just toss it. also for free stuff, the seoul philharmonic does free outdoor concerts at seoul plaza in spring and fall, just show up with a blanket. if you're near hongdae on a friday night, the playground area has buskers that are genuinely talented, way better than the overhyped clubs
i live here and a few things this guide nails. one tip that saves me money is the "climate card" for 62,000 won a month, unlimited subway and bus, even works on the airport express if you're staying a while. for cheap eats, skip the main streets in hongdae and go into the alleys behind the art center, there's a place that does dwaeji gukbap (pork soup) for 7,000 won and it's way better than the tourist spots. also, the seoul city wall trail from naksan park is free and gives you killer views without the namsan tower price tag, way less crowded too