Olive Young Myeongdong Town — Attraction in Seoul

Our visit to Olive Young was unfortunately disappointing on multiple levels. While the store is often known for its variety, not all items are competitively priced. In fact, some products are significantly more expensive than elsewhere. For example, we found a toothpaste that sells for 5,000 won outside being priced at 12,000 won at Olive Young—more than double.

The customer service experience was even more concerning. Regarding the welcome gift promotion, it was advertised as a free gift upon registration. Our entire family registered as new users with the intention of redeeming this offer. However, the staff—particularly one the girl wearing glasses—was unhelpful and unwelcoming. She did not assist us, merely pointed to the QR code without any further explanation.

We encountered an issue where the barcode to claim the gift did not appear. Another customer (Yes CUSTOMER, not staff) kindly informed us that we needed to connect to Olive Young’s Wi-Fi before registering in order to receive the barcode. Unfortunately, this important detail was not clearly displayed anywhere in the store. This lack of communication led to confusion.

One of our family members had multiple email addresses and registered more than once. As soon as each registration was complete, a barcode was generated. However, instead of calmly explaining the store policy, the staff member abruptly approached and raised her voice, saying that one person could only receive one welcome gift. If that is the rule, the system should be designed to prevent multiple redemptions, rather than putting the blame on customers.

The welcome gift itself is modest—just 1 mini serum and 1 small cream sample. It’s not about the value of the gift, but rather the principle and how customers are treated. We actually spent more money in-store but were treated poorly throughout the visit.

In short, our experience was marred by overpriced items, unclear instructions, and unfriendly, unprofessional service.

To the staff member stationed at the welcome gift area (the girl wearing glasses), I kindly urge you to treat customers with more courtesy. A little kindness goes a long way—and being polite costs nothing.

If Olive Young’s policy strictly allows only one welcome gift per person, this should be clearly communicated. A visible sign at the registration area and a properly set-up system that prevents multiple registrations would help avoid confusion and ensure a smoother experience for...

This store appears to be packed no matter the time on weekends. I went right after they opened on a Sunday and there were still a ton of people. The staff are too busy restocking to ask for help or recommendations. I recommend going before the night market begins, it’ll be crowded but not super crowded.

The free gift vending machine is on the second floor. All you have to do is connect to their wifi, scan the QR code on the screen and signup for their free global membership, and then have the machine scan your barcode. It was super easy and the machine cycles through instructions in various languages. I ended up with the orange bag with lots of collagen type products. I had to use google translate camera function to figure out how to use most of them.

Many of the product names have English cards but don’t have any sort of English description so make sure you have a translate app ready or go in knowing which products you want.

There are a ton of beauty stores in that area selling the same things and it seemed like those other stores were cheaper. The cashier at checkout seemed like she would have rather been anywhere else and didn’t try to hide it (can’t blame her though).

I’d say go upstairs and to the front to get your free vending machine gift and then go to the other stores for potentially better pricing and wayyyy...

This is one of the many Olive Young branches in Myeongdong, and it stands out as a must-visit destination for beauty enthusiasts. Spanning two floors, this store offers an impressive selection of cosmetics, skincare, and health products, with countless options to explore. You’ll find a wide variety of Korean beauty brands, from popular names to niche ones, making it a treasure trove for tourists and locals alike.

As one of the busiest Olive Young locations, the store is almost always packed with shoppers, especially tourists stocking up on Korean beauty essentials. Despite the crowds, the shopping experience is well-organized, and the payment process is surprisingly efficient. Although the queues at checkout may look long, the store has numerous payment counters on both the first and second floors, ensuring that the lines move quickly.

One unique perk of shopping here is the free gift you can claim if you sign up for an Olive Young account online. After registering, you can use a vending machine inside the store to collect your freebie—a fun and rewarding experience that adds to the...