OLIVE YOUNG Seongsu stn. — Local services in Seoul

The best part about this spot is the location: it’s right in front of Seongsu Station, Exit 1, yet it stays calmer because it sits just across from the main drag. In Korea, big franchises keep prices, promos, and points the same nationwide, so there’s no reason to line up at the packed Olive Young across the street. When you’re traveling, picking the quieter store is the smarter play.

“Seongsu” generally refers to everything within about a 500-meter radius of the station. Among those areas, Yeonmujang-gil by Exits 3 & 4 is the beating heart for Korea’s MZ crowd—endless pop-ups and indie cafés where you can get a quick read on what young Koreans are into and how they spend.

Here’s my go-to route: Start with a slow stroll down Yeonmujang-gil, check out the latest fashion pop-ups, and fuel up with a bagel or a slice of pie. Once you’ve had your fill of shopping and photos, cross over to the building with Olive Young by Exit 1 and ride up to the 7th floor. That’s where you’ll find “Straycat town animal zoo cafe seongsu (Gilgoyang-i Maeul),” a rescue-focused cat café. Every cat is a rescue waiting for adoption, so it’s more than a “cute stop”—it’s a meaningful break. Drop in mid-itinerary for a warm drink and a dose of calm.

Wrap up the day by heading back down to the 1st-floor Olive Young, which is usually less crowded, and stock up on K-beauty essentials before you head to your hotel. It’s an easy, well-rounded Seongsu itinerary that blends trend-spotting with a warm slice of Korea’s...

Encountered a rude male staff when we were checking out at ard 5pm on 10 Mar. Was left stranded with a half working kiosk in Korean while he refused to assist properly. Is very upsetting to feel helpless as a tourist in such a touristy place, and we just wanted to enjoy the store and shop but the male...

Olive Young sells health foods in addition to cosmetics. I bought nutritional supplements from Olive Young. There were nutritional supplements that were good for you. Among them, I bought multi-vitamins. It was nice to be able to buy the vitamins I needed quickly and conveniently. I recommend...