Thrifting in Korea: Best Vintage & Thrift Stores in Seoul
Ropa Usada, Hongdae
Back in Hongdae, you’ll find Ropa Usada a veritable treasure trove of vintage fashions. With everything from shoes to tees, grunge staples to accessories, you’ll find a lot packed into a tiny space here – it’s nowhere near the size of fellow hotspots like Vin Prime, but it makes up for it by being absolutely stacked to the rafters with steals. It’s a shop that will reward you for taking the time to sift through – if you dig through the reams of clothes, you’ll find some iconic pieces at a fraction of the price.
Instagram: @ropausada1004
Address: 110 Wausan-ro, Mapo-gu
Nearest Station: Jungang Hongdae Subway Station
Cat Who Sells Clothes, Gimpo
Venture out of the city centre, and you’ll be handsomely rewarded. Loosely translated as ‘Cat Who Sells Clothes’, 옷파는야옹이 is a sprawling warehouse stocked with vintage delights. From casual clothes to gorgeous floral pieces and handsome leather jackets, you’ll find endless fashion inspiration here. It’s by no means the cheapest place you can thrift around Seoul – the sacrifice for the store’s organisation and high-quality items is a price tag to match it – but if you’re willing to spend in the name of fashion, be sure to take your thrifting outside the centre.
Instagram: @catclothers_
Address: 85 Gwijeon-ro, Gimpo-si
Nearest Station: Unyang Station – however, from here you’ll need to get a couple of buses in order to reach the store. Be sure to check your route!
Dongmyo Flea Market, Jongno-gu
For a vintage hotspot with a history, no thrifting trip is complete without a visit to Dongmyo Flea Market. It’s not just home to fantastic clothes – as the name suggests, the market is home to antique furniture and unique accessories too. However, it’s renowned for amazing selections of vintage denim and jackets, so it’s the perfect place to spend some time wandering and delving into piles. Beware, though – the market’s reputation proceeds it, so you’ll need to arrive early to beat the crowds and grab the best finds.
Address: 102-8 Sungin-dong, Jongno-gu
Nearest Station: Dongmyo Station
