Shopping
Shopping
Shopping can be great fun in South Korea, whether in the big cities, with their smart department stores and numerous markets, or in small local markets. The range of goods available is huge, with CDs and electronic goods proving especially popular. Leather and brass products are also of a high standard.
Duty-free shops, with international brands and high-quality Korean goods are available in a number of big cities, as well as at the international airports. Prices are comparable to those elsewhere. Some visitors may like to try two traditional Korean experiences, the barbershop and the bath. Korean barbershops can be a very pleasant experience. You may not be able to appreciate the gossip, but the combination of the haircut, shave, and massage is quite an experience.
Korean baths are similar to those found in Japan, with large communal bathtubs. Where they survive, they will now often offer specialized pools. As South Korea becomes wealthier, they are being supplanted by similar, but more expensive “saunas.” Public baths are segregated. They are friendly places, where inhibitions disappear. As in Japan, you must soap and rinse yourself thoroughly several times before entering the main bath.
