Seoul’s Underground Shopping Arcades: Euljiro, Hoehyeon, Sogong, Jongno And Yeongdeungpo

Sunbae Says: Every arcade has its own exit numbers, separate from the subway’s. Note both before you go down, or you’ll surface on the wrong side of an eight lane road.

Picture it: it’s 2°C and sleeting on Euljiro, and you walk from City Hall to Dongdaemun without once feeling the weather, past herbal tea counters, hanbok shops, business card printers and camping gear. That tunnel is a Cold War shelter that became a mall. Here’s how the whole network works.

How It Started

The first was Saeseoul Underground Shopping Center, built in 1967 near City Hall, according to the Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). Others followed fast.

Why underground? Two reasons, both very 1970s Seoul. First, defence: the Kyunghyang Shinmun explained in 2020 (in Korean) that Seoul’s public underpass arcades were developed in the 1970s and 1980s for air raid shelter and pedestrian traffic purposes. The Sindang arcade was built as a wartime bomb shelter and reopened as shops in 1971, per Korea JoongAng Daily. Second, traffic: the tunnels doubled as pedestrian passages under the city’s widening roads. The Korea Herald adds a third, economic, reason: soaring land prices pushed commerce underground as Seoul boomed, as it reported in 2025.

The Seoul Facilities Corporation’s renovation table (in Korean) dates the downtown core: Sogong in phases from 1976 to 1978, Myeongdong Station and Euljiro Entrance in 1977, Myeongdong and Hoehyeon in 1978, Jongno 4-ga in 1977, Jonggak in 1979. The long Euljiro arcade came in 1983 with subway Line 2, per Seoul’s Mediahub (in Korean).

Then the decline. JoongAng Daily describes the 1997 Asian financial crisis slowing shoppers to a trickle and some Jongno and Euljiro centres closing. In the 2000s new crosswalks meant nobody had to go underground, and from 2009 the city rented empty units cheaply to young artists and entrepreneurs.

As of October 2026 the Seoul Facilities Corporation (in Korean) runs 25 arcades with 2,788 shops. Two are out of action: Inhyeon is temporarily closed for the Sewoon area redevelopment, and Cheongnyangni is under construction. Station arcades inside subway concourses are a separate system run by Seoul Metro.

Where To Go On The Street

All hours and shop counts below are from each arcade’s Seoul Facilities Corporation page.

Euljiro Underground Shopping Center (을지로 지하쇼핑센터). 216 shops along Line 2 from City Hall to Dongdaemun History and Culture Park, selling general goods, clothing and sportswear, with printing and promotional goods shops from the old Euljiro trade. Shops 9am to 10pm; closed Sundays and national holidays (in Korean). Mediahub found herbal tea tastings, hanbok, camping gear near Dongdaemun, business card makers and a toy library. Seoul brands the walk “Seoul Arangil”: about 3.3 km and roughly 40 minutes end to end, with trick art, piano stairs and a gallery, per Mediahub (in Korean). It runs under the Euljiro craft district and lighting street.

Hoehyeon Underground Shopping Center (회현 지하쇼핑센터). 225 shops between Myeongdong and Namdaemun, connected to Shinsegae’s main store; the official page lists records and clothing. Kyunghyang describes the collectors’ trade: old and commemorative banknotes and coins, stamps, vinyl, film cameras and old paintings, there because the Bank of Korea and Seoul Central Post Office are next door. Shops 9am to 10pm; closed the first and third Sundays (in Korean). Enter from Hoehyeon Station (Line 4, sky blue) Exit 1 or 7, or from Myeongdong Station Exit 5 to the arcade’s own Exit 4.

Sogong Underground Shopping Center (소공 지하쇼핑센터). 150 shops linking City Hall and Myeong-dong, aimed at foreign tourists with souvenirs, folk crafts and clothing. Shops 10am to 10pm; closed the first and third Sundays (in Korean). Near City Hall Station (Lines 1 and 2) Exit 6.

Myeongdong Underground Shopping Center (명동 지하쇼핑센터). 61 shops, mostly eyewear and clothing, 9am to 10pm with no closing day, from Euljiro 1-ga Station Exit 7. Details in my Myeong-dong shopping guide.

Jonggak Underground Shopping Center (종각 지하쇼핑센터). 81 shops of clothing and accessories beside the Seoul YMCA, 10am to 10pm, closed the third Sunday (in Korean). Jonggak Station (Line 1, dark blue) Exits 9 to 12.

Yeongdeungpo arcades. The Yeongdeungpo Rotary arcade (in Korean) has 133 shops of clothing and general goods, 10am to 10pm, open all year, near Yeongdeungpo Station (Line 1) Exit 3 and the Shinsegae and Lotte stores. The Yeongdeungpo Station arcade has 80 shops, known for cheap phone dealers, also open all year. Pair them with my Yeongdeungpo machine tool alley walk.

The giant: Goto Mall. The Express Bus Terminal arcade has 620 shops, more than double any other. It gets its own Goto Mall guide.

What To Buy And What It Costs

What’s good: cheap fashion and accessories (Euljiro, Jonggak, Yeongdeungpo), souvenirs (Sogong), eyewear (Myeongdong), collectibles (Hoehyeon), hanbok and herbal teas (Euljiro). For a proper hanbok, see my hanbok shops guide.

Prices: I couldn’t find a reliable 2026 price survey for the arcades, so I won’t quote numbers. They’re broadly budget shops serving commuters; check online prices on your phone for anything branded.

Hours and closing days: shops mostly 9 or 10am to 10pm. Closing days differ: Euljiro shuts Sundays, Hoehyeon and Sogong the first and third Sundays, Jonggak the third Sunday, while Myeongdong and the Yeongdeungpo arcades open all year. Passages keep longer hours than shops.

Tax refund: only at shops registered for it (look for a Tax Free sign), for receipts of at least 15,000 won; immediate refunds cover single payments under 1,000,000 won, per VisitKorea. Many tiny arcade shops won’t be registered.

Bargaining and payment: don’t haggle over tagged items; for collectibles at Hoehyeon, asking is normal. Cards work widely, but carry some cash for the smallest stalls.

How Not To Get Lost

1. Pick your exit before you go down. Subway exits and arcade exits are numbered separately (Hoehyeon’s own Exit 4 links to Myeongdong Station Exit 5, for example).
2. Use Naver Map or KakaoMap, not Google. They show underground passages and exit numbers; my travel apps guide explains setup.
3. Follow station names on the ceiling signs. Euljiro runs station to station: City Hall, Euljiro 1-ga, Euljiro 3-ga, Euljiro 4-ga, Dongdaemun History and Culture Park.
4. Check passage hours late at night. Sogong’s passage opens 4:30am to 11:30pm; Euljiro’s opens 5am to 1am on weekdays and to midnight at weekends.

Heads Up: Not every exit has an escalator or lift. With a big suitcase or a stroller, check Naver Map for lifts before you commit to an exit.

Options With Opinions

Option	Best For	Cost	Time	My Take
Euljiro, City Hall to Dongdaemun	A weatherproof walk across downtown	Free	40 min to 1.5 hours	My pick
Hoehyeon	Collectors, records, stamps	Varies	45 min	Best for character
Sogong	Quick souvenirs	Budget	30 min	Fine on the way
Goto Mall	Serious bargain fashion	Budget	1.5 hours	Biggest choice

My pick: walk Euljiro east on a rainy weekday, detour up to Hoehyeon if you collect anything, and finish at the Dongdaemun night malls.

What Locals Know

These were civil defence spaces. The shelter role from the 1960s to the 1980s is part of why Euljiro’s tunnel was little known to residents until Seoul turned it into an arts route, as Mediahub tells it.

Commuters first, tourists second. Most shops serve office workers and transit passengers, which is why Euljiro shuts on Sundays. Weekday lunchtimes and evenings are busiest.

The sinkhole question. After a fatal sinkhole in Gangdong-gu in March 2025, the Korea Herald asked experts whether underground malls weaken the ground. One warned about structural load and groundwater, but the paper found no direct evidence linking underground facilities to sinkholes, and another expert blamed poor construction practices.

Heads Up: Euljiro closes on Sundays and national holidays. Plan a Sunday walk and you’ll get the tunnel, not the shops.

Pick Your Version

If It’s Your First Time

Do Euljiro 1-ga to Euljiro 3-ga, about 15 minutes underground, then surface for the craft alleys. My first timer hub covers transit cards.

If You’re Bringing Kids

Euljiro’s piano stairs at Euljiro 1-ga and the trick art photo spots are free fun on a cold day. My Seoul with kids guide has more.

If You’re Travelling Solo

Hoehyeon’s collectors’ shops reward slow browsing, and Namdaemun’s noodle alleys are upstairs.

Sunbae’s Picks

My pick for one hour: Hoehyeon for old banknotes and records, then up into Namdaemun Market.

If I had a rainy afternoon, I’d walk all of Euljiro and treat it like a museum of 1980s Seoul retail.

I’d skip buying electronics in the arcades; prices online usually win.

Offers Worth Knowing

Immediate tax refunds at registered shops are the documented saving. Euljiro’s toy library charged 10,000 won a year for membership when Mediahub visited in 2016; check current terms on site.

What’s Changing In 2026

Redevelopment is reaching the tunnels. The Inhyeon arcade is temporarily closed for the Sewoon area public space redevelopment, and Cheongnyangni is under construction, per the Seoul Facilities Corporation. Expect more closures as downtown blocks are rebuilt.

Underground retail is a lifeline for transit finances. The Korea Herald reported Seoul Metro’s net loss at 724.1 billion won in 2024 and noted that underground malls bring in revenue; unmanned stores in stations rose from 15 in 2022 to 27 in 2024. My read: more vending style shops, fewer old family stalls.

Worth It Or Skip It

Worth It: a rainy or freezing day walk, Hoehyeon for collectors, cheap socks and basics.

Skip It: making them your main shopping trip; Goto Mall and Dongdaemun have more choice.

Walk It Before You Go

Watch this street level walk before you ride out, so the exits and corners look familiar when you get there. The video is by 달리는 뚱냥이 trip to Seoul on YouTube, not by me, and shops may have changed since it was filmed.

Getting There

From Myeong-dong: you’re on top of three arcades. Myeongdong Station Exit 5 leads to Hoehyeon; Euljiro 1-ga Station Exit 7 to the Myeongdong arcade; walk west to Sogong.

From Hongdae: Line 2 (green) from Hongik University to City Hall, about 15 minutes, and start the Euljiro walk east.

From Gangnam: Line 2 (green) the long way round via Jamsil to Dongdaemun History and Culture Park, about 35 minutes, and walk Euljiro west.

Fare: 1,550 won base fare by card, per Etoday (in Korean). See the subway map.

Word Of The Stop

몇 번 출구예요? (myeot beon chulguyeyo?), “which exit number is it?” The question that saves you in every tunnel.

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Map And Directions

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Longest Underground Shopping Arcade In Seoul?

Euljiro, running under Line 2 from City Hall to Dongdaemun History and Culture Park. Seoul’s Mediahub puts the walk at about 3.3 km.

Why Does Seoul Have So Many Underground Shopping Centres?

They were built mainly in the 1970s and 1980s as air raid shelters and pedestrian passages under busy roads, with shops paying the rent.

Are Seoul’s Underground Arcades Open On Sunday?

Some are. Myeongdong and the Yeongdeungpo arcades open all year; Euljiro closes on Sundays; Hoehyeon and Sogong close the first and third Sundays; Jonggak the third Sunday.

What Time Do Underground Shops Close In Seoul?

Most shops close at 10pm. Passages stay open later, some 24 hours.

Where Can I Buy Old Coins And Stamps In Seoul?

The Hoehyeon underground arcade between Myeongdong and Namdaemun is known for coins, banknotes, stamps and records.

Next Stop

• Goto Mall Guide: the biggest arcade of all.
• Euljiro And Sewoon Craft District: what’s above the Euljiro tunnel.
• Myeong-dong Shopping Guide: the street above the arcades.

Resources

• Seoul Facilities Corporation: underground shopping centres (Korean): each arcade’s hours, closing days and exits; operations team 02-2290-6903.
• 1330 Korea Travel Hotline: dial 1330 (+82-2-1330 from abroad), 24 hours.
• Naver Map or KakaoMap: search 을지로지하상가, 회현지하쇼핑센터 or 소공지하쇼핑센터 for passages and lifts.

How I Checked This

On 14 October 2026 I checked every arcade’s shop count, hours, closing days and exits against the Seoul Facilities Corporation’s pages, construction years against its renovation table, the history against the Kyunghyang Shinmun, Korea JoongAng Daily and Seoul’s Mediahub, and the economics and sinkhole debate against the Korea Herald. Not verified: current prices, which shops do tax refunds, and whether the 2016 toy library still runs.

Sources

• Kyunghyang Shinmun: Saeseoul arcade 1967 and the G:HA magazine, May 2014 (Korean)
• Kyunghyang Shinmun: underpass arcades as shelters, Hoehyeon collectibles, Jul 2020 (Korean)
• Korea JoongAng Daily: Underneath Seoul, a sprawling shopping web, Jun 2016
• The Korea Herald via Asia News Network: underground malls and risks, May 2025
• Seoul Facilities Corporation: overview of 25 arcades (Korean)
• Seoul Facilities Corporation: renovation table with construction years (Korean)
• Seoul Facilities Corporation: Euljiro (Korean)
• Seoul Facilities Corporation: Hoehyeon (Korean)
• Seoul Facilities Corporation: Sogong (Korean)
• Seoul Facilities Corporation: Jonggak (Korean)
• Seoul Facilities Corporation: Yeongdeungpo Rotary (Korean)
• Seoul Facilities Corporation: Yeongdeungpo Station arcade (Korean)
• Seoul Mediahub: Euljiro arcade, 1983 and what it sells, Sep 2016 (Korean)
• Seoul Mediahub: Seoul Arangil, Mar 2021 (Korean)
• VisitKorea: tax refunds
• Etoday: subway base fare 1,550 won (Korean)

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Written by your sunbae. Over 20 years in Korea. We learned the lessons the hard way, so you don’t have to, and we’re here to guide you and help you enjoy Korea. Every fact here is checked against official sources and, wherever possible, on the ground.

Beep Check: verified 14 Oct 2026. Rules, prices and dates change; confirm with the official source before you travel.