In a nutshell
Shopping at Olive Young in Korea
Olive Young Cash Voucher
Aside from T-Money cards, AREX tickets, pocket WiFi, and Korea eSIM, you can also book an Olive Young cash voucher for your trip. This is a mobile gift card that you can use for yourself or give to others, and it is a convenient way of paying at any Olive Young store in South Korea. The Cash Voucher comes in 3 denominations:
CARD VALUE (KRW) | CARD VALUE (USD) | WHAT YOU PAY |
---|---|---|
₩5,000 | $3.6 | $3.6 |
₩10,000 | $7.2 | $7 |
₩30,000 | $21.6 | $20.95 |
Olive Young Incheon Airport to Myeongdong Bus Ride
Speaking of savings, how about getting a FREE ride from Incheon Airport to Myeongdong care of Olive Young? Yes, this beauty retailer is offering tourists a ride three times a day from Incheon Airport Terminal 1 to the shopping district of Myeongdong! There are no strings attached —just book a ticket and you will get a free gift (redeemable at Olive Young branches in Myeongdong) and a 10% discount coupon (with a minimum spend of ₩100,000 or $70).
The Olive Young bus departs from Incheon Airport Terminal 1 at these hours: 8:45am, 1:20pm, and 5:40pm. To avail of this service, all you need to do is book a free ticket here and scan/show the mobile QR code ticket that you will receive to board the bus.
Must-Visit Olive Young Branches
It’s never difficult to find an Olive Young in Seoul. Regardless if you are in a tourist district like Hongdae, a commercial zone like Gwanghwamun, or a largely residential area like Yeongdeungpo or Yongsan, there is a branch that you can find.
However, the shopping experience at Olive Young locations varies depending on foot traffic, the time, and store size. It’s hard to shop when there are so many people around and you need to wait 15-20 minutes in line to check out (which happened to my friends who shopped in Myeongdong on a Monday evening). This is why our team at Travlists compiled this list so you can see good Olive Young branches to visit.
1. Olive Young Myeongdong Town
First on the list is the flagship store: Olive Young Myeongdong Town. Also known as Olive Young Global Store, here you can pick from the widest variety of K-beauty brands and promotional offers. If you will take the Olive Young Express Bus from Incheon Airport, we recommend visiting this branch for shopping. However, do note that this is an extremely busy store so crowding is highly likely, especially during evenings and weekends.
- Address: 53 Myeongdong-gil, Jung District, Seoul (서울 중구 명동길 53)
- Hours: 10am-10:30pm daily
- Nearby attractions and landmarks:
2. Olive Young Gangnam Town
Another multi-floor Olive Young Store is located in Gangnam, known as the posh side of the capital. Many locals who left a review for this branch said that they found more inexpensive items here compared to online stores.
- Address: 429 Gangnam-daero, Seocho District, Seoul (서울 서초구 강남대로 429 올리브영 강남 타운)
- Hours: 10am-10:30pm daily
- Nearby attractions and landmarks:
3. Olive Young Hongdae Town
Frequented by locals and tourists, Olive Young Hongdae Town delights with its modern store. If you have been to multiple branches before, you will find this location to have a more contemporary aesthetic, which makes the shopping experience more delightful. Plus, Olive Young Hongdae Town closes at 11pm, which is 30 minutes later than most stores.
- Address: 57 Hongik-ro 6-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울 마포구 홍익로6길 57)
- Hours: 10am-11pm daily
- Nearby attractions and landmarks:
4. Olive Young Sinchon (Central Branch)
A station away from Hongdae is Sinchon, another hip university district with department stores, shopping malls, cafes, and restaurants. In this area, you can find the newly opened Olive Young, which is one of my preferred branches. While it only has a single floor (hence, no “town” affixed in the branch name), Olive Young Sinchon Central Branch is still relatively less crowded and packed with all the cosmetic, K-beauty, and make-up lines.
- Address: Seoul, Seodaemun-gu, Sinchon-ro (서울 서대문구 신촌로 93)
- Hours: 10am-11pm daily
- Nearby attractions and landmarks:
5. Olive Young Gyeongbokgung Station
If you are thinking about renting a hanbok and visiting Gyeongbok Palace, how about visiting the well-stocked Olive Young in the area?
- Address: 9 Jahamun-ro, Jongno District, Seoul (서울 종로구 자하문로 9)
- Hours: 10am-10:30pm daily
- Nearby attractions and landmarks:
Is tax refund available in Olive Young?
Yes, you can get an instant tax refund at Olive Young in South Korea. Just make sure to bring your passport for identity verification.
Shop online on Olive Young Global website
Aside from in-store shopping, you can also make purchases on the Olive Young Global website (English site). Here you can find all the best brands and products that are available in South Korea. Express shipping is available in countries like the United States, Canada, Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, and more. Plus, you can get a 5% discount when you use our promo code TRAVLISTS5 upon check-out!
Which Olive Young branch have you visited?
Let us know in the comments section below!