Among foreign tourists, large Korean pharmacies are rapidly emerging as a new shopping destination, replacing duty-free shops and cosmetic stores. As the popularity of K-Beauty expanded to include over-the-counter pharmaceuticals and dermocosmetics incorporating pharmaceutical technology, ‘K-pharmacy shopping’ has become a travel trend.At major large pharmacies in Seoul, foreign tourists account for more than 59% of customers, and there is a phenomenon of them purchasing medicines worth $300 to $400 in a single trip as if ‘scooping them all up
.’Popular items include acne and scar treatments (such as Noscana Gel and Ecringel), regenerative creams containing PDRN (salmon-derived ingredients) (like Dermagram PDRN Cream), whitening and blemish-improving products, and retinol-based wrinkle-creams, all spreading by word of mouth on social media and influencer.
Myeongdong, Dongdaemun.Large and warehouse-style pharmacies in foreign-dense areas such as Seongsu-dong and Hongdae are providing convenience for tourists by employing interpreters in foreign languages like Chinese, offering tax refund services, and setting up pharmacist consultation desks.
However, among these, Dongdaemun stands out from pharmacies in Myeongdong, Seongsu, and Hongdae in terms of a wider variety of events and operating hours (from morning until dawn). In particular, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd floors offer a more diverse shopping experience, while the 4th floor is located with the accessory brand Mimi Line, compared to other areas.Foreign tourists tend to perceive products sold in pharmacies as more professional and trustworthy than those in regular cosmetic stores. As a specialty pharmacy with over 1,000 in-person purchases daily, its popularity is rapidly increasing. Perhaps they prefer a convenient location and the convenience and economy of being able to experience and purchase fashion shopping and a pharmacy together.
I highly recommend Mimi Pharm Healthcare (Mimi line, 4th floor of DDP).
SAM KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
