The Perfect Myeongdong & Anguk Beauty 1-Day Course

To put it simply, for a 1DAY Korean beauty itinerary, starting at Gwanghwamun is the right choice. Leave Gwanghwamun (광화문) at 10:40 a.m., have lunch in Anguk (안국), spend the afternoon in Myeongdong (명동) getting a personal color analysis and shopping for cosmetics, then wrap up the day with a body scrub at 8 p.m. With this order, the route is almost a straight line, so you won't waste your energy.

The beginner-friendly Korea model itinerary published by るるぶ&more. on August 11, 2026 follows exactly this structure. It includes business hours, prices, and reservation methods, making it detailed enough to use as-is while walking around.

The key points are the two decision branches. For the personal color analysis and cosmetic shopping, deciding in advance which option to choose for each will make the day remarkably smooth.

First, the big picture — The schedule from 10:40 to 20:00

Get a rough idea of the day first. The schedule is balanced so it isn't overly packed, but it doesn't leave you with too much empty time either.

• 10:40　Pick up wellness foods at “Olive Better” in Gwanghwamun
• 11:30　Samgyetang lunch at “Mugu-eok” in Anguk (about a 12-minute walk)
• 15:30　Personal color analysis in Myeongdong (paid or free)
• 17:30　Cosmetics shopping spree (three stores based on your goals)
• 20:00　Wrap up with a private-room body scrub

The free time in the afternoon is intended for traveling to Myeongdong and exploring the area. You will also have enough time to take a break at a café before the analysis.

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10:40 “Olive Better” — Get souvenir shopping out of the way first thing in the morning

Olive Better (올리브 베터) is a new brand specializing in inner-care foods that Olive Young (올리브영) opened in January 2026. It opens at 9 a.m., so you can use the time before sightseeing begins to shop for souvenirs. It is a four-minute walk from Exit 5 of Gwanghwamun Station on Subway Line 5.

This large, two-story store features the original brand “All The Better” mainly on the first floor, while the second floor offers health foods and supplements, as well as home items such as pajamas and aromatherapy products. Some products also have Japanese labeling.

These four items are worth buying

• Multi-Berry Smoothie Protein Shake／3,900 won. Add water or milk to the pouch and shake. The banana flavor was available as a “1+1” deal
• Low-Sugar Cacao Granola Bites／3,900 won. High in protein, low in sugar, with dietary fiber and a crunchy texture
• Honey Balloon Flower Water Stick／1,500 won. Doraji (balloon flower root) is famous as a Korean herbal medicine. Dissolve it in water and drink
• Lutein Gummies／3,900 won. These are also offered as “1+1.” There is also a lineup organized by ingredients, including melatonin, biotin, vitamins & minerals, and iron

Since sticks and pouches make up most of the selection, they are compact and ideal for distributing as souvenirs. The price range of 1,500–3,900 won also works well when you plan to buy enough for several people.

Editor's note: IVE's Wonyoung mentioned on YouTube that she drinks stick-type olive oil and lemon first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, and that very product is actually stocked at Olive Better. It is a shop where you can enjoy the fun of matching the answer to the clue.

Store information is available on the official Olive Better Instagram. The address is 17 Jongno 3-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul Special City. It is open from 9:00 to 22:00 (from 10:00 on Saturdays and Sundays), with no regular closing days.

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11:30 “Mugeot”— The day is decided at 10:30

Mugeot, a popular samgyetang restaurant in the Anguk area, is about a 12-minute walk from Olive Better. It occupies a renovated hanok dating back to the 1950s, and samgyebaekban costs 18,000 won.

This will be the biggest hurdle of the day. There are no reservations; it uses a numbered-ticket system, with tickets distributed at the restaurant from 10:30. In other words, if you arrive at 11:30 and try to join the line, your schedule will already fall apart.

The solution is simple: use the “Catch Table Global” app to join the waitlist in advance. After entering the queue, you can shop at Olive Better, turning the entire waiting period into souvenir-shopping time. Whether you can arrange things this way is what makes or breaks your morning.

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15:30 Personal color analysis comes in two options: paid and free

Spend the afternoon in Myeongdong getting a personal color analysis. This is where the second major fork in the itinerary comes in. You can either pay for a thorough consultation or casually try a free experience. Both are valid options, so choose based on the purpose of your trip.

Item	Plan A “The Bom (더 밤)”	Plan B “Beauty Play (뷰티플레이)”
Price	119,200 won (12-type analysis + makeup)	Free
Japanese	Japanese interpretation available	—
Reservations	Required	Not required (walk-ins welcome)
Hours	11:00–19:00	10:00–19:00 (consultations until 18:00)
Best for	Those who want to apply the analysis results to their makeup going forward	Those who want to try it first or do not want to commit to a fixed time

The Bom includes a thorough 12-type analysis and makeup, and with an interpreter, you can fully understand the explanation of the results. Choose this option if you want to take home tips for elevating your look.

Beauty Play, on the other hand, is free and also offers a facility where you can try cosmetics from more than 30 brands. Since no reservation is required, its greatest strength is that you can drop in according to your mood and energy level that day. However, consultations are only accepted until 18:00, so you should arrive by around 17:00.

17:30 Use Three Cosmetic Stores According to Your Needs

If you lump “buying cosmetics in Myeongdong” into one activity, you will usually end up confused and wasting time. The best approach is to choose a store based on your purpose.

The Lowest Prices — Off Beauty (오프뷰티)

This discount-style store features items marked down by 50–60%. It is the top choice for those who want to stock up without limiting themselves to specific brands. It is most efficient to go in with the intention of buying in bulk.

Trends and Classics — Olive Young (올리브영)

You can reliably find current bestsellers and products that are popular in Japan. If this is your first trip to Korea, using this store as your main stop is the least likely to lead to disappointment.

Rare Finds — Hemeko (헤메코)

The appeal here is the selection of items you cannot find at other stores. The more classic products you already own, the more fun this store becomes.

All three stores are in the Myeongdong area, so if you start making the rounds at 17:30, you can comfortably make it by 20:00.

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20:00 End the Day with a Private-Room Body Scrub 🛁

Finish at A3 Spa (에이쓰리 스파). Private-room body scrubbing is available, and the spa is open from 9:00 to 23:00. Reservations can be made via LINE, and Japanese-speaking staff are available.

Starting at 20:00 makes perfect sense: you can reset your body after walking around since morning and go straight to sleep afterward. Even those who are not comfortable with public baths can relax in a private room without feeling self-conscious. As the finale to a beginner-friendly plan, it is hard to find a better choice.

Summary

Wellness souvenirs in Gwanghwamun, samgyetang in Anguk, analysis and cosmetics in Myeongdong, and a private-room body scrub at night. Following this straightforward route from 10:40 to 20:00, you can cover all the major categories of Korean beauty.

There are only two things to decide in advance. First, whether to choose the paid “The Bom” (119,200 won, with Japanese interpretation) or the free “Beauty Play” for your personal color analysis. Second, whether to focus your cosmetics shopping on low prices, trends, or rare finds. After that, your preparations are complete once you have arranged CatchTable Global and made your LINE reservation the night before. You can check the original itinerary in the on-site report by Rurubu & more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a personal color analysis in Japanese?

The Bomb offers Japanese interpretation. The 12-type analysis and makeup package costs 119,200 won, is open from 11:00 to 19:00, and requires a reservation. If you would like to try it casually for free, Beauty Play is another option, with no reservation required (10:00–19:00; consultations until 18:00).

Can I make a reservation for lunch at Muguot?

It does not take reservations; it uses a numbered ticket system. Tickets are distributed at the restaurant from 10:30, so the surest option is to go directly and get a ticket or enter the waiting list in advance through the “Catch Table Global” app. Samgyetang with white rice costs 18,000 won.

Which store should I visit first when shopping for cosmetics?

It is quickest to decide based on your目的. If you prioritize low prices, start with Off Beauty (50–60% discounts); for trends and classic favorites, visit Olive Young; and if you are looking for rare cosmetics not available elsewhere, try Hemeko. All three stores are in the Myeongdong area, so starting your shopping at 17:30 will allow you to make it to your 20:00 plans.