Pop-up stores are one of hottest activities to do in Korea! Many popular brands will open up a pop-up store with fun games, unique experiences, and lots of freebies.
Most pop-ups can be found in Seongsu, Hongdae, or The Hyundai Seoul, and last anywhere from a few days or even up to a few months. Here are some tips for discovering the latest and greatest pop-ups currently happening in Korea!
Want more tips for your Korea trip? Check out the link below for all you need to know about Olive Young sales!
Tip 1. Watch out for them on your FYP
Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram are excellent resources for discovering the trendiest pop-up stores in Korea. People are quick to visit these spaces and share their experiences to boost engagement and attract followers.
However, it's important to note that content showing up on your TikTok 'For You Page' or Instagram 'Explore Page' may have been posted weeks earlier—often outlasting the short lifespan of these pop-up stores.
In Korea, pop-ups typically last for just a week or two, making real-time information crucial. This leads us to our next tip, where you can be informed before the pop-ups open.
Reserve a Korean Hair Salon:
Tip 2. Follow social media accounts dedicated to pop-ups
On Instagram, there are specialized accounts dedicated to keeping the public in the loop about the latest pop-ups in Korea. However, most of these are primarily in Korean.
If you're not fluent, don't worry—you can use Instagram's built-in translation feature, found just below the caption and comments, to get the gist of the post.
While this won't help you read Korean text in the image carousels, it will give you a good starting point for figuring out where and when these pop-up events are happening.
Here are some Instagram accounts to follow or check to stay updated:
Book a One-Day Class:
Tip 3. Follow your favorite brand's social media account
Brands will often tease and announce their upcoming pop-ups on their social media pages or homepage. If there is a specific brand you like, make sure to check out their social media channels incase they have a pop-up coming up!
Book a Skincare Appointment:
Tip 4. Get a Korean phone number
A lot of pop-ups might require you to wait through this tablet system called CATCHTABLE, and you'll need a Korean phone number to register your spot. Once you're registered, you can explore the area and check how many teams are in front of you on your phone.
You will get a message when it's almost your turn; make sure to stay nearby, because you will lose your spot if you're not back within a certain time frame (usually 5~10 minutes)!
You can get a Korean phone number by getting a Korean SIM card here:
Additional Tips!
1) Make a reservation ahead of time if you can. Some brands will open reservations online via Naver or on the brand's official website. You can usually find the link to make a reservation on the brand's official Instagram, or you can check this very blog (scroll to the last section for reservation info on current pop-ups)!
*Pop-up reservations are usually free but you will likely need a Korean phone number.
2) Avoid going to pop-ups on the weekends because it is extra crowded and you may need to wait hours before your turn. The best time to visit a pop-up, especially if it's popular, is on a weekday as soon as it opens (or maybe even before it opens).
3) Stroll through Seongsu, one of Korea's trendiest neighborhoods, and you're bound to stumble upon at least three pop-ups! The area is always buzzing with excitement, and many of the most notable pop-up events choose Seongsu as their backdrop.
4) Get your personal color analyzed so you know what makeup colors suit you best! There is always a K-beauty brand pop-up store open in Seongsu and many of them offer makeup customization, free lip products, exclusive discounts, & more! If you know your personal color, it'll make your experience a lot easier and more satisfying!
Book a personal color analysis here:
Wait! Are you planning on getting a full glow-up during your Korea trip? What if we told you could get it all for just under 450 USD? The Creatrip K-Beauty Package includes the scalp treatment, skin treatments, personal color analysis & dental scaling for just 450 USD!
Current Seoul Pop-ups | March
<Hince Spring Pop Up Store x Enhypen>
📍 Location: 48-1 Yeonmujang-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
서울 성동구 연무장길 48-1 1층
🗓️ Dates: Feb 26-May 8
⏰ Hours: 11:00-21:00
Online Pre-reservation: Reservations available on Naver
On-site Waiting: If there is a wait, you may wait via a tablet system or in line.
📍 Location: 6 Yeonmujang 5-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seou
서울 성동구 연무장5길 6
🗓️ Dates: Mar 1-Apr 20
⏰ Hours: 10:00-20:30 Weekdays, 10:00-21:00 Weekends
On-site Waiting: If there is a wait, you may wait via a tablet system or in line.
📍Location: 41 87-gil Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
서울특별시 강남구 테헤란로 87길 41
🗓️ Dates: Feb 10-Mar 13
⏰ Hours: 11:00-21:00 everyday
On-site Waiting: If there is a wait, you will need to wait in line.
📍Location: Olive Young N Seongsu, 1F Trend Pot 13 Yeonmujang 7-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul)
올리브영N 성수 1층 트렌드팟(서울 성동구 연무장 7길 13)
🗓️ Dates: Mar 6-16
⏰ Hours: 11:00-20:00
Online Pre-reservation: Reservations available on Catch Table
📍Location: 199 Everland-ro, Pogok-eup, Cheoin-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do
경기도 용인시 처인구 포곡읍 에버랜드로 199
🗓️ Dates: Mar 21-Apr 25
⏰ Hours: 10:00-19:00 Sun-Thu, 10:00-20:00 Fri, Sat
On-site Waiting: If there is a wait, you will need to wait in line.
Check out more pop-ups here!
Korea Travel Essentials
We hope that this blog was helpful in your quest to discover the hottest pop-ups! If you have any questions or concerns, please leave a comment below or send us an email at help@creatrip.com! You can follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook to stay updated on all things Korea!
