Why I Chose Davich Optical Over Other Shops in Myeongdong
I'll be upfront. Myeongdong has at least a dozen optical shops within walking distance, and I've been to a few of them over the years working as a Creatrip editor. Small independent shops in the Myeongdong underground and around Namdaemun Market can be decent, but the experience is hit-or-miss when you don't speak Korean fluently.
I keep coming back to Davich for three reasons that matter to foreign visitors:
First, Davich is Korea's largest optical chain with over 330 stores nationwide. That scale means they manufacture their own lenses in-house and buy frames directly from producers, cutting out middlemen. In practice, that translates to prices that are genuinely 30-50% lower than what you'd pay for equivalent quality in the US, Europe, or Japan.
Second, the Myeongdong branch is specifically set up for international customers. The staff speak fluent English, Japanese, and Chinese — not just survival-level, but technical vocabulary about eye conditions, lens types, and prescriptions. They also have multilingual kiosks and pamphlets.
Third, and this is the part most blogs skip: if you book through Creatrip, you get an exclusive 10% discount that you cannot get by walking in off the street. More on that below.
What to Expect: Floor-by-Floor Guide
The Davich Myeongdong branch is three floors — the largest optical shop I've personally been to in Korea. Here's what each floor offers:
Three floors in total
1st Floor: Domestic Brands, Sunglasses & Kids' Glasses
This is where you'll spend most of your time browsing. The floor is spacious with hundreds of frames organized by material (titanium, acetate, TR-90 plastic, metal) and style (horn-rimmed, rimless, semi-rimless). Davich's in-house brand "bibiem" is prominently displayed — these are the best value-for-money option since there's no brand markup.
There's a multilingual kiosk near the entrance where you can input what type of glasses you're looking for before a staff member assists you. This is really helpful if you feel overwhelmed by the selection.
One thing I appreciated: they have a "Best Sellers" display showing which frames are currently most popular. When you're choosing between 500+ options, knowing what other customers are buying helps narrow things down fast.
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2nd Floor: Contact Lenses & Cafe Rest Area
This surprised me the first time I visited — there's actually a cafe space on the second floor with complimentary drinks and snacks. You can relax here while your glasses are being made downstairs.
The contact lens section carries all the major global brands: Acuvue, Bausch + Lomb, CooperVision, and Alcon. They also have Korean color contact lenses, and there's an app where you can virtually try on different lens colors before buying — useful since you obviously can't try contacts on the spot.
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3rd Floor: Imported Luxury Brands, Eye Exam & Consultation
The third floor houses luxury sunglasses from brands like Celine, Tom Ford, Dior, Gucci, and Bulgari. If you're looking for designer eyewear as a souvenir, this is where you'll find them at Korean retail prices (significantly cheaper than airport duty-free in most cases).
The eye examination room and consultation area are also on this floor.
My Eye Exam & Glasses-Making Experience
Here's exactly how my most recent visit went, step by step:
Step 1: Eye Examination (About 15 minutes, completely free)
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Davich offers 10 types of detailed eye tests at no charge. These include a basic visual acuity test, refraction test, astigmatism check, eye pressure measurement, and pupil distance measurement. In the US, a comparable comprehensive eye exam would cost you $100-200 out of pocket. Here, it's included with any purchase.
The optician was thorough and patient. After the initial machine tests, I wore adjustment lenses to fine-tune my prescription. They also took a photo of my face to measure the exact angle for optimal frame fitting.
Step 2: Frame Selection (As long as you want)
I went with a lightweight titanium horn-rimmed frame from bibiem. The staff didn't rush me at all — I probably spent 20 minutes trying on different styles. My friend couldn't resist trying on sunglasses too, even though she didn't plan to buy any (she ended up buying a pair).
Step 3: Lens Crafting (About 30 minutes)
For standard single-vision prescriptions, they can have your glasses ready in approximately 30 minutes. They have a full inventory of lens blanks on-site, so there's no waiting for orders. For progressive or bifocal lenses, expect 1-2 days.
A monitor displays your order status, so you don't need to keep checking — you can head up to the second floor cafe and wait comfortably.
Step 4: Final Fitting & Adjustment
When my glasses were ready, the optician had me put them on and walk around the store to check for any dizziness or discomfort. They adjusted the temple tips and nose pads for a perfect fit. This after-service is included and available anytime — you can come back during your trip if the fit needs tweaking.
The entire process from walking in to walking out with finished glasses: about 50 minutes.
How Much I Actually Paid (Price Breakdown)
This is the part everyone wants to know but most blogs don't cover. Here's a realistic price guide based on my experience and what I've seen other customers pay:
Frame prices at Davich Myeongdong:
- bibiem (Davich house brand): Starting from 100,000 KRW (~$70 USD)
- Mid-range Korean brands: 150,000-250,000 KRW (~$105-175 USD)
- Imported luxury brands (Tom Ford, Gucci, etc.): 300,000+ KRW (~$210+ USD)
Lens prices (added to frame cost):
- Standard single-vision lenses: Included with most frames
- Blue-light blocking coating: Around 30,000-50,000 KRW extra
- Ultra-thin high-index lenses: Around 50,000-100,000 KRW extra
- Progressive lenses: Around 100,000-200,000 KRW extra
What I paid: I chose a bibiem titanium frame with blue-light blocking lenses. My total before discount came to about 180,000 KRW. After my Creatrip 10% discount, I paid around 162,000 KRW (~$113 USD).
For context: the same quality titanium frame with blue-light lenses would cost me at least $300-400 in the US, and I'd have to wait 7-10 business days. Here, I paid less than half and had them in under an hour.
Tax Refund tip: As a foreign tourist, you can claim a 5-7% tax refund on purchases over 30,000 KRW. Ask for an English receipt at checkout, and process the refund at the airport before departure. If your home country offers vision insurance reimbursement, keep that English receipt — many insurance plans accept it for overseas claims.
Creatrip Exclusive: How to Get 10% Off + Free Travel Buddy
This is the section I want to make absolutely clear, because this deal is only available through pre-booking on Creatrip and you cannot get it by walking into Davich directly.
Here's what Creatrip members get:
10% Discount Coupon (5,000 KRW → Minimum 10,000 KRW savings)
You purchase a 5,000 KRW coupon through Creatrip, which gives you 10% off your entire purchase at Davich. Since every pair of glasses starts at minimum 100,000 KRW, your 5,000 KRW investment guarantees at least 10,000 KRW in savings — a 100% return. If you buy a 200,000 KRW pair, you save 20,000 KRW. The math only gets better the more you spend.
Simply present the coupon on-site when you pay. It's instant booking, so your reservation is confirmed immediately.
How to Get There from Myeongdong Station
Getting to Davich Optical from Myeongdong Station is straightforward:
- Exit through Myeongdong Station Exit 5
- Walk straight ahead
- Turn right at the intersection
- You'll see the Davich Optical building on your right — it's hard to miss with the large signage
Address: Sogong-ro 62, 1F, Jung-gu, Seoul
Hours: Monday to Sunday, 09:30 - 20:30
Available languages: Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese
If you have any questions or concerns, Creatrip provides 24/7 real-time support in English, Chinese, and Japanese for international visitors completely free of charge. Reach us anytime on WhatsApp (+82 10-8818-2915) or LINE (@creatrip, @required). You can also follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Youtube to stay updated on all things Korea!
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