Information: As of April 2025
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Introduction Meet Korean Artist owllama studio: Cho Jinhyun |
INTRODUCTION
South Korea is located at the eastern end of the Eurasian continent. In recent years, young people are drawn to various aspects of Korean culture such as K-pop idols, beauty, movies, fashion, and gourmet food.
Knitting is very popular in Korea. We visited Seoul to explore knitting trends in Korea, and there were many yarn shops. It seems that the number of new stores had increased dramatically in the past few years. We were impressed by the sight of young people knitting while watching YouTube videos in cafes.
PLANNING A VISIT
Seoul is divided into north and south by the large river Hangang, which runs through the center of the city. The area north of Hangang is called Gangbuk and has many ancient ruins such as the royal palace. The Gangnam area in the south is a relatively new business district that developed after 1980.
Seoul has four distinct seasons. Spring and autumn are said to be the best seasons because they are mild and comfortable. Summer is hot and humid, with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees. On the other hand, winter is very cold, and temperatures can drop below -10 degrees, so you need to wear warm clothes including heavy coats, down jackets, hats, and gloves.
Perhaps because about 30% of the population is Christian, the city is very lively with gorgeous illuminations and decorations during the Christmas season.
GETTING AROUND
Seoul has two international airports. Gimpo International Airport is closer to the center of Seoul, and Incheon International Airport is a little further away. However, both can be accessed by train, subway, or bus in about 40 minutes.
The subway is convenient for traveling within Seoul. There are many routes you can take to access major tourist spots, and it is inexpensive. We recommend purchasing a transportation card called T-money at a convenience store or station. You can charge the card and use it. On the other hand, it is a good idea to use a taxi when going to places that are hard to access. In some places, it is difficult to catch a taxi on the street, and it may also be difficult to explain the destination to the driver, so we recommend using a ride-hailing app such as Kakao Taxi or Uber. You can enter the boarding point and destination on the app, meaning fewer mistakes.
THINGS TO KNOW
We also recommend using WOWPASS, a convenient card for foreign visitors in Korea. It is a card and app that combines three functions: a prepaid card, currency exchange, and T-money. It also allows you to exchange currency for won and charge the card. Cashless payment is available at many places, such as shopping malls, taxis, and convenience stores. WOWPASS can be purchased at unmanned currency exchange machines installed in airports and stations.
The city is full of Hangul, with little written in Chinese or the Roman alphabet, so you may have a little trouble finding the store you are looking for. On the other hand, public facilities such as stations often have English, Japanese, and Chinese written in parallel, so you won't have any issues.
Recommended Places
Yarn Shops
Nougatbar Knits
41 Sagajeong-ro 43-gil, Jungnang-gu, Seoul
Instagram
Website
In the small shop, the owner, who is knowledgeable about knitting, has a wide selection of yarns from all over the world, and there are always plenty of yarns you'll want to buy. Original goods such as stitch markers and needle cases featuring cute bear and dog characters—created in collaboration with illustrator Lemoncup—are popular.
Cowaco iroiro
115 Seongmisan-ro 17-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Instagram
Website
Originally a curry shop, the owner, who loves knitting, changed their business and opened this shop in 2017. In addition to Retrosaria Rosa Pomar and Isager, they also carry Japanese yarns such as DARUMA and Avril, as well as Japanese knitting books. Workshops and lessons are regularly held in the spacious shop.
somsom.knit
469-6 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Instagram
Website
This yarn shop has colorful industrial yarns in cones on display. They also have cute fancy yarns with glitter and sequins, as well as hand-dyed yarns from Korean indie diners. With a wide range of colors, you're sure to find the color you're looking for.
banul story
15 Yeonhui-ro 11ga-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
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Website
The first floor is a yarn shop, and the second floor is a cafe where you can enjoy knitting. When you enter the store, you will be first drawn to the neatly arranged yarns on the shelves that cover the entire wall. They have many affordable patterns and yarns, so we also recommend them to beginners. There are many swatches, so it is easy to imagine the fabric you will knit.
There is a sign in the cafe that says "Looking for knitting friends! Please say hello!," so you may be able to make some friends.
Linea
42-12 Nonhyeon-ro 26-gil, Gangnam District, Seoul
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Website
The small store is packed with yarns. They have many imported yarns such as Hedgehog Fibres, BC Garn, and Malabrigo, and also have a small amount of their own brand yarn. Classes are also held on the upper floor of the store.
nutten
119 Cheonggyesan-ro, Seocho District, Seoul
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Website
A cafe and yarn shop in a house surrounded by nature, located in the suburbs a little away from the city center. It features a girly and cute interior, and there are many teddy bears inside the store. You can enjoy knitting at your leisure on the second floor, where sunlight pours in through the large windows facing the river as well as the skylights. They also sell kits and finished products such as bags, scarves, and hats.
KnitCafe
1F, 164 Garak-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul
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Website
They handle imported yarns from La Bien Aimée, ROWAN, De Rerum Natura, Cardiff Cashmere, among others. They have many samples along with swatches using various motifs and colors, so it's easy to imagine the finished knit. They also hold knitting classes in the store.
KnitWit
303dong 140ho, 270, Bongo-daero, Seo-gu, Incheon
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Website
It's located in Incheon, about an hour and a half by subway from central Seoul. The store is spacious, with balls of yarn beautifully lined up on large shelves, making it very photogenic. There are also many Japanese knitting books on display. There is a space for lessons at the back of the store where lessons on knitting and crochet are held every week. They also have a wide selection of original goods such as patches.
Dongdaemun Market
272 Jong-ro, Jongno District, Seoul
A building lined with countless wholesale and retail stores selling various items such as fabrics, buttons, accessory parts, clothes, and shoes. You can get craft materials at reasonable prices. It consists of four buildings, A, B, C, and N, and the yarn section is mainly located in the basement of Building A. Some yarns are sold by the ball, but some stores only sell garment quantities.
Others
Seoul Crafts Museum
4 Yulgok-ro 3-gil, Jongno District, Seoul
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Website
The museum opened in 2021 by renovating and reusing an old school building. It collects and houses crafts and materials in various fields, from traditional to modern, such as mother-of-pearl work, ceramics, and bojagi. In addition to the permanent exhibitions, special exhibitions are held regularly, so you can spend the whole day there and not get enough. Admission is free.
Gyeongbokgung Palace
161Sajik-ro, Jongno District, Seoul
The royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty, established in the 14th century. It is the largest of the royal palaces built during the Joseon Dynasty and is lined with magnificent buildings such as Gwanghwamun and Geunjeongjeon. The area is crowded with tourists wearing hanbok (traditional Korean clothing). It is located very close to the Seoul Crafts Museum, so why not stop by?
American Brunch Cafe (ABC)
49–16 Yulgok-ro, Jongno District, Seoul
Instagram
It is located in an alley just behind the Seoul Crafts Museum. The American brunch, which includes pancakes, eggs Benedict, and French toast, is popular, and many foreign tourists visit the cafe. It seems to have been started by a group of classmates, and a cute group photo of the staff wearing matching aprons is displayed inside.
EIN PLATZ
161-28, Myeonmok-dong, Jungnang-gu, Seoul
Instagram
A cafe about a 7-minute walk from Nougatbar Knits. The interior has a cool vibe, with red floors, brick and concrete walls, and neon signs. The desserts and breads, such as tiramisu and Basque cheesecake, are all very filling, so you're sure to feel stuffed.
Hippo brunch house
Seoul, Mapo-gu, Seongmisan-ro 17-gil, 85 1층
Instagram
A cafe near Cowaco iroiro. They serve American-style meals and desserts, such as burgers, French toast, and pasta. The interior is cohesive with blue and white colors and stainless-steel chairs and tables, creating a casual yet stylish atmosphere.