A new Korea Shopping Guide has been released to assist visitors to the country who come for the excellent shopping. The guide covers the major shopping areas around the country from the capital of Seoul to Busan and Jeju Island as well as the main international arrivals airport of Incheon.

A new shopping and tourism brand named '1st' also offers shoppers guaranteed quality, prices and service.  The designated '1st' shops have gone through rigorous evaluations of quality, pricing and services by Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) to become nationally certified "excellent shops".

The Korea Shopping Guide will help shoppers plan where it is best to go shopping in Korea and also advises not only on Korea '1st' premium shops but also lists popular markets, shopping malls, fashion outlets and special shopping areas where you can find traditional souvenirs for your friends back home.

Seoul, the capital is the number one place for most shoppers to the country with its never ending array of shopping opportunities and a city where you can shop all day and all night.  Doota Department store in Dongdaemun area is open till 5.30am in the morning.

If you are travelling to Korea in the future and need some help to know where all the best places are to shop in the country, order your free copy of the Korea Shopping Guide here....

The most popular shopping items for tourists are clothing, cosmetics and jewellery followed by Korean traditional pottery, folk arts and crafts, liquors and teas, kimchi and ginseng products.

Seoul's two massive markets, Namdaemun (South Gate) and Dongdaemun (East Gate) draw a lot of visitors for the wide variety of goods on offer.  Namdaemun is the largest traditional market in Korea and sells just about everything.  Dongdaemum Shopping town includes the market and also Korea's largest fashion shopping areas. The popular fashion stores of Migliore and Doota provide the latest trends in fashion at very reasonable prices.

Myeongdong nearby Namdaemun is a very popular fashion district.  With shoes, clothing, accessories and cosmetics as well as a huge number of restaurants and cafes it is a very popular area with tourists.  Across from Myeongdong is the famed Lotte Department Store which offers high-end goods at it's luxury store, Avenuel. 

If you would like to enjoy a traditional street feel in Seoul then pay a visit Insa-dong where you can browse celadon pottery stores, art galleries, traditional folk art stores etc. and enjoy lunch in a traditional Korean restaurant or tea-house.

If you are looking for some 'Gangnam Style' visit the southern suburb of Seoul where PSY lives and you can shop for the latest designer fashions in Garosu-gil or Agpujeong-dong.

Busan, the southern seaport of Korea has Centum City which holds the Guinness world record for the largest department store in the world.  This all inclusive shopping centre has a hot spring, water park, ice skating rink, dinner theatre and golf practice range along with all the shopping you could ever wish to do.

Also in Busan, Gwangbok-dong Fashion Street in the centre of the city has not only its Fashion Street but a special youth fashion Street, food streets, imported goods street, shoe store alley, a food alley as well as a traditional market and large department stores.

Jeju Island off the south coast of Korea is a popular semi-tropical island getaway.  Jeju has unique souvenirs from the island as well as all the fashion stores, jewellery stores, handbag stores, glasses, jewellery and much more.  Jeju Island also offers great duty-free shopping with numerous international brands as well as Korean luxury brands.