Olive Young & K-beauty

Full transcript

Annyeong, yeoreobun! It's Yul. Ever wondered why K-pop idols have that glass-skin glow? Today we visit the playground of K-beauty. Welcome to Olive Young in Myeongdong!

Olive Young started small. Its very first store opened in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam, in 1999. Today it has more than 1,300 stores, so you'll spot that green sign almost everywhere in Korea.

But Myeongdong is the main stage. In 2023, Olive Young's Myeongdong Town store was remade especially for travelers, and about 90 percent of its customers were international tourists. Then, in March 2026, an even bigger one opened nearby: Central Myeongdong Town. Three floors, about 15,000 products from more than 1,000 brands, and 22 checkout counters. Staff who speak English, Chinese or Japanese wear little flag badges, so you know exactly who to ask.

And here's the plot twist. The superstar here isn't lipstick. It's the humble sheet mask! Foreign visitors buy masks more than anything else, so the new store built a Mask Library with over 800 kinds. Korean skincare is famous for layering, too: cleanser, toner, essence, serum, moisturizer, and every morning, sunscreen. Daebak!

Yul's tip! Bring your passport. Purchases of 15,000 won or more can qualify for a tax refund, and at certified tax-free shops you can often get it right at the counter. Ask before opening testers, try products on the back of your hand, and don't buy fifty masks at once. Okay, maybe ten. Get off at Myeongdong Station, Line 4, Exit 6.

Next, let's level up at the place where Korea's gamers became stars. Kaja!