Odbo Duty Free Shop

My parents went to Seoul in the height of Fall of 2014. During their tour, they were brought to this Odbo outlet. 

Fast forward to December 2015. I was asked by my mother to buy Odbo stuff for her since I was visiting Korea. I had to do a little research on how to get there. Maybe this will help you, future Odbo non-Korean buyers in finding your way to their shop.

A quick Google search will lead you to a blog post of Shernell. She starts her journey from Line 3 Mapo-gu Office Station Exit 3. If you scroll down a bit to the comments section, you'll find a comment from David Chong, dated June 21, 2013. His comment yields to a shorter walk from Line 2 Hongik University Station Exit 1.

Below is a map version of David's comment, which I followed.

First, get off at Line 2 Hongik University Station Exit 1. You'll exit through an escalator, passing by Butter store. Once you exit the building, turn right and follow the road going to World Cup Buk-ro. This is about 200 meter walk. 

This is the Butter store at Hongik University Station. Photo by Alex from his blog. Pretty cool blog.

Once you turn right at World Cup Buk-ro, continue to walk straight until you'll see the Odbo Building on your left. This is about 1000 meters distance so you better be ready with your legs.

Here are some of the landmarks that will guide you. Hopefully they will be entertaining enough for your long walk. Below is the intersection of World Cup Buk-ro and Donggyo-ro, about 300 meters from Hongik University Station Exit 1. You may have to wait for the stoplight to turn green before you can proceed.

About 600 meters from Hongik University Station Exit 1, You'll reach World Cup Buk-ro 8-gil. Be careful crossing the street.

Intersection of World Cup Buk-ro and World Cup Buk-ro 8-gil.

A quick look on your right, you'll see a nice modern building with a large "Humanist" sign. Apologies that a sign has blocked the logo.

Beautiful cars along World Cup Buk-ro 9-gil

At about 800 meters from Hongik University Station Exit 1, you will see an SK Gas Station on your left.

About 100 meters from the SK Gas Station is the Seongmisan-ro intersection. You'll see a 7-Eleven on your left side, as shown in the photo below. This is what seems to be the last big intersection before you reach the Odbo building.

Also in that intersection, you'll see a church on your left side. It has a huge cross on top of the tower. You'll never miss it. From this intersection, you have about 300 meters of walking left.

Right after the Seongmisan-ro street, you'll see this building. If you follow Google Street View, you'll see that this building is Konditorei Und Backerei. That image capture is from 2009. Today it is now Masterhands Richmont bakery.

Ahh Thaarr she blows! Better have your faces ready to receive loads of sample make up. Not me though. I'm a non-Korean guy on an errand.

These are two separate buildings. We are looking at the one on the right.

Hold on to your ovarian excitement as there is a pedestrian stoplight nearby so that you won't get hit by cars. Use the pedestrian lane. Just calmly cross the road and you are there. 

This is the facade of Odbo, taken on December 14, 2015

I know what I am buying so I kind of bypassed the whole sales talk thing that they throw at your face. They have a buy 5 get 1 free promo when I got there. Each product on the photo below is Krw 42,000. I spent Krw 210,000 for everything, which is about Krw 35,000 for each product. After I paid, I received a tax refund receipt envelope which I can claim at the airport. I got Krw 12,000 for my refund, enough for a sumptuous Bibimbap, which I never got because Incheon Airport is so big, we never had time to look for a nice restaurant that serves Bibimbap. Writing this made me crave for Bibimbap.

After you have indulge yourself with all the expensive cosmetics, it is high time for your Walk of Shame. You'll find a lot of tour buses parked at the side near the Obdo building. When I took this photo, these are Chinese tourist buses parked. Follow the road you took and it will lead you back to the Hongdae, where you can spend more money and do more walks of shame.

The "Walk of Shame"

This is a long quest for me (coming from Myeongdong). You better allot your entire morning if you're commuting to the Odbo store.

Let me know if you have any questions.