Gunpla in Korea
- Seoul
- Gundam Bases
- Side 4 - I'Park Mall, Yongsan Station
- Side 6 - Gangnam Station
- Satellite - Coex Mall, Samseong Station
- Hongdae - Hongdae, Hongdae Station
- Hobby Shops
- Asem Hobby - Coex Mall, Samseong Station
- Style X - I'Park Mall, Yongsan Station
- Tamiya Plamodel Factory - I'Park Mall, Yongsan Station
- Cafes
- Busan
- Gundam Bases
- Side 2 - near Seomyeon Station
- Satellite - near Nampo Station (have yet to vist)
located on the 4th floor of the I'Park Mall, next to Yongsan Station
The Side 4 Gundam Base is the biggest and most well-stocked Gundam shop in Seoul, official or otherwise. It consistently has the latest models available (as well as a large selection of older Gunpla), sells most of the basic modeling supplies necessary for getting started with this hobby, and has a large onsite area for building. Just like at any Gundam Base, shoppers can ask for a free no-grade Gunpla to build on the condition that they complete it in the store. Another service available is the Gundam Base stamp card: for every model purchased, customers get one stamp on their card corresponding to the grade of the model bought. Once ten stamps have been collected, the customer can cash in their stamps to receive a free model of the same grade. So for example, if I buy ten HG models, the next HG will be on the house!... Just as long as it's under the price limit of 30,000 won.
Directions: The easiest way to get to Side 4 is to take the Seoul Metro to Yongsan Station. Exit the station lobby on the 4th floor and enter the adjacent I'Park Mall. Head left, and it won't be long before you find the Side 4 entrance.
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located inside Gangnam Station, next to Exit 2
Side 6 is great for being probably the most convenient Gundam store to reach. It's stock may not be as impressive as what's available at Side 4, but Side 6 more than makes up for a few less Gunpla with an impressive and very atmospheric store design, reminiscent of a secret underground jungle military base. Side 6 has a host of interesting displays, a nifty walk-in hangar showcasing Gunpla only available via Club G, and the basic amenities common to all Gundam Bases, including an onsite work area and stamp cards.
Directions: To reach Side 6, take the Green Line on the Seoul Metro to Gangnam Station. You don't even have to leave the station; just walk to Exit 2 and you'll see Side 6 before going outside.
Side 6 is great for being probably the most convenient Gundam store to reach. It's stock may not be as impressive as what's available at Side 4, but Side 6 more than makes up for a few less Gunpla with an impressive and very atmospheric store design, reminiscent of a secret underground jungle military base. Side 6 has a host of interesting displays, a nifty walk-in hangar showcasing Gunpla only available via Club G, and the basic amenities common to all Gundam Bases, including an onsite work area and stamp cards.
Directions: To reach Side 6, take the Green Line on the Seoul Metro to Gangnam Station. You don't even have to leave the station; just walk to Exit 2 and you'll see Side 6 before going outside.
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located inside the Coex Mall, next to Samseong Station
The Gundam Base.Satellite can be found in the recently renovated Coex Mall, which is often described as the largest underground shopping mall in all of Asia. The Satellite is smaller than the Sides and can be time-consuming to reach due to the massive size and labyrinthine nature of Coex. Walking from Samseong Station through the mall to get to the Satellite isn't nearly as quick as jumping off the metro at Gangnam Station and popping into Side 6. Still, the Satellite sometimes has models the other Gundam Bases don't have in stock so it's worth checking out. It too has an onsite work area and honors the stamp card system.
Directions: To get to the Satellite, take the Green Line on the Seoul Metro to Samseong Station and head out Exit 5 or 6. Enter the mall and check a directory to find the shortest route from your location to the Satellite. It's directly across from the Kakao Store.
The Gundam Base.Satellite can be found in the recently renovated Coex Mall, which is often described as the largest underground shopping mall in all of Asia. The Satellite is smaller than the Sides and can be time-consuming to reach due to the massive size and labyrinthine nature of Coex. Walking from Samseong Station through the mall to get to the Satellite isn't nearly as quick as jumping off the metro at Gangnam Station and popping into Side 6. Still, the Satellite sometimes has models the other Gundam Bases don't have in stock so it's worth checking out. It too has an onsite work area and honors the stamp card system.
Directions: To get to the Satellite, take the Green Line on the Seoul Metro to Samseong Station and head out Exit 5 or 6. Enter the mall and check a directory to find the shortest route from your location to the Satellite. It's directly across from the Kakao Store.
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located near the entrance to Hongik University
The Hongdae Gundam Base is unique in that it's the only Seoul Gundam Base not located inside a larger shopping mall or underground. It takes a little effort to reach due to it not being directly connected to any metro station, but being the newest Gundam Base alone makes the trip worth it. It has everything the other Gundam Bases offer, if perhaps a smaller selection of Gunpla, and it's relative proximity to the center of Hongdae can be good or bad depending on where you're coming from. It also has a lovely open-air balcony great for building Gunpla outside.
Directions: To reach the Hongdae Gundam Base, take the Green Line on the Seoul Metro to Hongik University (Hongdae) Station. Go out Exit 9, walk until you reach the front of Hongik University, turn left at the intersection and look for Starbucks; the Hongdae Gundam Base is on the 2nd floor of the building behind it.
The Hongdae Gundam Base is unique in that it's the only Seoul Gundam Base not located inside a larger shopping mall or underground. It takes a little effort to reach due to it not being directly connected to any metro station, but being the newest Gundam Base alone makes the trip worth it. It has everything the other Gundam Bases offer, if perhaps a smaller selection of Gunpla, and it's relative proximity to the center of Hongdae can be good or bad depending on where you're coming from. It also has a lovely open-air balcony great for building Gunpla outside.
Directions: To reach the Hongdae Gundam Base, take the Green Line on the Seoul Metro to Hongik University (Hongdae) Station. Go out Exit 9, walk until you reach the front of Hongik University, turn left at the intersection and look for Starbucks; the Hongdae Gundam Base is on the 2nd floor of the building behind it.
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Asem Hobby
located inside the Coex Mall, next to Samseong Station
Asem Hobby is an independent hobby shop that caters to a variety of interests. It's inventory of Gunpla is limited compared to what's available at the Gundam Bases, but the models it does sell are often cheaper than what's sold at the official stores. More importantly, Asem has an excellent array of modeling supplies for sale, offering a wider selection than any of the Gundam Bases. Whenever I find myself shopping for Gunpla in the Coex Gundam Base, I always stop by Asem afterwards to stock up on brushes, plaplate, or any other tools I may be in need of. Also worth noting, Asem Hobby is the only store that I know of in Seoul that stocks Kotobukiya Modeling Support Goods, which are basically plamo weapon packs that can be added to almost any 1/144 scale model.
Directions: To reach Asem, you can follow the same basic directions used to get to the Satellite: after taking the Green Line to Samseong Station and entering the Coex Mall via Exit 5 or 6, head to the Coex Aquarium. Asem Hobby is directly across from it.
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located inside the Coex Mall, next to Samseong Station
Asem Hobby is an independent hobby shop that caters to a variety of interests. It's inventory of Gunpla is limited compared to what's available at the Gundam Bases, but the models it does sell are often cheaper than what's sold at the official stores. More importantly, Asem has an excellent array of modeling supplies for sale, offering a wider selection than any of the Gundam Bases. Whenever I find myself shopping for Gunpla in the Coex Gundam Base, I always stop by Asem afterwards to stock up on brushes, plaplate, or any other tools I may be in need of. Also worth noting, Asem Hobby is the only store that I know of in Seoul that stocks Kotobukiya Modeling Support Goods, which are basically plamo weapon packs that can be added to almost any 1/144 scale model.
Directions: To reach Asem, you can follow the same basic directions used to get to the Satellite: after taking the Green Line to Samseong Station and entering the Coex Mall via Exit 5 or 6, head to the Coex Aquarium. Asem Hobby is directly across from it.
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located on the 4th floor of the I'Park Mall, next to Yongsan Station
StyleX isn't a typical store, with a front door and a big sign out front; it's more or less a collection of racks and display shelves clumped together on the 7th floor of the I'Park mall. Regardless, it's a great place to pick up inexpensive hobby tools and equipment. StyleX doesn't sell Gunpla, but it is directly in front of Side 4, so Gunpla are literally just a few steps away.
Directions: To get to StyleX follow the same directions used to get to Side 4: get off the metro at Yongsan Station, head out of the lobby and walk into the adjacent mall. If you can find Side 4, you've already found StyleX.
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Tamiya Plamodel Factory
located on the 4th floor of the I'Park Mall, next to Yongsan Station
Tamiya Plamodel Factory is another hobby supply store set up inside the I'Park Mall. Being an official Tamiya store, it only sells Tamiya-licensed hobby tools and models. You won't find any Gunpla here, but if you're in the mood for a model car or military vehicle, this is the place to go. Their selection of supplies is without equal; you can find almost anything you might need here for whatever project you you're working on. However, because all of their tools have the Tamiya logo on them you'll be paying top dollar.
Directions: Tamiya Plamodel Factory is on the same floor as StyleX and Side 4. After you exit Yongsan Station and enter the adjacent mall, you'll find the Tamiya store in the vicinity of all the other hobby shops on the 4th floor.
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Cafe Gogos
located on the edge of Seokcheon Lake Park, near Jamsil Station
Cafe Gogos is a delightful little restaurant on the edge of Seokcheon Lake Park. It has an action figure and toy theme, and it hosts an impressive selection of memorabilia from numerous TV shows, cartoons and comics. Relevant to this list is Gogos' amassment of custom-built Gunpla on display; the Gunpla alone make up a generous portion of the cafe's collection and are a viewing treat for any Gunpla builder. The food and drinks for sale are standard cafe fare and can be a little expensive, but a coffee or smoothee is worth the price to pay for a chance to check out some of the best-looking Gunpla in Seoul.
Directions: It's a bit of a hike to Gogos: take the Green Line on the Seoul Metro to Jamsil Station then head out Exit 3. Walk towards the lake; once you reach it, turn right towards the Lotte World theme park and walk along the edge of the lake until you reach the other side. Keep your eyes open, and you'll eventually spot Cafe Gogos.
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Code-G Cafe
located in the city of Seongnam, in the suburbs of Seoul, near Yatap Station
Technically Code-G isn't in Seoul; it's right outside the city limits, in the satellite city of Seongnam. Nevertheless Code-G is a must visit for any Gundam fan who comes to Korea: it's a strictly Gundam-themed cafe, on par and even rivaling the official Gundam Cafes in Tokyo. Almost everything inside Code-G is related to Gundams and Gunpla, from the props and models on display to the books available for browsing. Code-G provides a comfortable place to relax with a cool drink, to take a date, or to even work on a model, as the cafe sells not only food and beverages, but also Gunpla and modeling tools.
Directions: If you thought the walk to Gogos was a march, you're in for a treat with Code-G. To get to the cafe, take the Seoul Metro to Yatap Station and go out Exit 1. Walk north for about three blocks, then turn right into a residential area. You'll find Code-G in the cluster of shops next to Seongnam Yeosu Middle School.
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The Gundam Base.Side 2
located near Seomyeon Station, in the city of Busan
I haven't been to many Gundam stores outside of Seoul, though I know they exist. Side 2 in Busan, a coastal city on the southern tip of the Korean peninsula, has everything you'd expect from an official Gundam Base: a large inventory of Gundams, an impressive collection of props and models on display, and vibrant Gundam-themed decorations. I've only been to Side 2 once, and that was about a year ago, but I fondly recall it and look forward to my next visit.
Directions: To reach Side 2, take the Busan Metro to Seomyeon Station. Go out Exit 2, walk south for about a block, and look for a department store on your left. Side 2 is a little tricky to find, as it's hidden on the basement level of the department store, but you should see a sign out front advertising its location.
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