👓 A Foreigner's Guide to Buying Glasses in Myeongdong & Namdaemun — Eye Exams, Lens Choices, Turnaround Time & Tax Refund
⚠️ Please note
The prices, turnaround times, language support, hours, closing days, and tax-refund conditions in this guide vary by shop, branch, and policy, and change often. Don't take any one shop's example as a general standard—read this as a rough sense of "how it tends to go." Before visiting, re-check hours, location, and closing days on the shop's official channels or on Naver Map / Google Maps. Also, an optical-shop check is a check to fit the power of your glasses or lenses; it does not replace an ophthalmology exam that screens for eye pressure, retinal, or corneal disease. If you have symptoms such as a sudden drop in vision, severe eye pain, double vision, a feeling that part of your field of view is blocked, or a sudden increase in flashes or floaters, see an ophthalmologist first rather than getting new glasses.
⏱️ 30-second summary — just remember this!
👓 Making glasses → adults can have glasses made after a power check at an optical shop
🏥 Scope of the check → the shop check is for power only and doesn't replace an eye-disease exam
⏱️ Turnaround → in-stock single-vision lenses may be done the same day, but 30 minutes isn't guaranteed
👶 Children → glasses and contact lenses for kids aged 6 and under require a doctor's prescription
👁️ Contact lenses → buy in person at a licensed optical shop, not online
💰 Price → total varies a lot by frame, power, index, coating, and progressive design
📍 Areas → Myeongdong is easy for multilingual shops; Namdaemun is easy for comparing quotes
🧾 Refund → confirm Tax Free membership and the purchase/stay/take-out conditions before paying
✅ Pickup → check fit, power, lens info, and remake conditions on the spot
1. 👓 How glasses shopping works in Korea
Korean optical shops generally handle "power check + frame selection + lens grinding" all in one place. Most adults can have glasses made right there after a power check performed by an optician. However, the shop check differs from an ophthalmologist's disease exam, and glasses and contact lenses for children aged 6 and under must follow a doctor's prescription. In other words, it's especially convenient for "an adult getting ordinary glasses," while children, eye disease, and special situations call for an ophthalmologist's check.
2. 🏥 The scope of the shop check — what it does and doesn't cover
At the shop, an autorefractor measures your eye's refractive state and estimated power, and then a chart and trial lenses are used to confirm a comfortable final power. So it isn't one machine doing everything—the power is set through questions and trial wear together, as is standard. The key point is that this is "a check to fit your glasses power." It does not replace an ophthalmology exam that screens for eye pressure, retinal, or corneal disease. So if you're worried about your eye health itself, or feel your power has changed a lot, it's safer to consider an ophthalmology visit separately from the shop check. The same goes if you're wearing contact lenses for the first time or have pain, redness, or dryness—have an ophthalmologist check your cornea and eye condition.
3. 🧭 From walking in to pickup — the whole flow
If it's your first time, just knowing the order makes it much easier. It usually goes like this.
① Enter & ask: say "I'd like to get glasses / can I have a power check?"
② Power check: autorefractor + chart + trial lenses confirm your power (often free, but it varies by shop).
③ Frame selection: pick a frame that fits your budget and face shape. Check the price tag and brand.
④ Lens & options: decide index (thickness), coatings, progressive design, etc., and you'll get a final quote.
⑤ Payment & tax-refund check: present your passport and ask if it's a Tax Free shop and whether you qualify.
⑥ Wait & pickup: after it's made, check fit, power, and adjustment on the spot.
If you're leaving the country soon, confirm in writing (on the order form) at step ④ that you can receive it before departure.
4. ⏱️ How long does it take to make?
If the shop has the right lens in stock and the equipment on site, your power is ordinary, and the shop isn't busy, an ordinary single-vision pair can be ready the same day—as fast as tens of minutes. But that's only when the conditions line up; depending on power, frame, coating, stock, and wait times, it can take hours or days. Progressive, high-power, prism, photochromic, special-coating, or made-to-order lenses can take several days or more, and custom progressives or certain brand-order lenses can take even longer. So rather than rushing on your last day, visit early in your trip and confirm before paying that you can receive it before departure.
5. 💰 What determines the price
Glasses prices vary widely by frame, number of lenses, index, power, astigmatism/prism, coating, progressive design, and brand. That's why it's hard to name a single figure, and totals can differ greatly even within the same shop by option. Some shops have low-priced set deals, but you must check which lens is included in the listed price. It's easiest to state your budget first and get options recommended within it.
Lens options differ in usefulness and trade-offs from person to person. Blue-light filtering, high index, and photochromic coatings aren't features everyone needs—rather than simply adding a pricier option, choose after hearing about the lens's tint change, reflections, thickness, durability, and your actual usage environment. If your power is high you might consider a high-index lens, but the highest index isn't automatically best; compare frame size, weight, peripheral distortion, and price together. Many shops can also make prescription sunglasses or photochromic lenses, but price and turnaround vary greatly by power, color, whether it's polarized, and lens brand. Note that photochromic lenses darken in response to UV, so they may not darken enough inside a car whose windshield blocks UV, and each product's reaction speed and maximum tint differ.
6. 📍 Where to buy — Myeongdong · Namdaemun · Hongdae
Myeongdong makes it easy to find shops with experience serving tourists and multilingual assistance. It's a solid choice if it's your first time getting glasses in Korea or you're worried about language.
Namdaemun (the optical shops around Namdaemun Market near Hoehyeon Station) has a dense cluster of eyewear shops, so it's easy to compare frames and quotes across stores. Some shops may offer discounts or price adjustments, but not every store haggles. Even if you pay in cash, always ask for a receipt and an itemized quote.
Hongdae/Yeonnam-dong areas have fashion-focused eyewear shops and brand showrooms too, nice for travelers who prioritize design. The actual brands carried differ by shop.
Conditions for language support, warranty, exchange, and after-adjustment depend on the individual shop rather than the area, so wherever you go, confirming before paying is the most accurate approach.
7. 👁️ How to buy contact lenses & colored lenses
In Korea, contact lenses (clear, colored, and circle lenses included) cannot be sold to domestic consumers online or by mail order—you must buy them at a licensed optical shop run by an optician. When you buy, you should receive guidance on usage, expiration date, and side effects. The shop can confirm your lens power and basic details, but your glasses power and contact-lens power may not be the same, and lenses are also affected by base curve, diameter, corneal condition, dryness, and more. If it's your first time wearing them or you have pain, redness, or dryness, it's safer to have an ophthalmologist check your cornea and eye condition. For colored/circle lenses, before opening check the package's graphic diameter, base curve, and tint design, and ask the shop whether trial lenses are available. For hygiene, never use lenses that someone else has worn or shared lenses.
8. 🧾 Checking the tax refund (Tax Free)
If you buy at a Tax Free member optical shop and meet the requirements, you can get a refund. Generally you must spend at least 15,000 KRW in a single transaction and leave the country within 3 months of purchase, and you must be a foreign traveler who has stayed in Korea less than 6 months. Immediate refunds carry limits such as under 1,000,000 KRW per transaction and up to 5,000,000 KRW total in immediate-refund purchases per trip (subject to policy changes). Not every optical shop is a refund member, so check before paying.
Methods include an immediate refund deducted at the shop, downtown refund desks, and refunds at the airport departure area. A downtown refund desk can only process receipts from that particular refund operator, so check the refund company printed on your receipt and where it can be used. One caution: post-purchase duty-free goods generally may carry unused / take-out-of-country conditions. If you plan to wear your custom glasses right away during your trip, confirm with the shop and refund operator before paying whether wearing/fitting affects the refund and what the take-out/use conditions are. Keep the refund paperwork separately from your regular receipt, and note that airport refunds may require a customs check.
9. ⚠️ Eye-health warning signs and aftercare
If you have any of the following symptoms, see an ophthalmologist before getting new glasses: a sudden drop in vision, rapid blurring in just one eye, severe eye pain, persistent redness, a sudden increase in flashes or floaters, double vision, a feeling that part of your field of view is blocked, eye trauma, or pain/glare after wearing contact lenses.
When ordering, check that the quote or order form lists the lens brand, index, coating, power, astigmatism axis, pupillary distance (PD), and progressive design—this helps if a problem arises after you return home. Your existing glasses or a recent prescription are useful for comparison, but they may be old or differ from your current state, so rather than copying the old power, re-confirm your current power and purpose of use. Before paying, it's also worth asking about the period allowed for a re-check if you can't adapt to the power, remake costs, warranty for frame breakage or coating defects, whether international shipping or fitting at another branch is possible, and how exchanges/refunds are handled after a tax refund. Receipts, order forms, lens sleeves, and warranties help with exchanges, re-confirming power, and checking product info. That said, whether a traveler's glasses purchase is covered by insurance depends on the terms of your own policy, which you should check separately.
❓ Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Q. Do I absolutely need an ophthalmologist's prescription? A. Most adults can have glasses made with just the optical shop's power check. However, the shop check doesn't replace an eye-disease exam, and glasses/contact lenses for children aged 6 and under require a doctor's prescription.
Q. Can it really be done in 30 minutes? A. In-stock single-vision lenses can be ready the same day, as fast as tens of minutes, but 30 minutes isn't guaranteed. It can take hours or days depending on power, coating, stock, and wait times.
Q. Can I buy contact lenses during my trip? A. Yes, buy them in person at a licensed optical shop. Online/mail-order sales of contact lenses are prohibited in Korea. Note too that your glasses power and lens power may differ.
Q. How do I get the tax refund? A. It's possible at Tax Free member shops when you meet the requirements (at least 15,000 KRW per transaction, departure within 3 months, stay under 6 months, etc.). Not every shop qualifies, so check before paying.
Q. Is English spoken? A. Myeongdong and large chain shops often support English, Japanese, and Chinese. At smaller shops, a translation app helps.
Q. Should I know my power (prescription) in advance? A. Existing glasses/prescription info is useful for comparison. But it may be old or differ from now, so re-confirm your current power and purpose of use at the shop.
🗣️ Handy English phrases to use on the spot
"I'd like to get new glasses. Can I have an eye exam here?"
"How long will it take to make them?"
"Do you offer a tax refund? Here's my passport."
"Do you have a sample lens or a virtual color guide?"
✅ Quick checklist
Bring your passport (for the tax refund)
Bring existing glasses/prescription info if you have it (re-confirm rather than copying)
Check hours, location, and closing days on a map app before visiting
Choose lens options (index, coating, progressive, etc.) after hearing the pros and cons
If your departure is tight, confirm the turnaround time first
Check that the order form records the lens brand, index, coating, power, astigmatism axis, and pupillary distance (PD)
After it's made, check fit, power, and adjustment on the spot
Ask about re-check, remake, warranty, and exchange conditions
Tax refund: confirm membership, conditions, and take-out/use before paying; keep the paperwork and receipts
Buy contact lenses in person at a licensed optical shop (not online)
🟦 This guide was put together by the JoyStoria team.
📅 As of: 2026 · ⚠️ Prices, language support, information, and operations may change by season, business, and branch. JoyStoria does not endorse any specific business. Before visiting or buying, please confirm the latest information on each optical shop's official channels and map apps. An optical-shop check is for fitting power and does not replace an ophthalmology exam, so if you need any judgment about eye health or vision, please re-confirm with an ophthalmologist or other professional institution.
