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The exterior of the Uniqlo Myeongdong Store. / Photo by Lee Chang-yeon

A pristine white building standing right in the heart of Myeongdong Street caught the eye first. In a bustling alley packed with cosmetics shops and massive digital billboards, the exterior—which solely emphasized the red Uniqlo logo—actually commanded an even stronger presence.

Uniqlo is set to open its "Uniqlo Myeongdong Store," the brand's largest outlet in South Korea, on Myeongdong 8na-gil in Jung-gu, Seoul, on May 22. Spanning three floors above ground and covering approximately 3,254.8 square meters (1,000 pyeong), this marks a comeback to Myeongdong after about five years since January 2021, when the brand closed its previous Myeongdong Central Store following the boycott movement and the COVID-19 pandemic.

On May 19, three days ahead of the official opening, I visited the site. The Myeongdong store houses Uniqlo's entire lineup—including Women, Men, Kids, and Baby—in a single space, offering an atmosphere distinct from typical fast-fashion stores. Rather than densely packing the space with merchandise, the layout felt deliberately designed to encourage customers to linger and experience the brand.

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The UT zone on the first floor of the Uniqlo Myeongdong Store. / Uniqlo

The first floor houses core items from the women's and men's lines alongside the "Lifewear Magazine zone," which showcases the brand’s identity, and the "UT (Uniqlo T-shirt) zone." The centerpiece here is "UTme!", a customization service that allows customers to design their own t-shirts and tote bags. In South Korea, this service is exclusively available at just six locations—the Jamsil Lotte World Mall, Daegu Dongseongro, Daejeon Dunsan, Busan Samjung Tower, Jeju Seogwipo, and Myeongdong stores—with a limited daily production capacity.

Using iPads installed throughout the area, customers can mix and match approximately 800 image stickers, including options from Disney and Minecraft. Notably, the Myeongdong store introduces "Myeongdong-Exclusive Design Stamps" created in collaboration with local partners. Logos and imagery representing iconic establishments in Myeongdong and Euljiro, such as the domestic nut brand HBAF, Eulji Dabang, and Buru’s Ddeurak, have been incorporated into these custom stamps.

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The kids' zone on the second floor of the Uniqlo Myeongdong Store. / Photo by Lee Chang-yeon

The second floor is a dedicated space focusing on the women's, kids', and baby lineups. A separate fitting room for female customers has been set up near the women's innerwear section, which includes items like bra tops. Distinct from standard fitting rooms, the interior utilizes soft-toned lighting to emphasize a warmer atmosphere.

The collection created in collaboration with Danish designer Cecilie Bahnsen is also on display. Additionally, photographic artworks capturing the past and present of Myeongdong are arranged on one side of the floor.

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The RE.UNIQLO Studio on the third floor of the Uniqlo Myeongdong Store. / Photo by Lee Chang-yeon   The third floor focuses primarily on the men's lineup, featuring a wall filled with linen shirts in approximately 40 different colors. This floor also houses the RE.UNIQLO Studio, where customers can access clothing repair and customization services while they shop. Beyond basic alterations, the studio offers a variety of repair services, including mending holes or tears, seam stitching, and patchwork, alongside a selection of over 70 embroidery patterns.    Exclusively at the Myeongdong store, eight Myeongdong-themed embroidery patterns created in collaboration with illustrator Leemu are available. A clothing donation box is also stationed on one side of the studio, inviting visitors to donate used Uniqlo apparel. This integration of repair and recycling experiences stands out, shifting away from the typical fast-fashion image of rapid consumption. The RE.UNIQLO Studio operates in only 75 Uniqlo stores worldwide; the Myeongdong location is the third to open in South Korea, following the Lotte World Mall and Daegu Dongseongro stores.   Additionally, a dedicated tax-free service area has been set up for international tourists, and the inventory is curated so that almost all products—excluding certain special sizes—are available directly on the sales floor. If a desired size is out of stock, customers can place an order via the Uniqlo application and collect it from the in-store pickup lockers.   Convenience features have also been significantly enhanced. The Myeongdong store is equipped with 42 checkout counters and 54 fitting rooms, the highest number among all Uniqlo locations in South Korea. Accessible fitting rooms tailored for wheelchair users are available on every floor, and a staff of approximately 400 employees will be on-site.   With the opening of the Myeongdong store, the total number of Uniqlo outlets in South Korea rises to 133. The company explained that it aims to use this location to strengthen its brand experience for both domestic shoppers and international tourists.   "We will showcase the entire lineup of Uniqlo LifeWear to both our Korean customers and global visitors coming to Myeongdong," Takao Kuwahara, co-CEO of FRL Korea, stated. "We look forward to establishing this location as a flagship Myeongdong store by delivering a highly unique customer experience."     0 The UT zone on the first floor of the Uniqlo Myeongdong Store. / Photo by Lee Chang-yeon