Optician near Myeongdong for birthday gift glasses: 007 Optical

Why I chose glasses as a birthday gift

This birthday gift is a pair of glasses made at 007 Optical (007안경원) in Namdaemun. As I get older, when I give someone a gift I focus more on whether they actually need it and whether it's practical. I used to go for what looked pretty or nice by my own standards, but honestly that doesn't mean much, you know?

I figure the best gift is something the person will really use and need, so I wondered what to get for this birthday and ended up at this Namdaemun optician! Sounds kind of grand, haha. I was shopping in Myeongdong, and the Namdaemun optician that the beloved grandma Sun Woo Yong-nyeo recently visited on YouTube was nearby, so I booked ahead and dashed over >.<

Where is 007 Optical, and where do you park?

007 Optical is about 200 meters from Exit 7 of Hoehyeon Station on Line 4, so it's pretty close, and you can park on the B1 level of the Sangdong Church building! Myeongdong is nearby too, and it's close to Shinsegae Department Store as well.

Inside 007 Optical in Namdaemun

The optician's sign on the building stands out, so it's easy to find. Even the phone number written next to the awning shows the shop's sense of humor, haha. It's so easy to remember! Seeing little touches like this, I can see why grandma Sun Woo Yong-nyeo is a regular?!

Step inside and you'll find all kinds of glasses, sunglasses, contact lenses and more on display. I came to get glasses made, but my eyes keep drifting to the sunglasses, haha.

How much do frames cost in Namdaemun?

Frame prices at 007 Optical are sorted by sticker color: white ₩30,000, yellow ₩50,000, blue ₩60,000, red (orange) ₩70,000. And what else comes to mind with Namdaemun? The wholesale market, right?! Not long ago the TV show Master of Living (생활의 달인) featured Namdaemun, saying that what's trending in Namdaemun hits the provinces half a year later, and introduced various corners of it. This Namdaemun optician also makes the most of the wholesale market's strengths, so it's a good place to buy good products at an easy price.

• White ₩30,000
• Yellow ₩50,000
• Blue ₩60,000
• Red (orange) ₩70,000

There are so many kinds of frames that the prices can feel intimidating, but one side of 007 Optical shows the price range by sticker like this, so you can choose within your own budget without even asking. Nice.

How does the eye exam at 007 Optical work?

At 007 Optical you pick the frames first, then get a proper eye exam with German ZEISS equipment and the Eye Profiler!! A wide range of products, good quality and reasonable prices go without saying~ and they use German ZEISS exam equipment?! I'm no glasses expert, so I'd noticed that the exam method differs a bit from shop to shop, and apparently that all comes down to the equipment! They do the exam with the latest technology and use something called the Eye Profiler, which lets them make the best custom lenses for each person's eyes!

How long until the glasses are done?

The glasses were ready in about 30 minutes to 1 hour, which isn't long, so you could order glasses in Namdaemun and still do a round of shopping nearby. It was a Namdaemun optician where they could precisely analyze refractive error, corneal condition and more in 3D and tailor everything.

When I watch TV shows about foreigners visiting Korea, like Welcome, First Time in Korea?!, I notice that in some countries getting glasses made apparently takes anywhere from a few weeks to a month?! So getting them done in just a few hours is amazing, haha. If bookings are backed up it takes longer, but since you can pick them up quickly, it works well even if it's not near your home: visit and collect the same day.

How was 007 Optical in Namdaemun for gift glasses?

The owner and managers, with 30 years of experience, give one-on-one care and use cutting-edge equipment, which made me trust them even more, and I could buy good products at a reasonable price. That was 007 Optical, the Namdaemun optician ^^

Basic info for 007 Optical

• Address: 30 Namdaemun-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea, ground floor of Sangdong Church (1-1 Namchang-dong, Jung-gu, 1st floor)
• Hours: Monday–Saturday 09:00–19:00, Sunday 11:00–16:00
• Transport: about 200m from Exit 7 of Hoehyeon Station (Line 4)
• Parking: B1 level of the building