Metal-allergy optician in Namdaemun: TR frames at Angyeonggwa Saradeul

To replace my glasses lenses after 5 years, I visited Angyeonggwa Saradeul, a famous optician in Namdaemun Market recommended by a coworker! I heard it's the same shop as the old Namdaemun Angyeong 24 Hours, just under a new name~

Where is Angyeonggwa Saradeul, what are the hours, and is there parking?

Angyeonggwa Saradeul is located at 61 Namdaemunsijang-gil, Unit 101, Jung-gu, Seoul, 200m from Exit 7 of Hoehyeon Station on Line 4. It's open 09:00 - 20:00.

• Shop name: Angyeonggwa Saradeul
• Location: 61 Namdaemunsijang-gil, Unit 101, Jung-gu, Seoul (200m from Hoehyeon Station Exit 7, Line 4)
• Hours: 09:00 - 20:00
• No parking (we parked underground at the nearby Shinsegae Department Store, ate at the food section, and got a parking voucher)

I visited with a reservation, but walk-ins were also possible on a Saturday at 11am!

The walk from Hoehyeon Station Exit 7 and the shop exterior

It was easy to get to, just a 2-minute walk from Exit 7 of Hoehyeon Station on Line 4. Just head to the blue sign.

My coworker had glasses made for their parents at Angyeonggwa Saradeul in Namdaemun Market and was satisfied, so I decided to visit too~ Since it had been so long since my last glasses swap, I needed a thorough eye exam!

Attaching a photo of the Hoehyeon-dong Angyeonggwa Saradeul business card. It's a very short walk from the station, so easy to visit. We parked at Shinsegae Department Store, bought some bread at the food section, and received a parking voucher.

The interior was cool and wide horizontally, making it easy to compare many frames! Two staff members helped us kindly.

Have a metal allergy? Angyeonggwa Saradeul's plastic TR frame options

The shop was kept clean, which made browsing easy. When staff hover too much it makes browsing uncomfortable, but here they helped only as much as needed. Thanks to that, I could look around comfortably.

I'm allergic to all metals, so I have to wear plastic frames (TR frames) exclusively. That's always been frustrating at other typical optical shops because the selection is so narrow. But Namdaemun's Angyeonggwa Saradeul had a wide variety of trendy frames, which made choosing fun. Staff helped me try frames on, and once I told them my preferred style, they picked out exactly the right frames for me, making the whole selection process easy.

Beyond that, Angyeonggwa Saradeul also stocks silver frames, rimless, semi-rimless, horn-rim, and combination frames. Styles range from round to Boston, Wellington, square, cat-eye, and oval, so there's a very wide range of choices to fit any face shape. That's why I'd recommend this shop to students who care about their looks while stuck wearing glasses before vision correction surgery, or to anyone new to wearing glasses.

Discount corner and celebrity-worn frames

At Angyeonggwa Saradeul's discount corner, I found quality frames and sunglasses at reasonable prices.

There were also plenty of frames worn by famous celebrities and influencers, so you can actually try on glasses you only ever admired on TV! Great for tracking down those celebrity-inspired items~

They also had a wide variety of sunglasses in stock~

How does the eye exam work at Angyeonggwa Saradeul?

At Angyeonggwa Saradeul, if you bring your current glasses, the optician can read the exact prescription and lens information straight off the machine without you needing to explain anything. The world has really gotten convenient. Thanks to that, I could get a more accurate exam and find the exact lens I needed.

Both the autorefractor and the phoropter were hygienically maintained. In particular, the parts that touch the previous user's face are replaced between uses, so I felt reassured during the exam. There was also a wide variety of lenses, so after comparing them I could buy exactly what I needed. Since it's a product related to my eyes, I figured I should just get the best one, so I chose the most expensive imported lens. If your vision doesn't fluctuate much, it might be worth considering a good lens too~

The result of changing lenses after 5 years

The result: extremely satisfying! Normally when I wear contact lenses the world looks clear and sharp, but with glasses it never used to be that way. I should've come sooner! I could really feel how much my eye fatigue had decreased. They recommend an eye exam every 2-3 years, so I'll be back in 2 years~

If it's time to replace your glasses, or you just want a style change with prettier frames, I strongly recommend Angyeonggwa Saradeul, the Namdaemun optician. It'll definitely be a good memory❤️