Hongdae pedicure gel removal and star pink art for ₩40,000s: Byuazeu

Whether it's summer or winter, I always skip nail art but never skip a pedicure — for my own satisfaction. Why? Because it just feels good taking my socks off haha. Today I'm sharing my visit to Byuazeu, an affordable but seriously high-quality nail shop in Hongdae, where I got their wildly popular monthly art pedicure. The price was kind, but the service and design were top notch, so I can confidently recommend this place.

Where Byuazeu is and how to get there

Byuazeu sits right in the heart of Hongdae — such a convenient spot!

Byuazeu is a 3-minute walk from Exit 9 of Hongik University Station. I took public transit, and there wasn't a single steep hill or alley to navigate right after getting off the subway — the accessibility was seriously great. It was an easy walk even in sandals.

If you're driving, the nearby education office or Hongik University parking lots should work. Best of all, the shop is surrounded by Hongdae's hottest restaurants and cafés, perfect for continuing a date or hangout with friends after your nails are done. There's plenty of shopping nearby too, so I couldn't just get my pedicure and go home — I spent some quality time in the area.

What is the shop like inside?

Clean and upscale at the same time!

Byuazeu's exterior looks clean and stylish at first glance. Step inside and the overall bright-toned interior is lovely — the well-organized space gave me an instant sense of trust.

After a warm welcome, the first thing that caught my eye was the neatly arranged art sample board! The designs were so varied I thought, 'I'm really going to get a proper pedicure here today.'

A subtle diffuser scent was drifting through the air when I visited, which put me in an even better mood. There's a separate waiting area for customers too, so even if there's a wait during busy hours, it's easy enough to sit tight. It's not huge, but the cozy vibe was really nice.

What to know before you visit

Some useful tips before you go!

Let me share a few tips I picked up before visiting Byuazeu. First, definitely book through Naver Reservation! On weekends especially, it's popular enough that walking in without a reservation is basically impossible. There's also a 'monthly art' design that includes stones and parts, and the quality for the price is genuinely amazing — priced around ₩70,000s, I really want to try it next time. The art I got was in the low ₩40,000s and it lasted a long time, so it was great value too.

The foot soak came included with no extra charge, which was such a nice touch. One more important thing! Pets are welcome, so this is a great pick for anyone planning to bring their dog along. And if you're short on time or want multiple treatments done at once, lash perms and skincare are also available.

From the foot soak to gel removal and star pink art

Careful care and a flawless design — that's exactly what a pedicure should be!

Before the actual pedicure work began, I started with a foot soak. Soaking my feet in warm water made them feel soft again after being stiff from walking all day. Since I already had gel polish on, they carefully removed it with a drill machine, then did toenail shaping and cuticle care — afterward, my feet looked so clean and neatly groomed I wondered if they'd ever looked this good before.

Next came choosing the art! The nail artist recommended a few options, and in the end I picked a cool star-and-white pink design. Such a subtle, elegant pedicure — a bonus is feeling good every time I look down at my toes. From care to art, it was flawless service.

How long did the pedicure last?

What really impressed me was how well the pedicure held up. Usually the coating chips or the color fades over time, right? But the pedicure I got at Byuazeu kept its original look for a really long time. I could also tell the design quality was clearly a cut above other shops.

For people like me who are particular about foot hygiene and appearance, the professional care here was reassuring. The fact that they don't compromise on quality despite the low price made me sure I'd want to come back.

Any downsides?

If I have to name a downside, it's that since the shop is so popular, showing up without a reservation could mean a pretty long wait. Also, there's no dedicated parking lot, so anyone driving should definitely look up a nearby paid parking lot in advance. Lastly, there are so many pretty designs to choose from that picking one can take forever — though that's more of a happy dilemma than a real drawback, right?

Final verdict

Overall, this place is a serious recommend!

To sum up, Byuazeu is a nail shop anyone who frequents Hongdae should try at least once. I only got a pedicure this time, but since nails, lashes, and skincare are all available too, I'd love to try other treatments next time. Places that deliver such flawless results in such a short time are rare, I think. Highly recommend for anyone like me looking for a great-value nail salon!

It's summer, so I want to confidently wear sandals, but hunting down nail shops feels like a hassle — if that's you, I strongly recommend Byuazeu, where I went. It's right in the heart of Hongdae so accessibility is great, and the design, price, and service are all on point, to the point where I thought, 'why didn't I come here sooner?' A nail shop that's great value and puts you in a good mood — don't miss it, definitely pay a visit!