Seoul's Model Trains & Hobby Shops (& videogame arcades)

[NXCALE]

Hi. I will be visiting Seoul for a week and I will be busy as hell.

However, I will still have 1.5 days of free time there.

 

Does anyone knows names of train stores, hobby stores (anime, videogames, retro videogames, etc), videogame arcades (the places where you play videogames with coins)?

I am aiming to make a list of potential stores to visit so any help will be welcome. Cheers!

 

p.s. I checked an old topic about this in this forum but it hasn't been updated in long time... 

[disturbman]

I spent a couple of days in Seoul in May. There is very few train stores. I managed to find one in a relatively central location, it was the physical shop of an online retailer. The shop was small, hard to find,  and very few items on display. Nobody was even in the shop for the time I was there, no customers and nobody from the company. There was however a number of toys shops and hobby stores in the building/floor. In and all, it was kind of a pain to go there and a disappointment.

I can try to find the address again.

[bikkuri bahn]

From what I’ve read the scale model hobby is focused on military models (armor, etc.) and dioramas. There are few railway models and railfans are small in number compared to say, bus enthusiasts. 

 

Edited November 9, 2019 by bikkuri bahn

[NXCALE]

19 hours ago, disturbman said:

I spent a couple of days in Seoul in May. There is very few train stores. I managed to find one in a relatively central location, it was the physical shop of an online retailer. The shop was small, hard to find,  and very few items on display. Nobody was even in the shop for the time I was there, no customers and nobody from the company. There was however a number of toys shops and hobby stores in the building/floor. In and all, it was kind of a pain to go there and a disappointment.

I can try to find the address again.

 

Yes, it will be very helpful if you can find the address/es.

Thanks in advance!

[NXCALE]

13 hours ago, bikkuri bahn said:

From what I’ve read the scale model hobby is focused on military models (armor, etc.) and dioramas. There are few railway models and railfans are small in number compared to say, bus enthusiasts. 

 

Yes, I remember reading that railway modelling is not really popular.

I just would like to have some hours checking/choosing models, dioramas, figures and similar items during my spare time there.

That something I like to do (if there is time) when travelling to other places.

Thanks for the info!

[disturbman]

This was the shop IIRC: https://thetrain.co.kr/

The shop itself was located on the 4th floor of ET Land Electronic Yongsan (location).

[Socimi]

On 11/10/2019 at 5:49 AM, NX: said:

Yes, I remember reading that railway modelling is not really popular.

 

AFAIK no RTR model of any korean train was even ever made by any company in relevant-sized production runs, depsite the almost endless possibilities (American diesels, european electric locos, Japanese-style EMUs and  literally the french TGV)

 

There is one company (likely one guy), "HanTrack" (nice pun by the way) wich produces artisanal-like brass models (ouch) - as of today they've made the EMD GT26CW-2 diesel locomotive and a few coaches (including a generator van with actually rotating vents!)

[NXCALE]

On 11/11/2019 at 8:28 PM, disturbman said:

This was the shop IIRC: https://thetrain.co.kr/

The shop itself was located on the 4th floor of ET Land Electronic Yongsan (location).

 

Excellent! I will visit there. Thank you.

 

On 11/12/2019 at 3:54 AM, Socimi said:

 

AFAIK no RTR model of any korean train was even ever made by any company in relevant-sized production runs, depsite the almost endless possibilities (American diesels, european electric locos, Japanese-style EMUs and  literally the french TGV)

 

There is one company (likely one guy), "HanTrack" (nice pun by the way) wich produces artisanal-like brass models (ouch) - as of today they've made the EMD GT26CW-2 diesel locomotive and a few coaches (including a generator van with actually rotating vents!)

 

Interesting company, I know brass models are expensive so... maybe no... thank you for the information anyway.

It would have been great to find anywhere a Korail Class 8000 in N scale but I think it is like dreaming...

 

[Socimi]

18 hours ago, NX: said:

It would have been great to find anywhere a Korail Class 8000 in N scale but I think it is like dreaming...

 

 

You're right, i too like the class 8000.

I recall i've found a blog with a post about kitbashing a static N-scale DelPrado NS 1700 locomotive into a Korail 8000 in the green-yellow colors, i'll see if i can find it again. 

[NXCALE]

On 11/14/2019 at 3:17 AM, Socimi said:

 

You're right, i too like the class 8000.

I recall i've found a blog with a post about kitbashing a static N-scale DelPrado NS 1700 locomotive into a Korail 8000 in the green-yellow colors, i'll see if i can find it again. 

 

That would be excellent, I hope you can find it. Cheers!

[NXCALE]

Below some info that could help to anyone travelling to Seoul

 

On 11/11/2019 at 8:28 PM, disturbman said:

This was the shop IIRC: https://thetrain.co.kr/

The shop itself was located on the 4th floor of ET Land Electronic Yongsan (location).

 

I visited the store mentioned by disturbman (above). The seller was there and he was very helpful.

Several Korean trains (mostly in HO). I found a Korail Class 8200 but it was HO. 

 

 

 

Another Store close to Nambu Station. The electronics building at exit 3 of the station, you just need to go straight to level 9th.

Here all the train things are Japanese, nothing Korean

 

Big Leopold!!!

 

In the same building, plenty of stores of Anime figures and videogame stores.

 

 

Finally the Train Mall in 13 Hyoryeong-ro 74-gil, Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

https://trainmall.co.kr

 

The store is like 10 blocks from the Nambu station in a non-touristic area. I found the place but it was close so I sent the store phone number to one associate who speaks the language.

After that call, I was informed that the owner had to travel for business reasons. The owner sounded very apologetic and he was surprised and a bit confused when he was told that a foreigner wanted to check the store. Anyway I was told he was excited.. hahaha... maybe next time. Btw if you want to visit the store better to call before to go or send an email if you don't speak Korean.

 

Notice the "Kato flag" outside the building!

 

 

Now, no train stuff.

 

Retro cafe trader - a place to drink coffee, relax, play and buy retro video games.

The people treated me like a prince there, they are very very helpful regardless the language barrier (they know a bit of English and I learned a bit of Korean so it worked out)

 

Here finishing the SF2 (SNES) while finishing my coffee and with a window view!

 

Only for hardcore videogamers (fighting games).. CONG!!!

 

In a not so secret location...

 

Btw, there are videogame arcade places (small ones) around Seoul where you can challenge locals!

 

P.s. you can see the KTX in several stations.

I saw the KTX at Yongsan station but I could not take a picture.

 

Cheers!

[chadbag]

There are contract manufacturers in Korea ( Lemke / HobbyTrain for example has or had some of their stuff made there).  Interesting that there is not much local interest.