Another example of an article to keep in mind when someone tells you that South Korea is an ultra conservative country:
Top left: The entrance to the adult shop N.19 located in Garosu-gil in Gangnam District, southern Seoul. From top right: Condoms are neatly arranged at N.19 in a wide variety. Costumes on display on the fourth-floor “special nights” section of N.19. [SHIN IN-SEOP]Two months ago, work began on a four-story retail shop in Garosugil, the trendy neighborhood in Sinsa District, southern Seoul, with no clue as to what it would sell. It looked like a show room for a global fashion brand.
The store opened in November and one step inside makes clear what kind of store it is: a purveyor of what used to be called marital aids, now known as sex toys.
A huge buzz began over N.19, as the store is called, as no sex shop in Seoul has ever been this big.
In the past, sex shops in Korea were hidden in shadowy alleys with windows covered from the inside so passersby couldn’t peek inside. There have been attempts to sell sex toys with fresh marketing strategies, but most were online. A video clip of N.19’s fancy interior went viral on social media in early December, and the number of visitors soared. (….)
Last year alone, more than 10 sex shops with modern, casual atmospheres opened in the Hongdae and Itaewon areas.
Retail specialists say young consumers are more open to discussions of sex and not embarrassed to see adult stores on main streets. It’s also a trend in the retail industry to open large stores that specialize in one product category. [Joong Ang Ilbo]
