Myeong-dong in Daytime and Death Note Play, Seoul, South Korea

I had already visited Myeong-dong Shopping Street a couple of times, so it needed no introduction. Still, the area felt quite different in the middle of the day, with a different atmosphere from the bright lights, street-food stalls, and crowds I remembered from the evening.

I stopped at a small restaurant for a simple lunch.

Just next to Myeong-dong is the famous Shinsegae Department Store, so I walked over to take a look inside.

Shinsegae is one of Korea’s oldest and best-known department store chains. Its flagship store next to Myeong-dong combines a historic main building with a modern shopping complex filled with luxury brands, fashion, cosmetics, restaurants, and an extensive food hall.

When I came out of the department store, I inadvertently found myself in Namdaemun Market, the huge traditional outdoor market located just next to Myeong-dong.

In the afternoon, I headed to D-Cube Link Arts Center in Sindorim to see the Korean musical Death Note.

Before the musical, I stopped at a nearby restaurant for an early dinner and then headed to the theater.

Inside D-Cube Link Arts Center, the lobby was already busy with people waiting for the Death Note musical to begin.

Death Note is a musical adaptation of the famous Japanese manga about a young man who discovers a mysterious notebook that can kill anyone whose name is written in it. The story follows his battle of wits with a brilliant detective known as L, combining suspense, dark humor, and powerful musical performances.

The musical featured several well-known Korean musical actors, with different performers rotating in the major roles. Light and L, the two central characters, were played by some of Korea’s popular musical stars, making the production especially popular with local audiences.