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Monday, September 9, 2013

Singapore's Orchard Road: Korean Shopping

Orchard Road is a tourist destination full of high end shopping.  Despite seeing do many western designer stores, I managed to find some stores selling Kpop related goods!

HMV
313@Somerset: 313 Orchard Road #04-23124
HMV is a large music chain store. This location has an extensive Kpop CD collection that lines the shelves of the back wall.  They carry a few CDs from practically every group that's current today (no Ss501).  Korean Jpop isn't common in Singapore, yet I still found Infinite's She's Back single (normal edition).  Korean Jpop would be placed under the Kpop section.
One display also has official Big Bang goods, like fans and rings.
There are also several stands throughout the center of the store that advertise the latest Kpop releases.
Additionally, there is a section for legit Korean dramas and movies.  They had Werewolf Boy, Song Joong Ki's latest movie, but only the Chinese version.  The workers are also approachable; I asked one to look up Infinite's Japanese releases but both of Singapore's locations didn't have any in stock (besides She's Back).
Many DVDs had a "parental guidance" sticker, including Infinite's Second Invasion Evolution concert DVD (...probably for Hoya's solo stage...), surprising me on Singapore's purity.  Overall, I was surprised at the extensive Kpop collection at this HMV!

Books Kinokuniya
Ngee Ann City: 391 Orchard Road #03-09/10/15
Kinokuniya is a Japanese bookstore with branches throughout the globe.  The location in Ngee Ann City is one of two in Singapore. This branch is very large and has an extensive selection of books, yet the Korean culture collection is quite limited.
I asked a cashier if there were any Korean or Japanese CDs or DVDs and he said no. Yet I managed to find a small display of SM and Rain DVDs.
There are also rows upon rows of magazines, and I found one small section of Korean Jpop magazines. This includes various issues of F to F dating throughout 2013 (one of Shut Up Flower Boy Band, one of Infinite H, and one more), @star1, and other magazines featuring Song Joong Ki, Lee Byung Hun and 2PM. There were only one or two copies of these magazines and the issues ranged from most recent to a few months old. All of the magazines had a sealed wrapping, so sadly you can't flip through the magazines to look at the contents inside.
I had to buy F to F featuring SUFBB because of the drama's significance to me! Unfortunately I didn't know the price of the magazine and it wasn't until I reached the cashier that he told me it was $29.30 SGD ($22.99 USD) though retail is $980 Yen ($9.85 USD).  While I know this store is very expensive at the Seattle location, I didn't think Singapore's would be so much more expensive!  While I paid more than I'd like, I'm still happy about my purchase and about finding this rare magazine.

Taxi Ride
To my surprise, the cab I rode in had a nice magazine nestled in both front seat's back pockets.  This magazine featured G-Dragon on the cover and had a few page spread on him.  In the back there was also an advertisement for SkinFood's GoldKiwi line.

If you're in Singapore, catch a taxi and hope there's a Kpop magazine in the back and ride to Orchard Road to buy some Kpop albums and magazines!

48 comments:

  1. Is there an album Girls'Generation ?? :] please answer me

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  2. Is there an album Girls'Generation ?? :] please answer me

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    1. Hi! HMV has a huge selection of popular kpop groups' albums, so I'm pretty sure Girls' Generation albums should be here! It's been awhile since I visited this store, but I'm sure they'll have some :)

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  3. Is there some VIXX's album ??
    Let me know, please....

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    1. Hello :) HMV has a ridiculously large collection of many kpop artists, so I'm sure HMV should also have VIXX albums! I'm sorry I haven't visited this location for a few months so I don't know their current inventory.

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  4. Any EXO staff? Except albums?

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    1. Hi! For the most part, HMV only carries albums and DVDs, so you probably wouldn't find other types of merchandise. I haven't been in awhile so I'm not sure if it's changed though.

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  5. The HMV store at 313 somerset has been closed down. Went there middle of last month to look for some kpop CDs and surprised to learn that the store's no longer there. The only one left is at marina square. It's a smaller store nevertheless it has pretty decent collection of kpop CDs and DVDs. And yes,they have several SNSD albums there albeit only new ones. (I'm a sone BTW) :-)

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    1. Thank you for the update! I didn't know they closed down...they had such a nice store with lots of inventory!

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    2. Is there any exo's album in marina square? Oh, and also, is there exo's first box? Please answer. I am going to go there in may. Thanks ;)

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    3. Hi!! I've never been to the Marina Square location, so I don't know what they carry...but because Exo is so popular, I'm sure they will have some Exo albums (no guarantees though)!

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  6. Do u have BTS dark and wild album which was released not quite long ago??

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    1. Hi! I haven't been to this store in a long time, so I'm sorry I don't know if they have it...they seem to carry the latest CDs though so they might!

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  7. is this shop till there?

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  8. I think that this branch of HMV has closed, but they might still have the other location at Marina Square. As for Books Kinokuniya, I'm not sure...I only visited Singapore this one time

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  10. Do they have slap on wristbands? Especially Exo's and Red Velvet's?

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    1. Hi^^ I haven't visited these stores for a long time, but I don't believe they carry unofficial goods so I wouldn't expect to find slap on wristbands. Good luck finding them though!

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  11. Do they have slap on wristbands? Especially Exo's and Red Velvet's?

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  13. Is there any twice (jyp new girl group stuff) like album ?

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  14. Is there any twice (jyp new girl group stuff) like album ?

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    1. Hi! I'm sorry I haven't been to these stores since, so I'm not sure of their inventory. I hope you can find the Twice album though!

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  15. is there any bts old and newest album ???

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  16. is there any bts old and newest album ???

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    1. I am not sure of the store's latest inventory; good luck finding them though!

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  17. Hello is this shop still there ?? Any EXO and BIGBANG album ?? Please answer

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    1. Hello^^ I'm sorry, I think that all HMV locations have closed in Singapore sadly...

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  19. well i like to know in which mall is the shop is and is there any other shops for kpop merchandises in singapore and if so please mention the area and mall name

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    1. Hello^^ I'm sorry I don't actually live in Singapore so I'm not sure if there are any kpop shops now. I wish you the best of luck in finding some~

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  20. Now is 2016 still have a not???

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  21. All the HMV stores in Singapore have closed down :( And as for Comics Connection, which some of you may have heard of, they used to sell unofficial kpop merch, but they have either cleared all their kpop stocks or closed down. The only places you have a high chance of finding kpop merch is POPULAR which sells albums (they're quite pricey though) or Kinokuniya (magazines, books etc.) Oh, and I've also heard that there is a small store somewhere in Scape that sells unofficial merch. It also sells some korean fashion items. The last place you can try is Hako or Toy Outpost, they usually sell kpop accesories, stickers, files and bottles. Good luck!!! :D

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    1. Thank you so much for the update^^ That's so sad that so many stores have closed down! To all looking for kpop merch in Singapore, I wish you the best of luck~

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  22. Do they sell bts merchandise or bts sweat shirt or long sleeves shirt???

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    1. Hello! It seems like many kpop stores are disappearing in Singapore :( I do hope you'll be able to find what you're looking for!

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  23. Is there exo growl repackaged album kiss version?i want to know if they give us poster when i buy album☺

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    1. Hello^^ Unfortunately I'm not sure of any stores in Singapore selling Kpop albums anymore!

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  24. any BTS albums? and merchandise??

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    1. Hi~ I'm sorry I'm not sure if there are any BTS goods...best of luck to finding some!

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    2. There is no HMV store anymore in Singapore

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  25. Hello do you have official Instagram account? How to order?

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    1. Hello~ Unfortunately this HMV store is now closed. I suggest finding some place else to order goods. Good luck and please let me know if you have any questions!

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  26. Replies
    1. Hi! Unfortunately it seems like HMV has closed...good luck finding what you're looking for!

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