The aloft was a nice stay and I appreciated the laundry machines, which came in handy for a long, sweaty summer visit. That said, that was my first time staying in myeongdong and I absolutely hated it and would never do it again. I'm glad we moved to Gangnam. I think next time if I'm on a budget I'll try Dormy Inn in Sinsadong.
Dormy looks good. So does the Novotel. I'll give it some thought between Gangnam and Myeongdong.