Namdaemun Market

Namdaemun Market is the largest traditional market in Korea with over 10,000 shops lining the streets around Namdaemun Gate, the main southern gate of the old city wall. Namdaemun Market first started operating during the reign of King Teajong (1367 – 1422, the third king of the Joseon Dynasty), when the government built shops around Namdaemun and leased them to merchants. . Various goods such as fish, grain, agricultural products, bamboo, rice, and salt are sold at the market. After wars with Japan and China led to the economic downturn of Korea, people started flocking to Namdaemun Market to sell any goods they could. By the 1600s, Namdaemun Market had become a center for selling a variety of goods including fabrics, pottery, and furniture. In many ways, the market remains the dynamic and diverse place of trade that has existed for centuries; Although modern goods such as electronics are also sold at Namdaemun Market, traditional items continue to be sold here.

Namdaemun Camera Market is one of the huge attractions in Namdaemun Market, which is the largest camera market in Seoul. Located at the end of the main road, just exit through exit 5 and walk until the end of the road, turn left at Namdaemun Underground Arcade.

One of the best reasons to visit Namdaemun Market is for the food. The market has a lot of food stalls. Seoul's vice food court is one of the most famous in Asia, and Namdaemun Market is one of the destinations many foodies flock to for traditional Korean snacks. . Try: Japchae Hotteok Pancake – a famous Korean pancake at Namdaemun Market, mandu – Korean dumplings filled with meat and vegetables, dakkochi – chicken skewers with sweet salty or sweet sauce, kalguksu – dish Korean noodles served with seafood broth, seaweed, green onions and clams. Visitors can easily find these dishes along the market at food stalls or in Namdaemun Food Alley, which sells a full range of traditional Korean rustic dishes for only about 5000 won / part.

The E-dong, D-dong, and C-dong shopping district in Namdaemun market sells a wide variety of goods, from handmade foods to souvenirs, this shopping area attracts more locals than visitors tourist because it's a bit hard to find, but the price will be cheaper than the Daedo area in the market.

Namdaemun Market is open 24/7, but sometimes a few shops will be closed, so the best time to visit the market is between 11am and 10pm, as this is when most of the shops are located. will open. On Sundays, some parts of the market will also be closed, if possible, avoid visiting on Sundays.

Address: 21 Namdaemunsijang 4-gil, Hoehyeon-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul