They range from a cozy Tongin Market and Garak’s sprawling markets, to Pungmul’s trove of vintage treasures and Gyeongdong’s fragrant oriental medicinal herbs. Step into Korea’s past, come face-to-face with friendly locals, and shop for unconventional souvenirs that will add a unique touch to your trip!
Tongin Market
Tongin Market is located in a long, narrow alley just around the corner from Seoul’s Gyeongbokgung Palace. Situated in a residential district with a full view of the mountains, the market dates back to 1941, which was opened during Japanese colonial rule. In a bid to reinforce the market’s sustainability, the market now offers hands-on experience programs and a unique lunch set to attract and welcome the visitors. The market is comparatively smaller to others in Seoul, making it more accessible, easy to navigate, and ideal for wandering around. The market’s vendors are also friendly to both local and foreign visitors.
Tongin’s main attraction is perhaps its fresh and affordable Dosirak (lunch box) café. The lunch program allows customers to select and sample fresh Korean banchan (side dishes) from a variety of stalls at affordable prices. Visitors can purchase yeopjeon (brass coins) and exchange them for fresh banchan from participating stalls in the market. Rice and soup are available at the customer center. Vendors at Tongin also sell a variety of fruits, vegetables, household goods and other items. Those with a cast-iron stomach should also try Tongin’s famous fried tteokbokki (stir-fried rice cake), which was featured on the popular Korean variety show - Running Man.
Household appliances and other daily necessities are also available. The market is quite small in scale and there are street signs that make it browsing much more convenient to especially for international visitors.
More Info
- ☞ Directions: Get off at Gyeongbokgung Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 2.
- - Continue walking straight for 700 meters. (10 min. on foot)
- ☞ Hours: 09:00-18:00 / Closed on every third Sunday of the month.
- * Operating hours vary by store.
- ☞ Website: tonginmarket.co.kr
(Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
☞ Dosirak Café
- Location: 2F of Customer Service Center, located in Tongin Market - - Hours: Tuesdays to Sundays (11:00-17:00)
Closed on Mondays and every third Sunday of the month - * Coins are available for purchase until 16:00.
- - Inquiries: +82-2-722-0936 (Korean only)
Gyeongdong Market
Originally a market for selling agricultural wares from Gyeonggi-do and Gangwon-do, Gyeongdong has developed into the biggest oriental medicinal herbs market in the country, providing an estimated 70% of the country’s medicinal herbs.
Moments after entering Gyeongdong Market’s seemingly ordinary range of groceries and foodstuffs, the market reveals its roots in traditional herbal medicine, with the fragrant scent of ginseng and medicinal herbs that fills the air. In addition to the ordinary aspects of this traditional market, rows of traditional pharmacies, some even housed in traditional Korean hanok with traditional wooden medicine cabinets can be seen.
One of the market’s big draws for visitors is its “Korean Traditional Medicine Experience Hall for Foreigners,” administered by KTO, which also offers hands-on programs. Visitors can try making oriental herb soap, incense bags, herbal foot baths, and rice cakes, receive a general checkup and acupuncture from a physician, all of which is free of charge and offered with language interpretation services in English, Chinese and Japanese.
More Info
- ☞ Directions: Get off at Jegi Station (Seoul Subway Line 1), Exit 2.
- - Direct access from the subway
- ☞ Hours: Oriental Medicine Market Mon-Sat (09:00-19:00) / Closed on Sundays and national holidays
- * Closed dates may vary by store.
- ☞ Website: www.kyungdongmart.com (Korean only)
Seoul Folk Flea Market
Housed in a two-story building along Cheonggyecheon Stream, the Seoul Folk Flea Market (also referred to as Seoul Pungmul Market) offers folk souvenirs, regional specialties, clothing, food, and miscellaneous items. The Seoul Folk Flea Market originated from the flea market in the Hwanghak-dong area, where many street shops and vendors gathered around Cheonggyecheon Steam Stream before it was restored and modernized into its current state.
There are countless shops selling everything from everyday apparel to vintage items. The market is well organized into several sections: food court, sundry goods, clothes, antiques, and regional goods. Here, nothing is considered trash. There’s an endless expanse of both art and antique items: old and new, both recognizable and mysterious. There’s something here for everyone from the serious collector to the casual shopper. The rare and unique knick knacks also make lovely travel gifts, either from visitors to their hosts, or as souvenirs to be given to friends and loved ones upon returning home.
In addition to the shopping experience, visitors can also try some free hands-on activities at the market’s Traditional Culture Experience Center. These include making hanji (Korean traditional paper) crafts, folk masks, and other traditional items.
More Info
- ☞ Directions: Sinseoldong Station (Seoul Subway Line 1), Exit 6, 9 or 10.
- - The market will be located within 5- min walk from the exits.
- ☞ Hours: 10:00-19:00 / Food court 10:00-22:00 (May vary according to seasons)
- Closed on every second and fourth Tuesday of the month
- ☞ Website: pungmul.seoul.go.kr (Korean only)
Garak Market
Garak Market is a huge 500,000㎡ compound made up of separate buildings for fruits, vegetables, seafood, dried food, and meat. Run by the Seoul Agricultural & Marine Products Corporation, the market is where agricultural and marine products from around the nation are gathered for distribution and standard pricing. Throughout the night, the market receives lines of freight trucks filled with fresh produce.
Although the market is primarily a wholesale market, merchants also sell in retail quantities. Walking around the compound, one can see sacks of potatoes, boxes of fruits, and plastic barrels overflowing with side dishes. Even if you’re not in the market to buy anything, simply experiencing the sights and sounds can be equally remarkable.
More Info
- ☞ Directions: Garak Market Station (Seoul Subway Line 3, 8), Exit 1.
- - Walk straight from the exit for 600 m to find the South Entrance.
- ☞ Hours: 00:00-24:00 / Open all year round
- ☞ Website: www.garak.co.kr/eng/jsp/eg/main.csp (Korean, English)
More Info
- ☞ Related page
- Traditional Markets in Korea
- ☞ 1330 Korea Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
* This column was last updated in August 2015, and
therefore information may differ from what is presented here. We advise
you to check details from the official websites before visiting.
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