Namdaemun Market, the largest traditional market in Korea is
very well known for its wholesale markets. Opened since 1964, the products sold
here range from baby products, to imported goods, food, kitchenware and ladies’
wear. On top of that, the entire market offers a lot of optical shops, not to
mention ginseng and other herbal products that are good for the body. Unlike
the nearby modern-like places like Dongdaemun and Myeongdong, Namdaemun offers
a very traditional spin with many street shops under umbrellas, and it’s an
excellent place to go shopping for goods on the cheaper end.
Namdaemun also has a few food shops that are famous off the
radar with the locals. You can see the enormous queues of ahjummas and ahjusshis
waiting for the pork mandus, or the vegetable heotteok. The entire central
street is filled with many street shops selling socks, baby clothes and female
clothings. The place also offers a street for electrical goods such as cameras
where it is said it is one of the cheapest areas in the whole of Seoul.
Namdaemun deserves more attention than it is currently getting
for the amount of things it has to offer. Sure, it doesn’t have air
conditioning like the new modern malls and high-end shopping streets, however
if you are looking for a traditional touch with a little bit of Korean history,
this is the place to be.
21, Namdaemunsijang 4-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
서울특별시 중구 남대문시장4길 21
Operating Hours: ~17:00
Taking the bus is a little bit confusing since there are many
bus stops around Namdaemun and you might get lost. The easiest way is to take
the Subway and get off at Hoehyeon Station on Subway Line 4, Exit 5. Once out,
you should be able to see Namdaemun Market, or at least, you would be able to
follow the crowd into Namdaemun.
