Since the cherry blossoms weren't in full bloom yet, we planned a day to explore the city's cultural and shopping attractions. After checking into the Ibis Ambassador Hotel in Dongdaemun, we started the morning with the famous Isaac toast, then walked to the nearby Gwangjang Market. This is one of Seoul's most representative traditional markets, with stalls lining the streets and vendors calling out their wares, showcasing the lively and friendly atmosphere of everyday life in Korea, from street food to local delicacies.
Introduction to Guangzang Market | The History and Characteristics of a Century-Old Traditional Market
Gwangjang Market, established in 1905, is one of the oldest and largest traditional markets in Korea. Spanning approximately 4.2 square meters, it houses over 5,000 shops selling everything from fabrics, clothing, and bedding to kitchenware, agricultural products, seafood, and religious offerings.
The original Gwangjang Market, formerly known as Dongdaemun Market, was located between Cheonggyecheon 3rd and 4th Streets and was operated by Gwangjang Co., Ltd. It was the first market in Korea to be officially registered with the court. At that time, against the backdrop of the rise of China and Japan, the market was established with the aim of revitalizing the local economy with Korean domestic products.
As times have changed, Gwangjang Market is now not only a place for Seoulites to buy daily necessities, but also a must-visit tourist hotspot for foreign tourists due to its many unique food stalls and fabric shops. The market area has also extended to Dongdaemun, forming the bustling traditional street scene we see today.
Transportation Guide | How to get to Guangzang Market?
Gwangjang Market is easily accessible by subway or bus.
- 最快抵達美食街：地鐵1號線鍾路5街站(Jongno 5(o)-ga))的8號或9號出口。
- 市場另一側入口：地鐵2號線或5號線乙支路4街站(Euljiro 4(sa)-ga)的4號出口。
此外，市場周邊也設有多條公車路線，如：101、103、106、140、143、150、370、720、721、160、2112、7212、2014、111、9301等，方便從首爾市區各地前來。
Tip: If it's your first time visiting, we recommend taking the subway. The exit signs are clear, the walking distance is short, and it's the easiest route to choose.
▲ 廣藏市場鄰近鐘路5街與乙支路4街兩個捷運站，搭乘地鐵1、2、5號線皆可抵達，交通很方便。
▲ Gwangjang Market is close to Cheonggyecheon. We walked across Cheonggyecheon from Euljiro 4ga Station, and it was about XNUMX meters to reach Gwangjang Market.
▲ The entrance of Gwangjang Market next to Exit XNUMX of Jongno XNUMXth Street Underground Street is a small entrance where more local people enter and exit.
▲ The floor plan of Gwangjang Market next to the entrance. You have to go through the entire market to reach the snack street next to Exit 5 of Jongno 8th Street Station.
Market Experience | Popular Snacks and Local Daily Life
Although Gwangjang Market has a history of over a century, its true breakthrough came from the South Korean variety show "Running Man." After the show aired, many tourists specifically came to see the locations featured on screen, wanting to personally sample the local delicacies shown in the program. Famous stalls like these are frequent visitors to popular must-try lists.
- Soon-hee's Green Bean Pancakes (순희네빈대떡)
- Narcotics-laced seaweed rice roll (마약김밥)
- Sisters’ House (육회자매집)
- Mokdong rice and barley bibimbap (목동쌀보리밥)
- live octopus stall
Each food stall in the market has a unique number, so if you want to visit a specific famous stall, just remember the number and you can easily find it. However, this time we came with a "just wander around" attitude, and ended up not visiting any of those well-known stalls. That's another kind of independent travel, I guess!
That morning, after eating at Fangshan MarketIsaac ToastAfterwards, we started from Euljiro 4-ga Station and strolled along Cheonggyecheon Stream. After passing through the Jongno 4-ga Underground Mall, we arrived directly at the entrance to Gwangjang Market. The advantage of coming in from this direction is that we won't be immediately overwhelmed by the bustling food street. We can first explore the traditional shopping area and visit the long-established shops selling fabrics, tableware, and household goods.
We stopped at stall number 38 and ordered a seaweed rice roll. The market wasn't crowded at the time, and the owner, Aunt Zhu, greeted us warmly, chatting as she prepared the food. That seaweed rice roll wasn't just a simple meal; it felt more like a small, everyday experience—quiet, warm, and full of human touch.
After our meal, we walked through the entire market before finally reaching the busiest food street. Along the way, we saw stalls selling fruits, vegetables, dried goods, and household items, showcasing the daily life of Gwangjang Market. While most of the items might not be what tourists would typically buy, if you have time, I recommend taking a longer walk after enjoying the food to experience the authentic local atmosphere of this market.
▲ This area is dominated by cloth clothing merchants, and there are not many food and beverage stalls, which are embellishments on the aisles.
▲ For the first time, I ate the well-known seaweed rice rolls at booth 38.
▲ Without the noise of large groups of tourists, dining in this environment, there is another local customs that can be savored.
▲ The shopping street, which is dominated by fabric clothing, is not crowded early in the morning, and it is not a place that tourists often visit.
▲ A small Korean-style bag that looks good and cheap. Anya bought two of them immediately.
▲ Next to the noisy snack street is a traditional vegetable market selling ingredients, fruits and vegetables.
▲ A traditional market area suitable for local people to buy ingredients, located behind the food court.
▲ Mung bean pancakes.
▲ The snack street in front of the Gwangjang Market. After passing through the quiet Gwangjang Market, the atmosphere immediately transforms into a bustling tourist area.
▲ One horizontal and one vertical T-shaped snack street. Each stall has a number. You can find out by number and collect maps of must-eat food along the way.
▲ There are many stalls in the food court, but the beauty food items are actually quite repetitive, concentrated in a few types.
▲ Rice intestines and raw octopus.
▲ The large strawberries in Seoul are delicious and cheap, and they are highly recommended and must-buy.
▲ The starting point of the food street near the main road is a stall selling drinks and fruits, similar to the arrangements of many night markets.
Suggested Itinerary | From Gwangjang Market to Dongdaemun
Located between Jongno 5-ga Station and Dongdaemun Station on Seoul Subway Line 1, the Gwangjang Market area blends traditional and modern atmospheres. The streets feature both local markets selling everyday goods and traditional snacks, and trendy shopping districts selling fashionable clothing. For travelers, this area offers a glimpse into Seoul's daily rhythm and the transformation from "down-to-earth charm" to "modern fashion."
If you're planning a day trip, you can start from Euljiro 4-ga Station, beginning with an ISSAC toast breakfast, and then visit Gwangjang Market to experience the vibrancy of a traditional market. After leaving the market, follow the route through a street of hiking equipment shops, and then arrive at Jongno Sinjin Market area, where famous "one-chicken" restaurants are concentrated, such as Grandma Won's One-Chicken and Chan Yuk-wah One-Chicken, which are popular lunch choices for tourists and locals alike.
After lunch, you can continue towards Dongdaemun Market, Pyeonghwa Market, and New Pyeonghwa Fashion City. These areas are hubs for wholesale and trendy clothing, where travelers looking to buy bags, shoes, accessories, or Korean designer brands can indulge in their shopping sprees. Finally, head to Doota Mall and Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) to enjoy the illuminated architecture and market activities at night, bringing your trip to a perfect close.
Overall, this route from Euljiro to Dongdaemun can satisfy travelers with different interests, allowing them to fully experience Seoul's urban rhythm "from tradition to modernity" in one day.
- For those who appreciate local culture: explore Gwangjang Market and the surrounding alleyways.
- For fashion and shopping enthusiasts: You can stroll all the way to Dongdaemun's fashion mall and design plaza.
Conclusion | Experience the scenery of ordinary people, while retaining the traveler's judgment.
The bustling atmosphere and down-to-earth charm of Gwangjang Market are among the most beloved impressions of Seoul for many travelers. However, recent news has also surfaced about some vendors allegedly overcharging tourists, with videos from Korean YouTuber "weird sweets shop" even sparking discussions both domestically and internationally.
This reminds us that while enjoying the local culture, we must also remain rational and vigilant—the market is vast, and the quality of the stalls varies greatly, some good and some bad. Choosing stalls frequented by locals, or observing prices at several stalls near the entrance before making a decision, will allow for a more worry-free experience of Gwangjang Market's charm.
Gwangjang Market.
- Korean address: 서울특별시종로구창경궁로88
- English address: 88, Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- Official website: http://www.kwangjangmarket.co.kr/
