8 Best Street Markets in Seoul

Myeongdong Market is the place to go if you’re planning to hit the shops for some retail therapy during your stay in the capital. One of South Korea’s prime shopping districts, it has dozens of department stores, shopping malls, and street side shops, but the main highlight are the various street markets. Popular items include inexpensive clothes, shoes, accessories, jewelry, and handbags from local and international brands. There are also over 1,000 outlets selling Korean cosmetics and skincare.

Unlike other shopping districts in Seoul, Myeongdong Market also has sightseeing spots. Iconic landmarks include the Myeongdong Catholic Cathedral and the gothic-style Myeongdong Theater.

Namdaemun Market, founded in the early 1400s, is one of the busiest markets in South Korea. The traditional market was named after Seoul’s Great South Gate, which was the main gate to the ancient city. You can find quality leather goods, clothing, crafts, imported goods, utensils, electronics, and traditional oriental medicines at really affordable rates.

During the day, you can see locals shopping for groceries and household items. It’s also particularly famous for its wholesale handicrafts and food sections. Namdaemun becomes a vibrant night market from 11pm until 4am every day.

Dongdaemun Market has around 26 shopping malls, 30,000 specialty shops, and 50,000 manufacturers. It’s one of South Korea’s largest wholesale and retail shopping districts, with items for sale ranging from textiles, clothes, shoes, and jewelry, to leather goods, toys, electronics, and office supplies.

Dongdaemun Market is also a food haven. Mukja Golmok is an alley dedicated to Korean street food and snacks. The shopping district stays busy well into the night, with festivities, fashion shows, music, and dance performances taking place year-round.

Gwangjang Market dates to 1905 and is the first permanent street market in South Korea. While it is more known for its extensive selection of fabrics and textiles, you can also find kitchenware, imported products, fruits and vegetables, and dried goods. Many locals visit the market to purchase prayer items for Korean rituals as well as traditional wedding items such as traditional Korean clothing named hanbok, and pyebaek, a wedding food that brides prepare for their future in-laws.

The ground floor has dozens of food stalls and restaurants, where you can enjoy authentic Korean dishes when you’re shopping at Gwangjang Market. Tailor shops occupying the first floor offer folk clothing at reasonable prices.

Traditional Gyeongdong Market has over 1,000 stalls selling homemade medicines, roots, herbs, and spices. Located in Dongdaemun, this street market is especially popular among Chinese and Japanese tourists as Asian herbs and medicinal products are available at affordable prices.

The rich fragrances and vibrant colors of the herbs immediately greet you as you enter the market. Some of the most popular items here include red ginseng for restoring energy, maesil, which is a type of plum used to improve blood pressure, and chrysanthemum flowers, which are brewed to make refreshing drinks.

Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market is a 15-minute train ride from Seoul Station. The best time to visit this marketplace is around dawn, when seafood auctions take place. Even if you aren’t going to purchase anything, they’re entertaining to watch.

There are around 800 vendors selling seafood fresh from the ocean at very affordable prices, but don’t be afraid to haggle as it’s part of the fun. The upper levels of Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market has several restaurants serving Korean and Japanese dishes, all made with the freshest and most delicious seafood.

The Seoul Folk Flea Market attracts antique collectors with over 900 booths set up along Hwanghakgyo Bridge and Sinseol-dong Station. You can find just about anything here, including decorative stones, toys, manual typewriters, and even authentic pottery if you’re lucky enough.

Each stall is ran by friendly locals in dedicated zones according to the type of goods for sale. You needn’t go hungry while you’re here either, as you can visit the red zone for tasty street food. You might even get to witness traditional concerts of South Korean percussion, called Pungmulpae. Seoul Folk Flea Market is a must-visit for those interested in second-hand items, unusual souvenirs, and good bargains.

Yongsan Electronics Market is a gigantic wholesale mall with around 5,000 electronics stores housed in over 20 buildings. You can find a wide variety of gadgets, including office equipment, digital cameras, computers, video games, DVDs, and so much more. If you’re into building your own electronics, you can find hundreds of Korean-made components and help assembling them should you need it.

At some stores, you can test your bargaining skills and get the best deals for the products of your choice. Prices here are about 15% to 30% cheaper than most retail stores in Seoul. Gundam fans should stop by the fifth floor of Yongsan ETLand for merch related to the popular Japanese giant mecha.