Dongdaemun Shopping ComplexClaimed by the owner

Dongdaemun Market is a large commercial district in Jongno District, Seoul, built around traditional markets and modern shopping malls. It has been designated a "Special Tourism Zone" since 2002. Visitors come mainly for clothing, fabric, and accessories, with the market spread across five shopping districts (A, B, C, D and a shopping town) that together hold 26 malls, 30,000 specialty shops, and 50,000 manufacturers.

From Baeogae Market to modern malls

The market opened in July 1905 in Yeji-dong and was known as Baeogae Market ("Pear tree hill market") during the period of Japanese rule, also called Gwangjang Market after the company that managed it. It operated as a closed structure until the Korean War destroyed it. Rebuilding was gradual, with a new building completed in 1959 that revived the market. Large shopping malls, including Geopyeong Freya, Migliore, and Doosan Tower, were added in 1998 and 1999, giving the traditional market a more modern layout.

Layout and hours

The main street splits the market into two sections. Section 1, on the Doosan Tower side, is made up of malls that sell wholesale and retail goods but mostly serve general customers and tourists at retail prices; these malls have money exchanges and English-speaking information desks, and stay open from 10 am to 5 am the next day. Major malls here include Doosan Tower, Migliore, Freya Town, and Hello apM. Section 2, on the side of Dongdaemun Design Plaza & Park (the former site of Dongdaemun Stadium), houses wholesale-focused malls such as Designer's Club, Migliore Valley, Nuzzon, Gwanghee Fashion Mall, Jeil Pyeonghwa, and Heungin Stardom, generally open from around 8 pm to 8 am or 5 pm the next day, with the busiest period late at night into early morning; most of these shops have no dressing rooms since they deal mainly with wholesale buyers. Goods sold across the market include silk and fabric, clothes, shoes and leather goods, sporting goods, plumbing and electronics, office supplies, toys, and food, along with pet shops and fortune tellers. The market is also known for the Korean street snacks soondae and mandu. A comprehensive market specializing in fabric, garment accessories, and wedding supplies has operated within the district since December 1970 and connects directly to Dongdaemun Station through underground exit 9.