Namdaemun MarketClaimed by the owner

Namdaemun Market is a large traditional market in Seoul, located next to Namdaemun, the main southern gate of the old city. It sits near several central landmarks, including Myeongdong, Namsan Tower, and the Bank of Korea, which puts it within easy reach of much of downtown. Vendors here sell clothing, accessories, kitchenware, crafts, food, and produce, and the market handles both wholesale and retail trade.

History and origins

The market is among the oldest still operating in Korea. A market in roughly the same area finished construction in 1414, during the Joseon period, and the first shop to open specialized in imported silks. Over the centuries its size and character shifted with events around it. After Japan forced Korea to open its ports in 1876, the number of Chinese and Japanese traders rose sharply, and during the 1910 to 1945 colonial period the market survived several attempts by the Japanese authorities to close it. Fires destroyed the market a number of times, including one during the Korean War, and each time it was rebuilt to about the same size it had before.

What you can find there

The market spreads out from Namdaemun across thousands of shops, and it carries a wide range of everyday goods, from children's, men's, and women's clothing to household items and fresh food. Because it works as both a wholesale and retail hub with low prices, it draws buyers from across Korea and from abroad. There are also long-running eateries known for dishes such as kkori-gomtang (oxtail soup), kalguksu (knife-cut noodles), and yachae hotteok (vegetable-filled griddle cakes). Figures from the Seoul Institute recorded about 5,200 stores and an area of roughly 64,600 square meters as of 2016.