Tongin MarketClaimed by the owner

Tongin Market is a traditional market in Tongin-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, located at 18, Jahamun-ro 15-gil. It has around 70 businesses, including sit-down restaurants, street food stalls, and stores selling produce, meat, fish, clothing repair, and other goods, with food-related shops making up the largest share.

From colonial market to Seoul Culture Market

The market began in June 1941 as a public market built for Japanese residents near Hyoja-dong, close to Gyeongbokgung palace, during Japanese colonial rule. After the Korean War, population growth in the surrounding area led street stalls and shops to form around the public market, and it gradually took shape as a full market. In 2005 it was registered as a certified traditional market under the special law for promoting traditional markets, after which it was equipped with modernization facilities. In 2010 it was selected as a Seoul Culture Market by the Seoul city and Jongno district governments.

Recent developments

In 2011 the market's merchant association incorporated as a village enterprise, Tongin Community Co., which set up an integrated call center and delivery center and opened an online shopping mall. That year the market also began a rejuvenation program that introduced brass coin tokens, known as yeopjeon, as a means of payment, which brought growing visitor numbers and started drawing tourists. From January 2012 the market has also operated a lunchbox cafe called Tong.