Namdaemun Market grew up beside Sungnyemun, the old south gate of Seoul’s city wall (also called Namdaemun). Its maze of lanes holds so many shops that it is often called Korea’s largest traditional market.
What you’ll find
- Everyday goods and clothes — children’s clothing, tableware, kitchen tools, glasses and accessories.
- Ginseng and gim (dried seaweed) — popular, easy-to-pack souvenirs.
- Food alleys — spicy braised hairtail fish (galchi-jorim), knife-cut noodles, and hotteok stalls.
Good to know
Many stores are wholesalers, so the market is busiest in the morning and plenty of shops close early in the evening. Hoehyeon Station (Line 4) connects directly, and Myeongdong and Sungnyemun Gate are a short walk away.