15 Traditional Markets in Seoul: Well-Known & Hidden Gems

If you’re feeling adventurous, we recommend seeing these non-touristy, really local markets in Seoul. For some of these markets, you’ll travel decades into the past, and you’ll be captain travel explorer because you’ll be seeing things that most Seoul visitors will miss. There’s actually tons of these small traditional old school markets all throughout Seoul, but we tried including ones near other tourist attractions. You like us, right? 🙂

8. Geumcheongyo Market near Gwanghwamun

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Most tourists will flock to the Royal Palace (Gyeongbok-gung) to throw up V-signs in pictures with the royal guards. After that, most tourists will also head over to Tosokchon (토속촌), a super famous Samgyetang restaurant (chicken soup). But if you want to avoid possible lines, you can check out what Korea was like in the 1960’s at Geumcheongyo Market nearby. It’s very small and super local, so there probably won’t be much shopping for tourists. But there are definitely eats. Also, you might want to check out how tteokbokki (rice cake) was made long ago; it’s fried in a wok with some oil and red pepper (today it’s cooked in a red soup). Go to the shop with the really, really old granny (she’s literally around 100 years old, so maybe go asap?).

How to get there: Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3, Exit 2). First left.
Pics via Korean bloggers: Blogger 1 & Blogger 2. Pics for old school tteokbokki and granny.

9. Tongin Market near Gwanghwamun

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A little bit north of Geumcheongyo Market is Tongin Market. There they got a dosirak “cafe,” which isn’t a cafe at all. It’s just a term for a cool concept they came up with. You buy these old school coins and trade them in at participating market stalls to build your own lunch box. So you pick and choose what you want to eat — cafeteria style. This is great for picky eaters that want to try Korean food, but want to see what they’re getting before paying for it. Also, they got the really old school style tteokbokki too, but just without the 100 year old granny :).

How to get there: Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3, Exit 2). Straight for 5+ minutes (will pass Geumcheongyo Market).
Pics via Korean bloggers: Blogger 1 & Blogger 2

 

10. Nakwon Music Arcade near Insadong

Nakwon Music arcade is a musical instrument market near Insadong. It’s where you can buy guitars, pianos, saxaphones, trumpets and everything else musical. If you’re in Insadong, it’s a great place to stop by as you’ll get to see a 1980’s-ish market with less tourists and more musicians. It’s cool because a lot of the workers are musicians themselves, and you can listen to some of the kids jamming to Eric Clapton. The surrounding area is also pretty old school and famous for selling tteok (rice cakes). So many soon to be newly weds will shop around the area underneath the Music Arcade and order themselves some traditional rice cakes (tteok) for their special day. You can buy individual packages for just-feel-like-eating-tteok days, too.

How to get there: Jongno-3-ga Station (Line 1, 3, 5 ,Exit 5). First right. (Across the street from Fraiser Suites.)
Pics via Korean bloggers: Blogger 1 & Blogger 2

11. Changsin Market near Dongdaemun Market

Dongdaemun gets all the fanfare, and that’s probably fine with Changsin Market. They don’t cater to tourists anyway. This market has an ultra local feel as it’s located in one of the oldest parts of Seoul that’s seen some of the least development. So as Seoul has become more modern and developed every year, Changsin Market just seems be stuck in 1970’s Korea. It’s a fun place to get lost and see how Korean people, from a different part of society (and different era) that most tourists never meet, live their lives . It’s also really famous for it’s super spicy pigs feet (매운족발 – maeunjokbal). Warning, it’s really, really spicy.

How to get there: Dongdaemun Station (Line 1 & 4, Exit 3). First left.
Pics via Korean bloggers: Blogger 1 & Blogger 2