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Namdaemun Market |
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Description
Namdaemun Market, located in the very center of Seoul, is the biggest
traditional market in Korea selling children's clothing, men & women's
clothing, daily miscellaneous goods, kitchenware and local and
imported products. Most shops have their own factories and make the
products themselves offering both wholesale and retail prices which
enables visitors to purchase various shopping items at an extremely
inexpensive price. Foreign visitors to Namdaemun Market show different
features: the Japanese are more into foods like Gim (seaweed), Gimchi,
and ginseng, while the Chinese show interest in clothing and
miscellaneous goods. On the other hand, most tourists from the west
simply enjoy the ambience of the traditional market. Hours vary by
store, so it's advisable to plan out in advance according with a
shopping list before you start the actual shopping.
Transportation and Map
Seoul Subway Line 4, Hoehyeon Station Exit 5
  
  
  
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Noted Shops
Namdaemun
Market is bustling with tourists, porters and vendors mingled on the
streets, not to mention the densely packed shops. Visitors often take
a look at only part of the market on the main street, and fail to see
the real Namdaemun Market in whole. To enjoy the market to the full,
it is crucial to divide the market by section on a map, then go find
the shops for the items that you are interested in. Namdaemun Market
is composed of several main buildings and open-air stores. Even if you
have nothing to buy, it is much fun to go around open-air stores which
have the genuine feel of a traditional Korean market. Most open-air
stores open from 10 am to 5 pm.
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Sungryemun Import Goods
Sangga ('Shopping Center')
Sungryemun Sangga is found right next to the Main Gate 1 on your
right. Imported clothing, food, miscellaneous goods, electronics,
accessories and small interior items are sold in the underground
shopping center.
Open Hours: 07:00-19:00
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Bon-dong Sangga
It is a shopping center with history and tradition housing shops
mostly for stationery, glasses, interior items and women's clothing.
Opening hours vary by store.
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C-dong Central Sangga
For over 30 years, the shops on the basement have sold imported goods
like clothing, food, miscellaneous goods, cosmetics, electronics,
accessories, bags, furs and golf outfits. (Open Hours: 07:00-19:00)
The shops on the 1st floor sell men & women's clothing, underwear,
linen, shoes, cosmetics, carpets, leather goods and Hanbok
(traditional Korean costume) in bulk. The 2nd floor is about curtains,
bedding, Hanbok, handicraft articles, lacquer ware, and folk art
crafts. (Open Hours: 06:00-19:00) Wholesale shops for dishes are
placed on the 3rd floor offering extremely reasonable prices. (Open
Hours: 08:30-19:00)
* Hot Tip : If you are looking for good gift items,
the 2nd floor of C-Dong is the place for you. It offers Korean
traditional items like Hanbok, handicrafts and lacquer ware at good
prices.
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D-Dong Daedo Jonghap
Sangga
The shops on the basement deal with the miscellaneous goods from
abroad and on the 1st floor are shops for bags and wallets, belts,
accessories, underwear and bedding. (Open Hours: 06:00-18:00) The 2nd
floor has been dedicated to interior items, folk art articles,
accessories, and dolls for over 30 years. This floor is famous
nationwide for retailers and foreign buyers jammed overnight. (Open
Hours: 00:00-17:00) Dish shops are located on the 3rd floor and even
personal orders with favorite designs are accepted here. (Open Hours:
08:30-18:30)
* Hot Tip : Good souvenir items abound on the 2nd
floor of D-Dong. Cute interior items and traditional handicrafts are
abundant with various price options.
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E-Dong Daedo Jonghap
Sangga
The basement has shops for imported goods with relatively pleasant
surroundings offering quality goods such as furniture, clothing,
liquor, baby goods, dishes, electronics and food. (Open Hours:
05:00-17:00) The 1st floor is about pants, shirts, coats, wallets and
belts sold both through wholesale and retail. (Open Hours:
24:00-17:00) Accessory shops are clustered on the 2nd floor selling
decoration items, hair accessories and jewelry. (Open Hours:
06:00-17:00) On the 3rd floor are flower shops providing real flowers,
artificial flowers, and ribbons for bouquets. (Open Hours:
04:00-17:00) Between D-Dong and E-Dong are about ten of open-air
stores for army goods like military uniforms, boots, blankets, sacks,
compasses and telescopes. Second-hand goods are sold as well as new
ones.
* Hot Tip : The underground of C-Dong, D-Dong, and
E-dong is called Doggaebi (goblin) Import Goods Sangga selling
furniture, clothing, liquor, baby goods, dishes, electronics, food and
so on. The entrances are found at D-Dong and E-Dong.
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Daedo Market
It is a shopping center for children's clothing and men & women's
clothing. (Open Hours: 11:00-17:00) Outside of the building are many
shops for shoes, bags and other miscellaneous goods.
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Daedo Arcade
Shops for children's clothing are densely located here offering every
kind of children goods like infant's clothing, formal suits for
children, jeans, socks and shoes at inexpensive prices. Retailers from
all over the nation gather here right after the opening and the peak
time is from 3 am to 6 am.
Open Hours: 11:30-17:00
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Jayu (Freedom) Sangga
Most shops specialized in bags. In the basement are shops for imported
accessories, kitchenware, cameras and miscellaneous goods. (Open
Hours: 06:00-19:00) The shops on the 1st floor sell various kinds of
bags (Open Hours: 06:00-17:00), and on the 2nd floor are shops for
children's clothing.
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Samick Shopping Town
B1F: children's clothing / 1,2F: women's clothing / 3F: accessories /
5F: men's clothing / 6F: shoes / 7,8F: general clothing / 9F: food
court
Open Hours: B1F ~ 6F 11:00-16:30 / 7,8F 08:00-18:30
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Food Street
Food shops are clustered at the crossroad between Bon-Dong and C-Dong
selling Gim (seaweed), ginseng, dried cuttlefish, dried cod, dried
anchovy, dried octopus, and peanuts. both through wholesale and
retail. Many non-Koreans use this street as their favorite grocery
shopping place, and most shopkeepers can speak Japanese.
Open hours vary by stores.
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Mesa
Huge shopping mall.
B1F: Import world class goods, miscellaneous goods / 1·2F: Women's
formal suits / 3F: Children's clothing / 4F: Men's formal suits / 5F:
shoes, bags / 6F: accessories / 9F: restaurants / 10F: Mesa Popcon
Hall (performance hall)
Tel: +82-2-2128-5000(Kor)
Open Hours: 11:00- the next day 07:00
Closed Day: Sunday 22:00- Monday 22:00
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CoCo Club
Huge shopping mall specialized in accessories. Located very near
Hoehyeon Subway Station (50m), CoCo Club sells jewelry as well as hair
accessories through wholesale and retail. Retailers usually come in
the early morning, and the general customers in the morning and the
afternoon.
Tel: +82-2-755-6570(Kor)
Open Hours: 23:00-the next day 16:00
Closed Day: Sundays
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Food
No fast food
restaurants or fancy restaurants are found in Namdaemun Market, but
many kinds of the savory local foods served at the shabby restaurants
and foods of street vendors give the feel of a genuine Korean
traditional market. These shabby restaurants were originally for the
shopkeepers, but now more tourists are seen here than the shopkeepers,
who have come to try the famous taste themselves. Two noted food
streets in Namdaemun, Galchi Street and Meokja Street, are hard to
find, but worth visiting. Between Bon-Dong, C-Dong and D-Dong are
open-air food vendors serving Bungeobbang (fish-shaped bread),
Tteokbokgi, deep-fried snacks and so on.
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Galchi Street
Walk down the market through the main street from Namdaemun Gate
(about 50m), you will find Galchi street on your right housing about
10 restaurants densely packed together serving Galchi (hairtails)
stew. The basic serving unit is for 2 persons. It might be fun to try
the Korean way of eating Galchi stew by taking a bowl of rice and soup
mixed together. Wangseong restaurant and Naegohyang restaurant have
been popular on this street since 1988. Hirak restaurant is also
famous for its crushed pots, located between Bon-dong and C-dong.
Open Hours: 03:00-20:00
Closed Day: Sundays
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Meokja street
A variety of Korean snacks like Mandu (dumpling), Japchae (stir-fried
noodles and vegetables), Tteokbokgi, red-bean porridge, Gopchang
(steamed intestines), sundae, fried rice, and bibimbap are found on
this street at inexpensive price.
Open 24 hours
Closed Day: none
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Jokbal street
Near C-Dong crossroad are Jokbal (pork hock) restaurants. Jokbal looks
ugly, but tastes fantastic. Takeout is possible.
Open Hours: 09:30-22:00
Closed Day: none
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Namdaemun Tourist
Information Center
The Namdaemun Tourist Information Center provides a plenty of
materials like brochures and maps on Namdaemun, not to mention the
well-trained staff fluent in English, Japanese and Chinese. TICs in
Namdaemun should prove to be helpful when you get lost in mazy
Namdaemun Market, or when trying to find a shop for a specific item.
Tel : Namdaemun TIC 1: +82-2-752-5728(Kor/Eng/Jap/Chn)
Namdaemun TIC 2: +82-2-752-1913(Kor/Eng/Jap/Chn)
Open Hours: Nov.~ Feb. 09:00-17:00 / Mar.~ Oct. 09:00-18:00
Closed Day: none |
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Shopping tips
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Namdaemun Market Festival
is held around May or June for 15 days. Various events, parades,
product contests, and free giveaways are held.
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If you have a specific
item in your mind to purchase, go to different stores to compare
prices.
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Refunds are not accepted
at small shops (exchanging items are possible). Check the quality
carefully before you pay.
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Some shops don't accept
credit cards, so it's advisable to carry some cash with you.
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10% discount might be
possible by bargaining, but some shops go by a fixed price..
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No parking lot is
available except for toll parking lots. Use Yeonse Parking Lot and the
underground parking of the Good & Good Building.
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Namdaemun Market is closed
on Sundays (from Saturday 17:00 to Sunday 22:00), Lunar New Year's
Day. Thanksgiving Day and the summer vacation period. Shops on the
streets are open year round, and hours vary by stores.
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Namdaemun
Insights
Interview of
three Japanese girls - Yoshii Hitomi (18), Kanetaka Syuri (19),
Arashima Norie (19)
"We are marveled at so many wonderful items."
These three Japanese girls visited Korea for the first time for a
get-together.
Q : What brought you to Namdaemun Market?
A : We are here mainly for shopping. Because there are too many
stores to see, we only shopped around the stores on the main street.
We are interested in clothing and accessories.
Q : Don't you think that the market is way too crowded?
A : It IS crowded. We feel that Namdaemun Market is jam-packed
with people and products, though we found it fun experience. Besides,
the market has various unique items that you can't find in Japan. We
are having so much fun just by walking around and taking a look at
these products.
Q : Have you tried any Korean food here?
A : We tried 'Jokbal' (pork hock) from a street vendor. Very
tasty.
Q : Any other comments on Namdaemun Market?
A : It's helpful that many shopkeepers can speak Japanese, but
we didn't like the touting many sign boards which look disorganized. |
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 Information
provided by Korea National Tourism Organization. |
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