Best Markets in South Korea: Street Food & Shopping

South Korea offers incredible shopping experiences. From Seoul’s traditional markets to Busan’s seafood havens, you’ll find endless options. The best markets in South Korea blend old traditions with modern energy.

Each market has its own character. Some focus on street food, while others sell antiques and handicrafts. You can spend hours exploring these places. They show you real Korean life.

In this article, you will get to know about the most visited markets across South Korea and what each one is known for. You’ll also learn what to expect when you walk through them, helping you plan your visit with ease.

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14 Best Markets in South Korea

1. Namdaemun Market

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Namdaemun Market opened in 1414 during the Joseon Dynasty, making it South Korea’s oldest and largest traditional market. Over 10,000 shops are spread across several blocks of this market, where you can find clothes, kitchenware, souvenirs, and street food.

This is one of the top shopping markets in South Korea for value. Morning hours bring wholesale buyers, and the atmosphere gets busy fast. Hand-cut noodles sell at low prices here, while galchi jorim (braised hairtail fish) is another specialty. Local people come here for their daily needs.

• Highlights: Children’s clothing buildings, underground liquor market, kitchen supplies, traditional Korean snacks
• Timings: Daily 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Closed on Sunday
• Address: 21 Namdaemunsijang 4-gil, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea

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2. Dongdaemun Market

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Dongdaemun never sleeps. This massive district has 26 shopping malls and 30,000 shops where fashion brands, textiles, shoes, and accessories dominate the space. The area stays open until dawn, serving night shoppers who flock here after midnight.

Mukja Golmok alley of Dongdaemun offers Korean street food throughout the night. Fashion shows and music performances happen year-round, adding to the energy. It’s a wholesale market in South Korea serving both businesses and regular shoppers.

• Highlights: Late-night shopping, wholesale fabrics, K-pop merchandise, Mukja Golmok food alley
• Timings: Monday to Saturday 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Closed on Sunday
• Address: 272 Jong-ro, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea

3. Gwangjang Market

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Gwangjang Market dates back to 1905, making it Seoul’s oldest traditional market. The covered space keeps hundreds of food stalls under one roof, where bindaetteok (mung bean pancakes) sizzle on large griddles. Mayak gimbap (mini seaweed rice rolls) earned its name because it’s addictive like drugs.

The atmosphere feels authentic with fewer tourists than in other markets. It’s one of the local food markets in South Korea where residents actually eat, and at night hours get especially busy.

• Highlights: Bindaetteok, mayak gimbap, raw fish stalls, hanbok fabrics, drug gimbap
• Timings: Daily 9:00 AM to 10:30 PM
• Address: 88 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea

4. Myeongdong Market

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Myeongdong combines department stores with street vendors across its bustling streets. Over 1,000 cosmetic and skincare outlets line the area, where Korean beauty brands like Etude House and Innisfree dominate.

International brands mix with local shops here, though prices run higher than in traditional markets. The area targets tourists more than locals, but the energy and variety make it worth visiting. Street performers entertain crowds throughout the day. This is street shopping in South Korea at its most vibrant.

• Highlights: K-beauty products, international brands, street performances, cheese lobster tail
• Timings: Daily 5:00 PM to 1:00 AM (street market)
• Address: 8-3 Chungmuro 2(i)-ga, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea

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5. Noryangjin Fisheries Market

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Noryangjin operates from 4 AM to 7 PM daily, with fresh catches arriving before dawn. Red sea bream (chamdom) is the local favorite here. You can buy seafood downstairs and have it prepared upstairs in restaurants.

Wholesale buyers come first, and regular customers arrive later. The smell of the ocean hits you immediately as live octopus squirm in tanks and crabs stack on top of each other. It’s one of the famous markets in South Korea for seafood, specifically.

• Highlights: Live seafood, red sea bream, octopus, raw fish preparation, wholesale prices
• Timings: Daily (hours may vary by store)
• Address: 674 Nodeul-ro, Dongjak District, Seoul, South Korea

6. Tongin Market

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Tongin Market started after the Korean War, and about 80 vendors operate here now. The Dosirak Café makes this market special, where you buy a lunch tray and 10 yeopjeon (brass coins) for 5,000 won.

The market stays closed on Mondays and third Sundays. Gyeongbokgung Palace sits nearby, and Old Arbat Street connects to the area. It’s perfect for weekend markets in South Korea exploration.

• Highlights: Dosirak Café experience, brass coin system, tteokbokki, kimbap, custom lunch boxes
• Timings: Daily 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM
• Address: 18 Jahamun-ro 15-gil, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea

7. Gyeongdong Market

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Gyeongdong Market specializes in herbal medicine, with over 1,000 stalls selling roots, herbs, and spices. The smell of traditional medicine fills the space, and red ginseng for energy, along with chrysanthemum flowers for tea, are popular purchases.

The market has expanded beyond medicine to include dried goods and kitchen items. Local knowledge about herbs helps shoppers choose correctly, and morning hours see more wholesale activity. It’s unique among traditional markets in South Korea for its focus.

• Highlights: Herbal medicine, red ginseng, chrysanthemum tea, dried goods, affordable prices
• Timings: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily (hours vary by shop)
• Address: 3 Gosanja-ro 36-gil, Dongdaemun District, Seoul, South Korea

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8. Insadong Antique Street

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Insadong holds 40% of Korea’s antique shops, while traditional stationery shops make up 90% nationally. The main street stretches 700 meters through historic buildings, but side alleys contain the real treasures. Hanji paper, calligraphy brushes, and ceramics fill the shops here.

Weekends turn the street car-free, and performers, along with fortune tellers, appear. It’s the premier destination for antique markets in South Korea and handicraft markets in South Korea.

• Highlights: Antique shops, hanji paper crafts, traditional tea houses, Ssamziegil, calligraphy supplies
• Timings: 10 AM to 8 PM (most shops)
• Address: 29 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

9. Jagalchi Fish Market

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Jagalchi is Korea’s largest fish market, spanning 3 kilometers along Nampo Port. Women vendors called “Jagalchi Ajumma” run most stalls here, having controlled the market since the Korean War. Live octopus, cod, and strange deep-sea creatures fill tanks throughout. You can buy fish outside and have it cooked upstairs.

• Highlights: Live seafood, Jagalchi Ajumma vendors, fresh sashimi, grilled fish restaurants, 3 km stretch
• Timings: Daily 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
• Address: 52 Jagalchihaean-ro, Jung-gu, Busan, South Korea

10. Gukje Market

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Gukje Market serves as Busan’s central shopping hub, formed after the Korean War when refugees set up shops. Maze-like streets connect thousands of vendors where machinery, electrical supplies, kitchenware, and clothing dominate.

The food street offers bibim dangmyeon (spicy glass noodles) and yubu jeongol (tofu hot pot). Ssiat hotteok (seed-filled pancakes) is the market specialty that draws crowds daily.

• Highlights: Korean street food, wholesale goods, bibim dangmyeon, ssiat hotteok, maze-like alleys
• Timings: Daily 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
• Address: 55 Gukjesijang 2-gil, Jung-gu, Busan, South Korea

11. Bupyeong Kkangtong Market

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Bupyeong Kkangtong became Korea’s first night market and sits directly next to Gukje Market. Daytime operations start at 9:30 AM, while the night market runs from 7:30 PM to midnight. International street food includes Vietnamese bánh xèo and Scotch eggs, and Korean classics like pork belly kimbap draw crowds.

You can easily visit both Gukje and Bupyeong in one trip since they’re practically connected. Vendors prepare food with theatrical flair, and the youthful atmosphere contrasts with traditional markets. It’s perfect for night markets in South Korea food exploration.

• Highlights: Night market, international food, Vietnamese bánh xèo, pork belly kimbap, global flavors
• Timings: Daily 9:30 AM to 11:30 PM
• Address: 39 Bupyeong 1-gil, Jung-gu, Busan, South Korea

12. Dongmun Traditional Market

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Dongmun Traditional Market is Jeju Island’s largest permanent market, opened in 1945 and survived a 1954 fire. Fresh seafood from Jeju waters fills the stalls, and Hallabong citrus fruit with distinctive bumps is sold everywhere.

The night market starts around 5 PM, where blowtorches cook meat and seafood dramatically. Kimchi pork belly rolls sizzle with flame, while tangerine-themed souvenirs range from chocolates to accessories. It’s the go-to spot for seasonal markets in South Korea, depending on harvest times.

• Highlights: Hallabong citrus, cutlassfish, night market, tangerine souvenirs, blow-torch cooking
• Timings: Daily 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM
• Address: 20 Gwandeok-ro 14-gil, 특별자치도, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

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13. Starfield COEX Mall

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Starfield COEX Mall sits underground in Gangnam as Asia’s largest underground shopping complex. Over 320 brands are spread across multiple levels, offering everything from fashion to electronics.

The Starfield Library towers 13 meters with 70,000 books, while the COEX Aquarium shows 40,000 aquatic creatures. Megabox Cinema offers movie entertainment between shopping sessions. These luxury shopping spots in South Korea combine retail with culture.

• Highlights: Starfield Library, COEX Aquarium, 320+ brands, Megabox Cinema, underground access
• Timings: Daily 10:30 AM to 10:00 PM
• Address: 513 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea

14. Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam

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Shinsegae Gangnam targets luxury shoppers, with Hermès, Cartier, and Goyard occupying premium floors. The beauty department offers extensive Korean skincare, and Shinsegae Market in the basement sells gourmet foods, including caviar and truffles. Services include gift wrapping, bag repairs, and childcare rooms.

The store sits near Express Bus Terminal Station, with multiple subway lines connecting here. It’s less crowded than Myeongdong branches. These are true luxury shopping spots in South Korea for high-end brands.

• Highlights: Luxury brands, Shinsegae Market, tax refunds, beauty department, personal shopping
• Timings: 10:30 AM to 8 PM daily (Hours may vary based on store location)
• Address: Near Express Bus Terminal Station, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

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FAQs

What time should I visit traditional markets in South Korea?

Early morning, between 7 AM and 9 AM, offers the freshest products and smaller crowds. Fish markets operate best before 8 AM, while food markets get busy around 10 AM when locals shop. Evening visits after 5 PM work well for night markets in South Korea.

Weekend mornings see more vendors but larger crowds, so Wednesday and Thursday typically feel less packed.

Are prices negotiable at South Korean markets?

Traditional markets in South Korea allow bargaining at small vendor stalls, so start by asking for a discount politely. Cash payments often lead to better deals and best bargains in South Korea markets. Modern shopping malls and department stores use fixed prices, but markets like Namdaemun and Dongdaemun accept negotiations.

Which markets offer the best Korean street food?

Gwangjang Market serves the most authentic traditional dishes, while Myeongdong Night Market has variety and energy. Mangwon Market offers local prices and quality, and Dongmun Market in Jeju showcases island specialties. Each of these local food markets in South Korea brings different regional flavors to your plate.

Do South Korean markets accept credit cards?

Large markets and malls accept cards widely, but small vendor stalls prefer cash payments. ATMs appear throughout major markets, so bring Korean won for traditional markets. Modern shopping centers process international cards easily, though street food vendors rarely take cards.

What souvenirs should I buy at Korean markets?

Insadong offers traditional hanji paper crafts and calligraphy items from its handicraft markets in South Korea. Namdaemun sells Korean snacks and kitchen tools, while Jeju’s Dongmun Market has hallabong citrus products. Ginseng and herbal teas from Gyeongdong Market travel well, and Korean cosmetics from Myeongdong suit all budgets.

How do I reach the best markets in South Korea from Seoul Station?

Namdaemun Market is 10 minutes away by subway Line 4 to Hoehyeon Station, while Dongdaemun requires Line 1 or 4 to Dongdaemun Station. Gwangjang Market connects via Line 1 to Jongno 5-ga Station, and Myeongdong sits on Line 4 at Myeongdong Station.

Most major markets link directly to Seoul’s subway system, and the Naver Map app helps with detailed directions.