Lost Soul in Seoul

Loose your soul in Seoul... and where could you do it at its best if not on Seoul markets. There's not better place to get the real taste of Korean life. Marketplaces are the best places to soak up the genuine spirit of Seoul. We normally avoid big shopping malls, outlet centres and departments stores but markets are that's what we love the most.

The largest market is the Dongdaemun, which supplies stocks to thousands of retail fashion shops around the whole of Korea. Founded in 1970 as the largest of its kind in Asia. Nowadays there is over 5000 shops selling various fabrics, materials, accessories, wedding products, bedding and more clothing.

Close to Dongdaemun is located Gwangjang Market. It was the first permanent market in Korea, dated back to 1905. It also offers a wide range of clothings, materials fabrics, but not only. It's famous for and endless line of food vendors and each place always has a line of queueing people. To one of the most popular Korean food belongs mung bean pancake called bindaetteok, gimbap, bibimbap and sundae and all those you can find in here. This one is our winner if it comes to food market!

Namdeamun Market located south west from Gwangjang is well known for traditional crafts and its eyeglasses district sold at affordable prices. Most of the goods are made by their store owners.

Insa-dong Street offers an expensive ceramics to cheap daily use items and souvenirs. The 700 meters long street is well known as a traditional street to both locals and foreigners and the best place to experience the culture of the past and the present.

Noryangjin Fish Market is best place in Seoul to get fresh seafood. At the same time it's a wholesale and retail market established in 1927. Here is link to my previous post: Noryangjin - Crustaceans food porn in Seoul.

One of the busiest places in Seoul is Myeong-dong district. 2 million people pass this place every single day and its one of the most expensive districts in the world. As Korea is very famous for its beauty products, each Korean cosmetic brands has a branch in Myeong-dong. Even I treated myself to few ;)

In the evening every street in the districts is packed with food vendors and others.