How to Visit Gwangjang Market, 광장시장 (and what to eat)

Last Updated on 1st July 2024 by Charlotte Nadeau

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Truly a feast for the senses! Gwangjang Market is a traditional, bustling and vibrant street market in the Jongon District of Seoul, South Korea. The first and oldest permanent market of the country to exist, today it is home to over 5,000 shops and 20,000 employees. Here’s your guide on how to visit Gwangjang Market, 광장시장 and what to eat!

A history of Gwangjang Market

Gwangjang Market’s origins are strongly linked to what is now known as South Korea’s largest market, Namdaemun Market, 남대문시장.

When the Gabo Reforms (a reform introduced by Korea’s government) meant that a lot of local shop owners and merchants lost business, King Gojong gathered a group and started a marketplace called Changnaejang (which would later become Namdaemun Market).

However, when Korea was under Japanese colonial occupation, Japan took control of Namdaemun marketplace. So, in reaction to thism, a group of private Korean investors and wealthy merchants decided to create a market of their own. Purchasing land for 100,000 won, the foundations of Gwangjang Market were laid.

The market was previously known as Dongdaemun Market, 동대문시장, a small traditional street market situated in the Jongon District of Seoul in South Korea, it was first established in July 1905, as the first street market to become a permanent fixture, opening daily.

In 1960 the market was renamed Gwangjang Market, 광장시장, which appears to have many possible meanings. The formal name comes from the two bridges the market was built between, Gwangkyo (광교,”wide bridge”) and Jangkyo (장교, “long bridge”).

However, it’s also said that Gwangjang translates as “to gather from afar and keep altogether”, which seems fitting.

In the earlier years, the market exclusively sold agricultural and seafood products and was a small trading centre. Rapidly growing over time, today it is one of the biggest markets in South Korea and sells a huge array of things from fruits and vegetables, meats, fish, baked goods, textiles, handicrafts, souvenirs, and traditional Korean medicinal items.

Recognition of the market notably grew after featuring in several popular Netflix TV shows including, ‘Running Man’ and ‘Street Food: Asia’. This lively and bustling place is so popular in fact, that it’s been recorded approximately 65,000 people visit the market each day!

When is the best time to visit?

If there’s one thing you should know before visiting Gwangjang Market it’s that it is always busy. No matter what time of the day you go, it’s likely to be quite crowded.

That being said, if visiting for food and drink, a visit in the morning can be one of the best ways to start your day, picking up fresh produce! And, a visit during the evening time offers a convivial atmosphere.

The most crowded times to avoid if you wish a quieter visit are typically between 12 PM – 3 PM when it’s the lunch rush, and the market is especially busy on Saturdays.

Foods to try at Gwangjang Market

When it comes to choosing food at Gwangjang Market you’re spoilt for choice! A rush to the senses in sight, smell and sounds, it can be overwhelming to take it all in. Read on to see the most popular delicacies that are commonly sold by the food vendors of the market.

Savoury foods to try at the market:

The most famous street food snack that is seemingly sold the most across the stalls throughout the market is Bindaetteok (see below).

• Bindaetteok – Mung bean pancakes, typically served with a spicy dipping sauce.
• Tteokbokki – Spicy rice cakes, this is a particularly popular Korean street food!
• Gimbap – Korean seaweed rice roll, filled with a variety of tasty fillings.
• Gohyang Kalguksu – A light and refreshing soup dish of handmade knife-cut-noodles, broth and other ingredients (this is generally considered a seasonal dish and is mostly seen during the summer months).
• Eomukguk – Fish cake soup, a hot and comforting broth which is one of the most classic Korean street food dishes.
• Sannakji – Live octopus! This Korean delicacy is not for the faint-hearted… known as a baby octopus because of their size, this small octopus species is called nakji in Korean. 
• Mayak Gimbap – Considered to be so addictive, the name of this food translates to ‘narcotic rice rolls’, traditionally filled with carrots, radish, and sautéed spinach.
• Mandu – Korean dumplings which can be eaten simply steamed, or accompanied in a broth or soup. The most popular fillings at the market are either minced pork or kimchi.
• Ssondae – Korean blood sausage, (similar to that of black pudding or haggis) this sausage is made from pig’s blood mixed with either rice or noodles.
• Buchimgae – These are savoury pancakes, fried, cut up and then served with a dipping sauce. A popular flavour is chive and kimchi!
• Gejang – Raw crab marinated in soy sauce.
• Korean Hot Dog – Not too far from the hot dog you probably know, Korean Hot Dogs are a super popular fast food, where the sausage is wrapped and fried in panko crumbs.
• Chicken feet or pigs trotters – This might seem super strange, but is a very popular street snack in South Korea. Usually chopped up, marinated and coated in sesame seeds.

Sweet foods to try at the market:

Most of the sweet treats are dough-based, with sticky syrup commonly used as the main flavouring.

• Hotteok – Sweet pancakes that originated in China and were brought to South Korea in the 19th century. They are typically filled with a sweet syrup.
• Kkwabaegi – This delightful dessert is known in English as ‘twisted Korean doughnut’ thanks to its shape. A deep-fried fritter of twisted dough coated in sugar.
• Hodugwaja – Commonly translated as ‘walnut cookies’, this sweet treat originated from Cheonan, South Korea.
• Ppopgi/Dalgona – A Korean candy, almost the same as honeycomb, this sweet treat is made with melted sugar and baking soda. It has been a popular street treat since the 1960s.

Drinks to try at the market:

Of course, there are also some interesting drinks you shouldn’t miss out on when visiting the market. One particular stall to note is Ilho Coffee, which boasts as one of the best coffee shops not just in the market, but in all of Seoul!

• Smoothies / fresh fruit juices – One of the most tempting types of stalls in the marketplace is the ultra vibrant and colourful array of fruits on display, most of which will offer to blend and blitz them into a refreshing smoothie!
• Boricha – Also known as Korean barely tea, this slightly sweet and nutty tea is made from roasted barley and water, it’s typically served during the colder months. Caffeine-free, Koreans also swear by the fact it aids digestion and relieves constipation.
• Beer – Especially if visiting for a late lunch or dinner, it’s a great opportunity to sample some local beer! Known as maekju in Korean, the two main brands that dominated the beer scene in South Korea are: Hite-Jinro and OB, but you can find smaller brands too.
• Makgeolli – Despite its unassuming appearance, this is an alcoholic beverage (6-9% ABV) a milky off-white, slightly sparkling rice wine that has both a chalky appearance and mouth feel.
• Soju – Soju means “burned liquid”, referring to the process in which it’s made. The Korean version of Russia’s vodka, this clear distilled spirit has a much lower ABV (sometimes) varying from about 12.5% to 53% ABV, and is typically made from rice.

Vintage Shopping

Although it has to be said the market is most famed for its delicious food (and you’re likely to find better vintage shopping elsewhere!), it’s worth taking a peek around the vintage fashion, retro furniture and other treasures available at the market. There are also brand new wares for sale.

When is the market open?

Gwangjang Market is officially open in its entirety daily from 8:30 AM – 6 PM, and the food vendors will usually stay open until 11 PM (though this can vary depending on how many sales they are making).

However, stalls that don’t need the early hours of business may open a little later than stated. And, you may also find that a lot of stalls are closed on a Sunday or Monday, so if visiting on these days you might have more of a limited selection/choice.

How to get to Gwangjang Market

To get to the market by public transport, you can take the metro to either Jongno 5-ga Station (line 1) or Euljiro 4-ga Station (line 2 or 5) from each station it’s a very short walk to reach Gwangjang Market. There are also several bus routes which will take you there.

Top tip: Google Maps is not optimised for South Korea, so you won’t be able to use it for walking around. While you can use Maps for public transportation, there will be no walking directions. Therefore, you’ll want to download Naver Maps, which is the local maps app.

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