Gwangjang Market
광장시장
Today
Why go
Opened in 1905, Gwangjang Market is the first permanent market in Korea. Its food alley, famous for bindaetteok and mayak gimbap, is open until 11 p.m. all year round. Even first-time visitors can taste a wide range of Seoul market food in one place.
Highlights
History
Gwangjang Market (廣藏市場, Gwangjang Market) has its roots in the Ihyeon (梨峴) market. Also known as Baeogae, this market was counted among the 3 great markets of Seoul in the late Joseon period. The name “Gwangjang” carries the meaning of gathering things widely and keeping them.
After Korea opened its ports, foreign merchants poured in and Korean merchants were squeezed out. Around 10 July 1905, merchants from the Ihyeon area founded the Gwangjang Company and opened a market in what is now Yeji-dong. Most of those who put up the money, ran it and traded there were Korean. The Gwangjang Company is regarded as Korea’s first private market management company.
During the Japanese colonial period, the market stood up to big Japanese capital under the name Dongdaemun Market. After liberation, when the separate Dongdaemun Market complex was founded in 1969, this place came to be called Gwangjang Market.
From the 1990s, business shrank for a while. When Cheonggyecheon stream was restored in 2005, foot traffic picked up again, and today it is a market travellers love to visit. The Seoul city government has named Gwangjang Market a Seoul Future Heritage and records its history.
Today Gwangjang Market is a large wholesale market with about 5,000 shops. It sells silk and fabric, clothing, bedding, farm and sea produce, crafts and even mother-of-pearl lacquerware.
Its long-standing core is hanbok and fabric. Having come through the Japanese colonial period, it carries on today as a wholesale market specialising in hanbok and fabric.
The place where travellers gather most is the food alley. The East Gate, North Gate 2 and South Gate 1 lead into this alley, and at weekends it is packed with visitors from Korea and abroad.
At the end of 2024, the public toilets in the market were redone so that everyone can use them easily. They have emergency call bells, braille signs and guidance in 4 languages.
Getting there
- Subway
- Line 1 Jongno 5(o)-ga Station · Exit 8
- Subway
- Lines 2/5 Euljiro 4(sa)-ga Station · Exit 4
- Address
- 서울특별시 종로구 창경궁로 88
Where next
Traditional markets within 2 km
- 광장시장
- Gwangjang Sijang0.0 km, straight line · Open every day1,300 stalls registered
- 방산종합시장
- Bangsanjonghap Sijang0.2 km, straight line · Open every day681 stalls registered
- 종로신진시장
- Jongnosinjin Sijang0.5 km, straight line · Open every day67 stalls registered
In these lists
Photos
Tips
Each section keeps different hours. The shops are open 09:00–18:00 and the vintage arcade 10:00–19:00, and both close on Sundays. The food alley is open 09:00–23:00, all year round.
According to the Korea Tourism Organization, cards are accepted.
For parking, visitors are directed to the Jongmyo public car park in Jongno 4-ga.
By subway, it is 100m from Exit 8 of Jongno 5(o)-ga Station on Line 1, or Exit 4 of Euljiro 4(sa)-ga Station on Lines 2 and 5.
Show details
- Address
- 서울특별시 종로구 창경궁로 88
- Hours
- Shops 09:00–18:00 · closed SunVintage arcade 10:00–19:00 · closed SunFood alley 09:00–23:00