Market

Namdaemun Market

Seoul, South Korea

Namdaemun Market — Wikimedia Commons image

Namdaemun Market’s narrow lanes gather independent shops, wholesale trade and food stalls beside one of Seoul’s historic gates. The market’s long commercial history continues in a working district that serves both retailers and local shoppers.

Guide preview

The market’s lanes are compact, but the range of goods is expansive: clothing, food, household supplies and specialist products sit close together. Namdaemun Market grew around the southern gate of the old city wall, where trade has operated since the Joseon period.

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Quick facts

  • The market developed beside Namdaemun, the old city’s southern gate.
  • Its origins are traced to the Joseon period.
  • The market includes wholesale and retail businesses.

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