4 Best Places to Shop in Seoul, South Korea

Seoul's largest wholesale agricultural products market, set in an expansive complex, is also a major destination for meat and seafood. This is a real, functioning place of commerce, and if you're in the mood for meat or seafood, you can haggle with the vendors on the first floor and then take your spoils to restaurants situated above. While the experience may be a bit rough and tumble, you'll save a bit of won compared to other destinations in Seoul, and gain so much in experience.

This traditional street market offers a nice break from the high-end, super shiny luxury shopping that dominates the area. The vendors sell fresh fruits, vegetables, seafood, and meat, along with dry goods, houseware, clothing, and many other practical items. There is also a lot of cooked food available for eating on the spot or taking out, such as roast chicken and barbecue pork, making it a popular stop for people heading to a baseball game at nearby Jamsil Stadium.

There are few experiences as magical as strolling this night market after dark, when neon lights from shopfronts illuminate the narrow streets filled with street food vendors, shops, and more. Browse the shops with a stick of twigim or tteokbokki in hand, or a cone of gelato artfully sculpted into the shape of a flower from Gela Rosa.

After the Korean War, North Korean refugees flocked to the Dongdaemun area and built up a thriving textile industry. This low-price shopping destination, named after the Korean word for “peace,” grew from those humble beginnings to what is now the largest wholesale clothing market in Korea. The market is the epitome of fast fashion, with its on-site factory able to design, produce, and distribute up-to-the-minute K-style in a 72-hour window. Since it’s mainly a wholesale market, it’s open overnight to cater to retailers who want to display new trends first thing in the morning. The market is also known for its secondhand book section, featuring tomes in a wide array of languages.