6 Best Sights in Seoul, South Korea

One of the largest traditional markets in the country, Gwangjang Market has become famous over the past few years for its restaurants and street food vendors. While locals go to the market more for the experience than the quality of food, the bindaetteok (fried mung bean pancakes), kimbap (seaweed rice rolls) and hotteok (sweet, sugar-filled pancakes) are snacks worth seeking out. Walk off the calories by browsing the hanbok vendors and vintage clothing shops on the second floor.

This section of the sprawling Gwangjang Market is a food lover’s dream. The market’s history dates back more than 100 years and the bright, buzzing atmosphere remains the go-to place to sample Korea’s famous street food. Not to be missed are the bindaetteok (savory mung bean pancakes), mandu (meat or kimchi-filled dumplings), and tteokbokki (simmered rice cake in a spicy red sauce). More adventurous eaters can try san-nakji (raw, freshly chopped live octopus), jokbal (pig feet), and dakbal (chicken feet). Prices are inexpensive, and it’s possible to fill up with two or three items for less than ₩10,000 (more for the delicacies).

Seoul's oldest and second largest market is easily its most accessible and interesting for visitors to the city. Filled with vendors selling everything from clothing to cameras to food, this sprawling indoor and outdoor market is not only great for shopping, but it also makes a fascinating sightseeing destination in its own right. An estimated 500,000 people come to Namdaemun daily, making for an energetic and crowded but manageable spectacle. Established in 1414, the market has been destroyed any number of times, most recently after the Korean War, and again in 1968 and 1975. Yet after each setback, this market has rebuilt and prospered. While there is still much history to be found in Namdaemun, to see it now is to get a glimpse of the dynamism and spirit that has propelled Korea onto the world stage.

Seoul's largest market can be overwhelming for the first time visitor. Consisting of over 20 shopping malls and 30,000 shops, it is a sprawling indoor and outdoor area spread over multiple blocks. Different sections of Dongdaemun cater to different clienteles. Gwangjang Market offers an assortment of street food, while the north-south axis of the market, Hegunginmunno Street, houses clothing and accessory shops for Seoul's teens and 20-somethings. The new Dongdaemun Design Plaza at the west end of the market houses galleries and a small museum. While not as easy to navigate as the Namdemun Market, for those with more time in Seoul, Dongdaemun makes for a lively afternoon.

Even though it boasts a forty-plus year history, Mangwon Market is one of the lesser known marketplaces in the city. In recent years, it’s become a favorite of many locals in the area for its affordable produce and wide array of delicious, cheap eats. Here you’ll see neighborhood grandmas carrying home dozens of cucumbers or apples, depending on what’s in season, and out-of-town customers lined up at one of the market’s well-known stalls. Look out for these stalls when you visit: Mangwon Sujae Gorokes for Korean-style croquettes, Gyodon Gangjeong and Mangwon Gangjeong for boneless, marinated fried chicken and Mangon Market Kalguksu for a hearty bowl of knife-cut noodles.

On Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm, the street in front of the Hyehwa Catholic Church transforms into Little Manila with a lively open-air market with Filipino vendors selling traditional foods like baked bananas and balut (fertilized duck egg), hard-to-source produce, toiletries, and more. The church holds mass in Tagalong on Sunday afternoons, so the market also serves as a gathering place for the Filipino community in Seoul.