Gwangjang Market — Local services in Seoul

We were looking for Dongdaemun Market, and found out that it was renamed as Gwangjang Market.

This is a traditional street market in Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. And I heard this is one of the oldest and largest traditional markets in South Korea.

One of the food to try is bindaetteok 빈대떡 or the mungbean pancake. You can see these pancakes made fresh on the spot.

They also sell fresh Octopus cut on the spot and given spice on your plate. The tentacles are still wigling around as we see others trying them (I don't go well with sea creatures as food, so I can't give any reviews on that).

Tteokbokki / Spicy Rice Cakes on sale here has bigger texture than the ones we saw elsewhere.

You can also find Snacks for your own consumption or bring it home as souvenirs. Blankets, Hanboks, Clothing Fabrics / Materials are amongst the other types sold in this area.

While visiting this place gave us a new experience, we were also quite disappointed to see so many stalls with similar products on sale everywhere. We were expecting to try different variety of dishes in this place.

Sellers are generally quite protective about the number of people sitting / standing around their booths / stalls. Every shop in South Korea generally disliked customers sharing meals (eg. 1 dish eaten by 2 people), and would often tell you (politely or not, depending on the person) to order 1 dish per person.

Kudos to a random Indonesian family of 3 we met on the street that helped us navigate...

The market has lots of interesting things to see.

Food is one main draw for tourists and locals alike. I would like to recommend the seafood pancake which tasted a little like Rösti. The ingredients used are really fresh - mini oysters and prawns tasted really delicious and juicy. It is a big portion though, and can be shared with 2 or 3 others.

There are also stores selling souvenirs and local snacks which tourists can bring home for friends and loved ones. Additionally, there are shops selling fresh seafood, fruits and vegetables. A Han Bok (traditional Korean costume) market is located on the 2nd level within the market. There are shops selling household wares too.

Definitely a good place to experience the...

If you're looking for an authentic local shopping experience in Seoul, it's not in Myeongdong, but here in Gwangjang. Must-try:

Food. If you're adventurous, try the tartare (raw food). There's a live octopus (it's even moving when it's served!). If you're not so adveturous, try the seafood pancake.

Hanbok. If you're thinking to get your own korean outfit, hanbok shops are located at L2 of Gwangjang market. Hanbok costs around 200SGD up.

Street Food. Try grilled shrimp, blood sausage, and...