Early Bird Gets the Sale

If you’re in Korea and are interested in going on a true Korean shopping excursion, one place to consider would be Dongdaemun Market. The market originally catered to wholesalers and was only open from 1:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. In recent years, shops have extended their hours from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. While the best time to barter is still before sunrise, these new hours of operation make it easier for the more casual shopper to stroll through the streets at their leisure and see what there is to purchase with the assistance of daylight.

The market spreads over 10 blocks with a wide range of products for sale. Typical items include traditional Korean clothing, electronics, a variety of food samples as well as countless Konglish (a combination of Korean and English words) apparel. If you are looking for a more traditional shopping experience, there are also shopping malls nearby with name brand items.

Aside from shopping, Dongdaemun is also famous for being the home of the Great East Gate. In the 14th century, there were four gates that allowed entrance into Seoul. Seoul has expanded a bit since then; however, the gate still stands as a prominent landmark. There is also Dongdaemun Stadium, which has baseball games as well as other sporting events.

If you are looking to do some sight-seeing and experience some true Korean culture, Dongdaemun would be the place to go! It is not rough on the purse strings and with such long hours, you can go multiple times at different points throughout the day, evening, and early morning and feel like it is your first time visiting. Definitely worth checking out! Happy Travels!

Directions:

Subway lines 1 & 4, Dongdaemun Station; or Subway lines 2 &, 4, Dongdaemun Stadium Station and 10 minutes towards Cheonggye 5 (o)-ga