Korea: 5th Day in Seoul

Today, we would spend most if not all day at these biggest markets in Seoul, Dongdaemun Market, Namdaemun Market, and Gwangjang Market.









We didn't want to buy anything, but just wanted to know and see how the Korean markets were like in this country.











I had to admit the markets in Seoul Korea all are so huge. Each had taken up a large area of a couple hundred acres. They are very organize and clean.









There are no hustling nor rowdy nor rambunctious. All the shops are spacy and prices are posted clearly and thoroughly.












Businesses seem to compete in high spirit ans fair. They all look great for both sellers and shoppers.








 

At Dongdaemun there must be thousands of up-to-date Korean fashion shops. This market is a shopping heaven for Asian and European tourists, but they don't attract American tourists much at all because we have different fashion and trend. 






 


This market open from late evening until early morning. So it doesn’t matter if your schedule is packed, just go to the clothes market late at night and start your shopping spree. 










Like all other markets in the area, there are tons of really good street food and the Korean drama style tent bars. 








 




These bars are very unique. They look like a small kitchen built inside a heavy plastic tent. 







 



Some are big enough to house a few tables and chairs, and some small enough only to accommodate a few standing customers. 








 



The tents serve more than a few purposes, to have some privacy, to keep out the cold and wind, and to create a kitchen coziness.








 



We don't need to speak or understand Korean to order foods or snacks there because what you see is what you get. 






 

You can stand around to view the cooking process. Some chefs make it a real fun cooking show. And all of those are free. You only pay for what you want to try or taste.










 



We had visited Namdaemun Market yesterday, but didn't spend enough time there, so we tried to squeeze in a couple hours more today if we had extra time.






 


The Gwangjang Market is the oldest. It's also Seoul’s first market and continues to thrive as a popular tourist destination today. 








 



The second floor of the market provides all different types of silk, satin, and linen bed-sheet stores, which are the largest and most famous in Seoul. 






 



Many of the stores in the area even have their own factories supplying fabrics to the other markets, and even to some department stores locally. 






 
 












Even though the goods are not brand-name products, the wide selection of high quality goods at inexpensive prices makes it an enjoyable shopping experience. 



 
We found many American brand shops in all of these markets. The most common again is Starbucks coffee and KFC. 











All other retailers like Forever21, The North Face, H&M and Gap are also founded in all 3 markets.

 

 

















 


After eating lunch in a small restaurant which served many small portion plates similar to Chinese dim-sum, we headed out again. 








 

After a long and heated debate, my wife won. We skipped Noryangjin Fish Market. Seafood is not her favorite, and what we were going to do in that huge fish market. 









 Dai brought us to a smaller fish market and beside fish, they do sell meat in here as well. I never had a chance to jog down the name of this market. It's smaller then Noryangjin, but is still super large in any standard.

 

 












 





We literally spend almost an entire day to get a glimpse into the life of how local Koreans live, to watch the locals and tourists shopping, bargaining, and to really enjoy eating and snacking Korean food in general.  



 


 















We walked and walked without directions and in the end, I guess we must have traveled more than 10 miles on foot for the day.

 

 












 





We stayed until 5 in the evening before heading to Hongik University Streets because our Han River Boat Tour was cancelled due to the harsh weather.




 


This place is close to Hongyik University and more vibrant compared to other shopping districts.











This area is definitely for the youngsters since there were quite a lot of young people shopping and hanging out here.











The streets are lined with stores selling phone cases and accessories, selfie equipment, hats, sun glasses, clothes, socks and shoes. Things are not expensive.











The streets are wide enough so even though there are plenty of people, it is a nice stroll.









 

There are lots of places to eat as well, from sit down restaurant food to dessert to ice cream to snacks.











Here we found the very first Taco Bells in many Asian countries we had visited. Tacos, and Mexican foods are not very popular in Asia.







We gave it a try out of curiosity, just to see if the foods are any different to the ones in the U.S.  And to our surprise, they were exactly the same, down to the packets of sauces.











Here we also found a Vietnamese Pho restaurant, but we had had enough of Pho in Vietnam already.








 Hongyik University in Seoul.




There are many street performers dotting the street as well. We spend about 4 hours at this place before going back to our hotel.

We'd have a long travel day tomorrow.