Myeong-dong, Namdaemun, Bukchang-dong, Da-dong and Mugyo-dong Special Tourist Zone

Seoul’s finest traditional market Welcome to Seoul’s Namdaemun Market. It is a place where you can find a wide array of products from Korea. Situated at the South Gate, Namdaemun, built during the Joseon Dynasty, it boasts a 600-years history and stands as the largest traditional market where everyone can immerse themselves in Korean market culture. At Namdaemun Market, you can purchase almost everything you need for daily life at an affordable price. Operating as a wholesaler and retailer, it offers products at reasonable prices to customers worldwide, including international traders. Though the market offers a variety of goods, you will find similar product vendors in each alleys, making price comparison easy for visitors. The children’s clothing alley features year-round clothes printed with kid’s favorite characters and patterns. The eyewear alley presents different kinds of glasses, both functional and fashionable. In the jewelry alley, there are both retail and wholesale stores offering a wide range of choices, from earrings to necklaces at affordable prices. It is greatly recommended to stop by the tourist information center or customer service center for details on tax-free shops or kiosks before shopping. Once you are done with your shopping, don’t forget to explore K-Food Street. You can find famous dishes like seolleongtang (ox bone soup), galchi-gui (grilled cutlass fish), kalguksu (fresh noodles in seafood soup), and mandu (Korean dumplings).

A place where major tourist attractions in Seoul are gathered There are many major tourist sites near Namdaemun Market, with the most renowned spots being the Sungnyemun Gate, Myeongdong and Namsan Seoul Tower. Sungnyemun Gate is regarded as the oldest among the existing wooden buildings set up in the fortified city of Seoul, featuring an arched entrance in the middle. Positioned to the south of the capital, it is also known as Namdaemun or the South Gate. The gate held significant importance, being used for major national events and as the passage for the king’s parade during the Joseon Dynasty. Despite its long history, it now finds itself surrounded by roads and modern tall buildings, creating an enigmatic space where the past and the present coexist. Myeongdong stands out as one of the most visited tourist attractions for foreigners, a bustling place and one of the primary shopping districts in Seoul. Visitors can find clothes, shoes, cosmetics, and accessories at reasonable prices. Different from Namdaemun Market, Myeongdong also features sales of designer brands and is teeming with various restaurants and street food vendors. Furthermore, Namsan Mountain lies adjacent to Namdaemun Market. At the mountain’s peak stands the Seoul N Tower, a must-visit spot. Visitors adore the breathtaking view of Seoul from the observatory deck and engage in the tradition of locking the “padlock of love” onto the railings, expressing wishes for everlasting love. The stunning view has made the tower an attractive filming site for many dramas and variety shows, such as “My Love from the Star”, “Running Man” and “Infinite Challenge.”

The main gate of the 600-year-old city of Hanyang King Taejo of the Joseon Dynasty constructed a fortress wall to encircle the entire capital city for defense. The fortress wall had four gates on north, south, east, and west. While the south gate is commonly known as Namdaemun Gate, which translates to the Great Southern Gate, its official name is Sungnyemun Gate, signifying the “Gate of Exalted Ceremonies.” It was the gate used by the king during official processions, and it served as the main entrance for goods and products from various provinces that entered the capital city. Different from other gates, Sungnyemun Gate has its name written vertically. King Taejo believed that the palace, Gyeongbokgung, and the capital city were vulnerable to fires as they faced Gwanaksan Mountain, which had a shape resembling flames. To safeguard against fire, he chose the characters Sung and Nye in the gate's name, which indicated the shape of fire and represented the element of fire within the five elements. The bullet marks left on the faded walls reveals the traces of a fierce battle between Korean and Japanese forces when the armies were forced to disband in 1907. In 2008, a significant fire caused severe damage to the gate, resulting in the destruction of the roof and the second level. After extensive research and reconstruction efforts, Sungnyemun Gate has been meticulously restored to its original appearance.