🧵 Namdaemun Market Area | Seoul’s Oldest Market, Hidden Eats & Wholesale Finds 🥟👜🔥

📝 1. Overview
Namdaemun Market is Korea’s largest and oldest traditional market, bustling with vendors selling everything from clothes and kitchenware to street food and souvenirs. It’s a treasure trove for bargain hunters and curious travelers looking to dive into Seoul’s everyday culture. Unlike polished shopping districts, Namdaemun offers raw charm, back-alley food gems, and that lively “ajumma energy” that makes it unforgettable.

🌟 2. Highlights
👜 Wholesale Goods & Streetwear – Shoes, bags, hats, and fashion at rock-bottom prices
🥟 Kalguksu Alley – Hidden noodle alley with famous hand-cut noodles
🧥 Children’s & Military Goods Streets – Niche zones for specific shoppers
🧧 Traditional Souvenirs – Chopsticks, fans, kitchen items, magnets
🍢 Local Street Food – Hotteok, tteokbokki, fish cake skewers & gimbap
🎎 Deep Alley Exploration – Each block has a unique specialty or theme
🏛️ Namdaemun Gate (Sungnyemun) – Historical landmark & photo backdrop

💡 3. Tips
📸 Best photo spots:

• Namdaemun Gate with Seoul’s skyline in the back
• Kalguksu Alley steam-filled lunch scenes
• Piles of colorful socks, hats, or dried goods in market stalls
  💵 Cash is king – many stalls don’t accept cards
  🕐 Early bird wins – best deals & food start around 9–10 AM
  🗣️ Some vendors speak Japanese or basic English – pointing works too!
  🧭 Go with a loose schedule – part of the fun is getting lost in the alleys

🍽️ 4. Nearby Eats – Top 3 in Namdaemun Area

1. Kalguksu Alley (칼국수 골목)
   🍜 Multiple mom-and-pop shops serving kalguksu, mandu, and kimchi
   📍 Inside Namdaemun Market, Gate 2 area
   🕒 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Daily)
   🚶 Follow the steam and smell!
2. Namdaemun Hotteok (남대문 호떡)
   🥞 Crispy & gooey stuffed pancakes with sunflower seeds
   📍 Gate 5, near Sungnyemun side entrance
   🕒 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
   🚶 Always a line = you’re in the right place
3. Myeongdong Dakhanmari (명동 닭한마리)
   🍲 Chicken hotpot in a retro alley, shared-style dining
   📍 26-4 Toegye-ro 39-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
   🕒 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Daily)
   🚶 5 min walk toward Myeongdong side

🚗 5. Access
📍 From Myeongdong Station (Line 4):
🚇 Exit 5 → 7 min walk to Namdaemun Gate

📍 From Seoul Station (Line 1 & Airport Line):
🚇 Exit 3 → Walk 10 min east to Gate 6 area

📍 From Hoehyeon Station (Line 4):
🚇 Exit 5 or 6 → You’ll enter market center directly

📍 Getting Around
🚶 Walking only – market is pedestrian-friendly
📦 Some shops offer packaging & shipping (domestic/international)
🧭 Look for numbered gates to orient yourself inside the maze