Gwangjang Market is one of Seoul’s oldest and largest traditional markets, dating back to 1905, and today it’s best known as a street food destination rather than just a place to buy goods. Narrow aisles pack in stalls selling everything from silk and hanbok fabric to some of the city’s most famous bindaetteok (mung bean pancakes) and mayak gimbap.
The market’s textile and general-goods shops keep daytime hours, while the food stalls and small restaurants stay open well into the evening, making it a popular dinner destination as much as a lunch stop. Most stalls close on Sundays or Mondays, so weekday visits offer the fullest selection.
Arriving in the late morning, before the lunchtime rush, tends to give the best mix of active food stalls without the heaviest crowds.
