6 Markets Worth Visiting in South Korea

One of my favourite things to do whenever I travel is visit local markets. I love walking through the stalls, trying foods I've never had before, seeing what the locals are buying and just taking in the atmosphere.

South Korea has some incredible markets, and they were easily some of my favourite places to explore during our trips. From trying live octopus with my kids in Seoul to having seafood prepared right in front of us in Busan, each market gave us a completely different experience.

If you're planning a trip to South Korea, these are some of the markets I'd recommend adding to your itinerary.

1. Gwangjang Market (광장시장)

📍 Location: Jongno-gu, Seoul

If you're visiting Seoul, Gwangjang Market is definitely worth experiencing at least once.

This is where my children and I tried live octopus for the first time, and it was definitely an experience! It's one of those travel memories we'll probably be talking about for years.

We tried so much food while we were here, including Korean corn dogs, kimbap, chicken feet and seafood, including snow crab. Everything we tried was delicious, and it was also surprisingly affordable.

The best part is being able to walk through the market, see everything being cooked in front of you and simply choose whatever looks good.

What to try:

• Live octopus if you're feeling adventurous

• Kimbap

• Korean corn dogs

• Chicken feet

• Fresh seafood and snow crab
  

My tip: Go hungry! There are so many different things to try that it's much more fun to order a few smaller dishes and share them.

2. Myeongdong Night Market (명동 야시장)

📍 Location: Myeongdong, Seoul

Myeongdong Night Market is completely different from a traditional Korean market, but I still think it's worth visiting, especially if it's your first trip to Seoul. It gets very busy and there are definitely a lot of tourists, but that's also part of the experience.

The streets come alive at night with food stalls everywhere, and it's an easy place to spend a few hours eating, shopping and exploring.

There are plenty of street foods to try, but you can also shop for Korean skincare, beauty products, clothing and souvenirs while you're there.

I wouldn't necessarily visit Myeongdong expecting a quiet, local market experience, but for a fun night out with lots happening around you, it's worth adding to your Seoul itinerary.

Come here for: street food, Korean skincare, souvenirs, shopping and a busy Seoul night-market atmosphere.

3. Saemaul Traditional Market (새마을전통시장)

📍Location: Jamsil, Seoul

This one holds a special place for me.

On my second trip to Seoul, I would walk through Saemaul Traditional Market every morning, and it quickly became one of my favourite parts of the day.

On my way through, everyone would be setting up for the morning. Stalls were opening, food was being prepared and the market was slowly coming to life. By the time I walked back, everything would be open and ready for the day.

I started trying something from a different stall each time I walked through, which became a little routine during my trip.

I even bought a pair of gloves from a lovely lady at one of the stalls. It's such a simple memory, but those little interactions are often the things I remember most when I travel.

Compared with some of Seoul's more famous markets, this felt much more like getting a glimpse into everyday life in the city.

4. Jagalchi Market (자갈치시장)

📍 Location: Jung-gu, Busan

Jagalchi Market was one of my favourite market experiences in Busan.

We walked in, sat down at a table and watched as our seafood was prepared for us right in front of us.

We had a mixture of live and cooked seafood along with seaweed soup, and the entire experience was something completely different from what we were used to.

Busan is known for its seafood, so if you enjoy seafood or simply want to experience something a little different while you're travelling, Jagalchi Market is worth visiting. Even if you're not sure what everything is, that's part of the fun. Have a look around, choose what you'd like to try and enjoy the experience.

My tip: Don't just walk through the market. Sit down and have a meal while you're there - that was what made Jagalchi so memorable for us.

5. Gukje Market (국제시장)

📍 Location: Jung-gu, Busan

Gukje Market is the kind of place you can easily spend hours wandering around.

We really enjoyed walking through the streets, looking at all the different stalls and seeing what we could find. There are covered alleyways filled with clothing, cookware, ceramics, textiles, tools, souvenirs, household items and plenty of food.

The market also has an interesting history. It began during the Korean War era, when refugees arriving in Busan started selling goods and everyday necessities to make a living. Over time, it grew into the huge traditional market you see today.

One of my favourite parts is the food alley, where you can sit in the open seating areas and try traditional Korean dishes like Chungmu gimbap, noodles and pajeon.

It feels a little chaotic in the best possible way. There always seems to be another alley to explore or another stall to stop at.

My tip: Don't rush through Gukje Market. Give yourself time to wander without too much of a plan - half the fun is seeing what you stumble across.

6. Dongmun Traditional Market (동문재래시장)

📍 Location: Jeju City, Jeju Island

One of my favourite things to do whenever I travel is visit local markets, and Dongmun Traditional Market didn't disappoint.

It's packed with fresh seafood, local produce, Jeju mandarins, peanut ice cream, street food and souvenirs, making it a great place to experience some of Jeju's local flavours.

One of the highlights for me was watching the "Jeju Shrimp Dancers" dancing and singing along to music while preparing and cooking fresh seafood. It created such a fun, energetic atmosphere and made the whole market feel like an experience rather than somewhere you simply go to eat.

Which South Korean Market Should You Visit?

If you have time, I'd honestly visit more than one because they all offer something different.

For street food: Gwangjang Market For shopping + nightlife: Myeongdong Night Market For a more local Seoul experience: Saemaul Traditional Market For seafood: Jagalchi Market For wandering, shopping + history: Gukje Market For Jeju flavours + atmosphere: Dongmun Traditional Market

Some of my favourite memories from South Korea didn't come from the major attractions. They came from wandering through markets, pointing at food I wanted to try, sitting down at tiny stalls and having experiences I probably wouldn't have had at home.

So if you're planning your South Korea itinerary, leave a little room for the markets - and definitely arrive hungry