Gwangjang Market
광장시장
Go with several small dishes in mind and compare posted prices before ordering; individual stalls keep their own hours and closing days.
Language
Place information
- Korean name
- 광장시장
- Address
- 88 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- Nearest station
- Jongno 5(o)-ga Station (종로5가역, Line 1) (Exit 8), Euljiro 4(sa)-ga Station (을지로4가역, Lines 2 and 5) (Exit 4)
- Opening hours
- Otherwise 09:00–18:00 Gwangjang Market Food Alley 09:00–23:00 varies by shop
- Closed
- Every Sun
- Hours notes
- The food alley stays open when the general market is closed.
- Admission
- No entry fee — you pay each vendor
History
1904
The Gwangjang Corporation was founded
A company was incorporated to run the market. The name comes from its position between the Gwanggyo and Janggyo bridges on the Cheonggyecheon — 광장(廣藏), not the 광장 meaning a public square.
1905
The market opened in Yeji-dong, Jongno-gu
Seoul Metropolitan Government, mediahub — Gwangjang Market (location, getting there, hours) ·
Nearby
Frequently asked questions
What should I eat at Gwangjang Market?
Bindaetteok (mung-bean pancake) is the signature. Mayak gimbap, yukhoe (seasoned raw beef) and knife-cut kalguksu noodles are the other three worth ordering.
Do stalls take cards?
Many do not. Bring cash in small bills, and check the price at the stall before ordering.
How do I get there?
Jongno 5-ga Station (Line 1) Exit 8, or Euljiro 4-ga Station (Lines 2 and 5) Exit 4 — about three minutes on foot from either.
When is it least crowded?
Morning and early afternoon. The alley fills from early evening onward, and the queues at the best-known stalls build with it.
Is Gwangjang Market only a food market?
No. The food alley is the most visible visitor area, but the market also has fabric, clothing, bedding and traditional-goods sections.
What time should I visit?
Go in the morning or early afternoon for shopping. Visit around a meal period for the food alley, expecting heavier crowds.
Stories about this place
- Six Seoul Traditional Markets, Compared: Food, Opening Days and Tips
Gwangjang, Noryangjin, Namdaemun, Tongin, Gyeongdong and Mangwon compared on what to eat and buy, who each suits, Sunday opening, opening hours and which station to use. The six do not stand in for one another, so choose by day and hour rather than by what they sell.
- Seoul in a Day on Foot: Gyeongbokgung to Dongdaemun in Six Stops
The day of the week decides this one — Tuesday shuts Gyeongbokgung, Sunday shuts half of Gwangjang Market. Six stops, 4.1 km west to east.
