Top 12 Night Markets In South Korea

1. Dongdaemun Night Market

Located in the heart of Seoul, Dongdaemun is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered by tourists. It has a lot of cultural attractions that are worth visiting including Heunginjimun Gate, Cheonggyecheon Stream, and Dongdaemun Design Plaza. The hidden treasure of Dongdaemun, however, comes alive only when the sun sets and the street lights go up. The Dongdaemun Night Market, located just behind the Design Plaza, is a street market filled with several items worth bargaining for including clothes, jewelry, and accessories, some even designer imitations, but all at affordable prices. It’s sometimes also called Dongdaemun Sebit Market or the Yellow Tent Market because of the color of the tents.

Dongdaemun Night Market

Address: Area of 279, Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Opening hours: 8pm - 2am (daily)

2. Namdaemun Night Market

Another famous night market in Seoul is Namdaemun Night Market. Opened in 1964, Namdaemun has become the biggest traditional market and the premier destination for shopping gurus. You can find almost anything here from clothes, jewellery, accessories, toys, houseware, crafts, electronics, and many more. You can even find traditional Korean items like the hanbok at stalls here all for an affordable price. The market is open 24 hours a day but it’s at night between 11pm to 4am when the alleys come to life. While you enjoy your shopping, there’s also a lot of street food around to keep your tummies company.

Namdaemun Night Market

Address: 21 Namdaemunsijang 4-gil, Hoehyeon-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Website: Namdaemun Night Market

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily); some retailers are closed on Sundays

3. Gwangjang Market

Not too far away from Dongdaemun Night Market you’ll find Gwangjang Market. In fact, there was a point in time that the two of them were linked but was eventually separated by the surrounding buildings. While Dongdaemun offers modern clothing choices, Gwangjang sticks to the more traditional and vintage types. You can also find a lot of items for your home here including furniture, kitchenware, linen, textiles and fabric. Gwangjang is also highly popular for the amount of street food and local produce within its vicinity.

Gwangjang Market

Address: 88 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno 4(sa)-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Website: Gwangjang Market

Opening hours: 11am - 10pm (food stalls, daily); 7am - 10pm (retail stalls, daily)

4. Cheonggye Plaza Seasonal Night Market

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

At the center of Seoul you will find Cheonggye Plaza Seasonal Night Market. It’s a seasonal market with different and fun themes every edition like Christmas, summer or horror themes. Throughout the year, there are about three to four editions of Cheonggye Plaza Seasonal Night Market. It’s located by the Cheonggyecheon Stream and the City Hall so you can be sure that this is a lively market. The items, food, entertainment, and activities depend on the theme of that edition. It’s a great place to bring your family and friends. Be sure to check out with the local Seoul Metropolitan Government about the upcoming months and schedules of this event.

Cheonggye Plaza Seasonal Night Market

Address: Cheonggye Plaza, 148 Seorin-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Opening hours: 6pm - 11pm (days may vary according to the season)

5. Banpo Romantic Moonlight Market

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

You will feel like you’re in a Korean telenovela when you visit Banpo Romantic Moonlight Market. This lovely market is found by the Banpo Hangang Park where you can enjoy romantic views of the fountain that is poetically illuminated by moonlight. The market itself is a line of festive and colorful triangular-shaped stalls filled with people selling handmade arts and crafts. There are also food trucks lined up with different food to choose from including burgers, pizza, pasta, and even international cuisines like Indian or Vietnamese. Cap off your romantic evening with some of the live performances held at the market.

Banpo Romantic Moonlight Market

Address: 06500 40 Sinbanpo-ro 11-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Opening hours: Fri - Sat: 6pm - 11pm (closed from Sun - Thu)

6. Yeouido World Night Market

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

It doesn’t take 80 days to go around the world here at Yeouido World Night Market. Set against the background of the beautiful Hangang River, Yeouido World Night Market is a celebration of international cultures coming together in one place. You will find a variety of goods and souvenirs from different countries. You can also taste a variety of cuisines through the different food trucks across the area. There are also a number of cultural performances that guests will enjoy while going around. Yeouido World Night Market is one of the themed markets under the operation of Bamdokkaebi Night Market.

Yeouido World Night Market

Address: Yeouidong-ro, Yeoeuido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Opening hours: Fri - Sat: 6pm - 11pm (closed Sun - Thu)

7. Dongdaemun Design Plaza Night Market

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

A slightly different vibe awaits tourists at Dongdaemun Design Plaza Night Market. If Dongdaemun Yellow Tent Market offers the traditional shopping experience with clothes and accessories as the primary displays, the night market that happens at Dongdaemun Design Plaza showcases more entertainment than items. More appealing to the younger crowds, Dongdaemun Design Plaza Night Market hosts a number of performances, fashion shows, and concerts every Friday and Saturday from May to October.

Dongdaemun Design Plaza Night Market

Address: 281 Eulji-ro, Euljiro 7(chil)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Opening hours: Fri - Sat: 6pm - 11pm (closed from Sun - Fri)

8. Cheonggyecheon Time Tour Market

Cheonggyecheon Time Tour Market is another market that is managed by Bamdokkaebi Night Market. This particular market, set near the lovely Cheonggyecheon Stream, will take you on a mini tour of Korean culture. Nearly everything found here are products native to their culture. Also lined up on the streets are some of the best street food South Korea can offer. There are also exhibits and performances that will surely take you back to a different time.

Cheonggyecheon Time Tour Market

Address: Gwangtongyo Bridge area of Cheonggyecheon Stream & Cheonggye Plaza, 14-1, Seorin-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Opening hours: Sat: 5pm - 11pm; Sun: 4pm - 9pm (closed from Mon - Fri)

9. Myeongdong Night Market

For many tourists, Myeongdong has been a melting pot of activities within Seoul. It’s not too far from the airport and it’s a great place to stay if you want to explore more of Seoul or visit other nearby areas. What makes it most popular though is the shopping scene. The two biggest department stores in South Korea are located here: Lotte and Shinsegae. Not only that, when the sun starts to set, the streets turn into a shopping hub with the Myeongdong Night Market. While there are also several great finds, the actual star of the market is the various street food it has to offer. It’s definitely a great place to try some of South Korea’s best delicacies!

Myeongdong Night Market

Address: Jung-gu, Chungmuro 2(i)-ga, 8-3-ga, Seoul, South Korea

Opening hours: 12am - 1pm, 3pm - 12am (daily); some stalls may choose to open late and close early

10. Jeju Dongmun Night Market

South of the Korean peninsula, you will find the beautiful island of Jeju. Compared to vibrant and bustling Seoul, Jeju has a much more relaxed and nature-filled ambiance. There are a lot of attractions here as well however you shouldn’t miss Jeju Dongmun Night Market. It’s Jeju’s oldest and biggest market and has become a go-to for tourists. Here you can find the freshest fish and produce in the market and then have one of the lovely restaurants in the area cook your buys for you according to your liking. It’s also a perfect place to stop for souvenirs since it’s located on the way to the airport.

Jeju Dongmun Night Market

Address: 64-1 Gwandeong-ro, Ido 1(il)-dong, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

Website: Jeju Dongmun Night Market

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 6pm - 12am (closed on Sun)

11. Seomun Night Market

Seomun Night Market is proud to say that it is the biggest night market in the world with about 350 meters (1,148 feet) of over 80 stalls. These are just the outdoor ones; there’s more shops in the indoor areas. With that many options, you’ll be able to find a wide variety of street food and things ranging from clothing, toys, gadgets, accessories, textiles, fabric and much more. You can even catch a night party with different traditional and modern performances. Because of all of this, Seomun Night Market has become a large tourist attraction in Daegu.

Seomun Night Market

Address: 45 Keunjang-ro 26-gil, Daesin-dong, Jung-gu, Daegu, South Korea

Website: Seomun Night Market

Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 7pm - 11:30pm; Fri - Sat: 7pm - 12am (summer months); Sun - Thu: 7pm - 10:30pm; Fri - Sat: 7pm - 11:30pm (winter months)

12. Mоkdоng Stadium Night Mаrkеt

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Sports lovers and hobbyists, there’s a night market specially for you! Even the location of the market gives it away. The Mokdong Stadium Night Market is specially catered to such crowd because most of the items on sale are relevant to “leports”, a Korean slang term that combines leisure and sports. It’s not just a place for ordinary shoppers but a hub for trading in leports equipment as well. Since it’s a market related to recreational activities, you won’t want to miss some performances and games happening around the market. There are also food trucks in the area for you to eat after shopping.

Mоkdоng Stadium Night Mаrkеt

Address: 914 Mok-dong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Opening hours: Fri - Sat: 5pm - 10pm (closed from Sun - Thu)

Shop till you drop in South Korea

Shopping in South Korea is not just a tourist attraction or a trend, it’s a cultural experience. Each night market you visit has its own unique offerings and interpretation of Korean culture. So after spending your day touring sights and going around, be sure to still have energy to continue on through the night - visit one of these night markets and shop till you drop because you surely won’t regret it!