Editor Pick
Dongdaemun & Namdaemun Market
- December 11, 2000
- Rated 4 of 5 by
Pirate43 guide from Richmond, Virginia
It is the smells of the market that I will mostly remember about Seoul. I enjoyed Namdaemun Market the most of all my shopping experiences (even more than Itaewon). Itaewon is closest to the army base Yongsan so I feel there is pressure to westernize that area. Namdaemun was within easy walking distance from Hotel President and was very genuine. Ginseng tea was a traditional souvenir to get here but I also just loved walking down the small side streets and the footpaths that branched out from them. No fear of crime at anytime, day or night. Turn a corner and see fresh (I mean just killed) chickens, pigs, even dogs. Sorry to say but dog is a menu item. In the seafood area live frogs, eels, turtles, octopus and fish remain in the water waiting for purchase. Freshly ground spice smells fill the air along with the sound of merchants chatting.
From journal Seoul, Korea