Dongdaemun Night Market (Photo by Hyemin Lee)
If I had to choose one place to recommend to my foreign friends for shopping, I’d say Dongdaemun.
Dongdaemun, a place where you can see both the traditional and contemporary sides of Korea, is home to the popular Dongdaemun Fashion Town, known as the country’s shopping mecca and the center of fashion.
With 32 shopping malls, a vast array of markets, and 30,000 stores in all, you can find most any kind of fashion item, clothing and souvenir in Fashion Town. It’s a fun, exciting place full of energy that locals and foreigners flock to. And whether you are a night owl or an early bird, you can shop anytime of day or night at this shopping paradise. Seriously, many places open late in the evening till 5 a.m. or later. And don’t worry, there are plenty of restaurants open at all hours and street vendors are everywhere selling their delicious treats.
However, I don’t think many foreigners experience the real value of this area. Many just buy a couple of items at overcharged prices, try some street food and then head home. That’s it. Because the town is so large, it can be overwhelming to come up with a wise shopping trip plan, even for locals like me.
So, I’m going to show you how to enjoy this area, find bargains and set up a shopping itinerary in advance. So, what are you waiting for, keep reading!
Dongdaemun Night Market (Photo by Hyemin Lee)
Dongdaemun Night Market (Photo by Hyemin Lee)
Dongdaemun Night Market (Photo by Hyemin Lee)
Dongdaemun Tourist Information Center: Ask questions here and pick up a map! (Purple mark on the map) / Hours: 10 a.m. – 1 a.m. daily
HOW TO GET THERE
By Seoul Metro: Line 1,4 Dongdaemun St. Exit 6-9
By car: Seongdong Technical High School Parking (Brown mark on the map) / Cost: 3,600 won for an hour
If you don’t mind walking 8 to 10 minutes, I recommend using this parking lot. It’s the cheapest in the area and has plenty of spots. However, if you plan to shop at malls, parking at one can be a better option. Please check the address and fee of each mall in this article.
WHAT TO BRING
Bring both cash and credit card. Some wholesale shops only accept cash.
Wear comfortable shoes and carry a backpack if you plan to buy many items.
Download Naver Map app on your phone to navigate the vast shopping town.
SHOPPING MALLS VS. MARKETS
Before I tell you where to shop, I’ll quickly break down the differences between malls and markets in the area.
Retail shopping malls
(Green marks on the map)
These are like the shopping malls you find in the States selling items at normal retail prices.
They have luxury interiors, brand shops, restaurants, food courts, and big parking lots. The shopping malls often hold fashion shows, music and dance performances in front of them since this district is known as a fashion mecca.
Hours: 10 a.m.–midnight.
Wholesale and retail markets
(Red marks on the map)
They mostly sell items at wholesale prices to any type of shopper, so it’s a place where you should try to buy items at bargain prices.
Hours: 9 a.m.–6 p.m. or 8 p.m.–12 p.m. (Mon–Sat)
Design Plaza (Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)
DONGDAEMUN NIGHT MARKET SHOPPING GUIDE
Dongdaemun Night Market is known as the most important place for fashion in Korea. The dealers here sell products in bulk at wholesale prices to retail vendors from all over Korea and other countries. You can look around and take in the unique scenes of Korea’s fashion industry, but also do some shopping of your own! Many of the dealers sell single items to individuals. Believe me, it’s a fun place to watch people and take in the hustle and bustle of the fashion industry and buy some fashionable clothes for yourself!
The best way to plan your shopping trip is by visiting the Dongdaemun Tourist Information Center, which closes at 1 a.m., first. The center’s staff can help you choose which of the sections you should put on your list for some great shopping.
Ready to hit the ground running? Check out the guide next and start your trip to the night market from Dongdaemun Station Exit 7 and head toward Sinpyeonghwa Fashion Town. Exploring this fascinating district requires some walking, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes and to make time to grab some great street food while you’re there!
Hours: 10 p.m.–5 a.m. (Closed from Friday morning and reopen Sunday night)
What’s there
Women’s clothing: Kwanghee Fashion Mall, Hello apM, apM, Belpost, Nuzzon, The OT, Studio W, Desingers Club, DDP Fashion Mall, Techno
Men’s clothing: Kwanghee Fashion Mall(B1), Hello apM (4th floor), apM(5-6th floors), Belpost (3rd floor), Nuzzon(3rd floor), Studio W (4-5th floor), Team 204 (4-5th floor)
Plus size: The OT (B2/Women), Studio W (4-5th floor/Men)
Children’s clothing: Elysium, Team 204 (3rd floor)
Shoes: Dongdaemun Shoe Wholesale Market, Team 204
Bags: Nampyeonghwa Market
Clothing & Fashion items: Jeil Pyeonghwa Market, Pyeonghwa Market, Sinpyeonghwa Fashion Town, Dongpyeonghwa Fashion Town
RECOMMENDED SHOPPING PLACES
Recommended shopping places (Image by Stripes Korea)
WHOLESALE & RETAIL MARKETS (Red marks on the map)
1. Dongdaemun Shopping Complex
This is paradise for those who love crafts and making their own clothes and accessories.
Items: Clothing materials, fabrics, accessories subsidiary materials, cutting supplies, sewing thread, yarn, handicrafts, curtain material, bedding, beads, traditional costumes (hanbok) and more.
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. (Closed: Sunday)
Address: Line 1,4 Dongdaemun Station Exit 8-9 or 272 Jongno, Jongno-gu, Naver Map
2. Dongdaemun Shoe Wholesale Market (Night Market)
Items: shoes
- A dong: All kinds of shoes, from low-priced to high-quality handmade ones for men and women.
- B dong: Shoes for children and woman.
- C dong: Fashionable shoes, mostly for women.
- D dong: Women shoes and pet shops selling fish, birds and rodents.
Hours: 2 a.m. – 2 p.m. (Mon-Fri) / 2 a.m. – 12 p.m. (Sat)
Address: Line 1,4 Dongdaemun Station Exit 7 or 319 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno-gu, Naver Map
3. Nampyeonghwa Market (Night Market)
Items: All kinds of bags and purses, from low-priced to high-quality ones.
Hours: Midnight – 12 p.m. (Closed: Fri, Sat)
Address: Line 1,4 Dongdaemun Station Exit 7 or 282-10 Jangchungdan-ro, Jung-gu, Naver Map
4. Jeil Pyeonghwa Market (Night Market)
Items: All types of women’s clothes and fashion items (shoes, bags, accessories and more).
Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Closed: Sunday) / Night Market: 8 p.m. – 5 a.m. (Closed: Fri, Sat)
Address: Line 1,4 Dongdaemun Station Exit 7 or 13 Majang-ro, Jung-gu, Naver Map
5. Pyeonghwa Market (Night Market)
Items: Fashion items (scarfs, hats, bags, belts, socks and more), umbrellas, clothes for middle-aged men and women.
Hours: 10 p.m. – 6 p.m. (Closed at 6 p.m. on Sat and reopen at 10 p.m. on Sun)
Address: Line 1,4 Dongdaemun Station Exit 8 or 274 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jung-gu, Naver Map
6. Sinpyeonghwa Fashion Towna (Night Market)
Items: Socks, underwear, pajamas, stage costumes, clothes for men and women.
Hours: 9 p.m. – 5 p.m. (Closed: Weekends)
Address: Line 1,4 Dongdaemun Station Exit 7 or 298 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jung-gu, Naver Map
7. Dongpyeonghwa Fashion Town (Night Market)
Items: Socks, underwear, pajamas, clothes for men and women.
Hours: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Closed: Weekends) /Night Market: 9 p.m. - 10 a.m. (B1, 1st floor)
Address: Line 1,4 Dongdaemun Station Exit 4-7 or 318 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jung-gu, Naver Map
Nampyeonghwa Market (Photo courtesy of NPM)
Retail Shopping Malls(Green marks on the map)
1. Migliore
Most products in this mall are trendy fashion clothes and items for youth. Although this is a shopping mall, Migliore has similar types of shops to wholesale & retail markets, so prices are reasonable and you can try to bargain with store staff.
Milgliore (Photo by Hyemin Lee)
Migliore (Photo courtesy of Migliore)
Migliore (Photo courtesy of Migliore)
Items: Trendy fashion items, accessories for youth and casual, fashion clothes for women and men.
Hours: 10:30 a.m.–2 a.m. (Closed: Monday)
Address: Line 2,4,5 Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station Exit 14 or 263, Jangchungdan-ro, Jung-gu, Naver Map
Parking: 3,000 won per hour.
Once you purchase something at a shop, you’ll get a coupon for 30 minutes free parking. You can use a total of 6 coupons (3 hours).
2. Doota Mall
This mall is known for luxury brand stores, designer shops, interesting stores, good restaurants and food court. You’ll be able to check out the latest fashion trends at this mall.
Doota Mall (Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)
Items: Fashion accessories, casual, fashion and sports clothes, souvenirs and more.
Hours: 10:30 a.m. – Midnight (Closed: National holidays only)
Address: Line 1,4 Dongdaemun Station Exit 8 or 275 Jangchungdan-ro, Jung-gu, Naver Map
Parking: 4,200 won per hour (2.5 hours of free parking with total purchases over 100,000 won)
3. Dongdaemun Hyundai City Outlet
Like Doota Mall, it also has a lot of brand shops and good restaurants. They sell a lot of brand products at discounted prices and hold many seasonal sale events.
Hyundai City Outlet Dongdaemun (Photo courtesy of DDMFT)
Hyundai City Outlet Dongdaemun (Photo courtesy of Hyundai City Outlet)
Items: Fashion accessories, casual, fashion, sports clothes and more
Hours: 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. (Closed: National holidays only)
Address: Line 1,4 Dongdaemun Station Exit 8 or 20, Jangchungdan-ro 13-gil, Jung-gu, Naver Map
Parking: Free for the first 30 minutes during the week and 1 hour on weekends. A purchase of 10,000 won gives you another hour of free parking. 600 won for every additional 10 minutes.
Underground Shopping Centers (Yellow marks on the map)
1. Cheonggye 6-ga Underground Shopping Center
Items: Clothes, shoes, bags, fashion items (hats, watches, accessories).
Hours: 10:20 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Closed: Last Monday of every month)
Address: Line 1,4 Dongdaemun Station Exit 8, Naver Map
2. Dongdaemun Underground Shopping Center
Dongdaemun Shopping Complex (Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)
Items: Hanbok, beddings
Hours: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Closed: Tuesday)
Address: Inside of Line 4 in Dongdaemun Station Exit 8
Wholesale Street Market (Blue marks on the map)
1. Sunday Market
It’s the cheapest wholesale market in the area. There is no official name for this street, so people usually call it Sunday Market, which makes sense because it’s only open on Sundays! Items that weren’t sold at wholesale prices to online malls or indoor markets are sold here. Most items here are extremely affordable, ranging from 1,000 won to 10,000 won! This is a great place for bargain hunters! It’s so much fun shopping here!
Items: Fashion items (hats, accessories, scarf, watches, socks, belts), bags, shoes, pet clothes & toys, clothes for all ages, jackets, coats, vintage clothes, bedding and more.
Hours: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Only Sunday)
Address: In front of Kwanghee Fashion Mall, Naver Map
