Travel
Seoul traditional markets bring night markets, food festivals and special events this fall
Haps Magazine Korea
September 30, 2026
(Photo by Seoul Metropolitan Government/courtesy of Haps Magazine Korea)
Traditional markets across Seoul will host a series of food, nightlife and cultural festivals this fall, with events ranging from outdoor dining and live performances to stamp tours, hands-on activities and shopping rewards.
The program brings together 23 markets and shopping districts, with most events taking place throughout October. Each market will offer its own theme, combining local food with performances, family activities and incentives such as Onnuri gift certificate rebates, discounts and prize draws.
Here’s what’s happening:
Shinheung Market — Yongsan-gu
October 1–3, 5 p.m.–10 p.m. Location: Main market street and rooftop
The Shinheung Market Global Local Festival will feature a global flea market representing nine countries, a rooftop market and a “Global Yutnori World Cup.” Visitors can also join wellness activities including yoga, walking and running around Namsan, along with a talk concert and photography exhibition.
Suyu Traditional Market — Gangbuk-gu
October 3, 5 p.m.–10 p.m. Location: Throughout Suyu Traditional Market
The first Suyu Food Festival will turn the market into an outdoor dining area with standing tables and food stalls. There will be youth busking, a residents’ singing competition and trot performances. A food stamp tour rewards visitors who shop at three or more businesses in designated categories, while qualifying purchases can receive Digital Onnuri gift certificate rebates.
Baengnyeon Market — Gangbuk-gu
October 9, 4 p.m.–9 p.m. Location: Throughout Baengnyeon Market
The third Baegya Night Market Festival will offer seasonal dishes, regional specialties, tastings and discount coupons. Entertainment includes local musicians and a singing competition, while families can try dalgona making, fan decorating and other activities. Customers spending at least ₩10,000 can receive prizes and beer coupons.
Byeolbit Nammun Market — Geumcheon-gu
October 9, 3 p.m.–11 p.m. Location: Byeolbit Nammun Market
The 1009 Byeolya Byeol Festival will introduce seven new dishes developed in collaboration with nearby universities. Visitors can taste and evaluate the dishes, enjoy outdoor dining and watch performances by local groups and university students. Shopping rebates, receipt prize draws and photo events are also planned.
Gangnam Gaepo Market — Gangnam-gu
October 14, 5 p.m.–9 p.m. Location: Food Alley area
The Gangnam Gaepo Night Food Festival will feature special night-market dishes, tastings of signature chef-created menus and voting for the market’s best late-night food. Purchases of at least ₩10,000 come with a free drink, while music, performances, games and a lucky draw will continue throughout the evening.
Gocheok Alley Market — Guro-gu
October 15–17, 2 p.m.–8 p.m. Location: Market streets and parking area
Gocheok Night Out will focus on small-plate dishes, skewers and finger foods created by local side-dish shops, snack shops and other vendors. An outdoor dining area will be accompanied by youth busking, lantern making, pottery, natural soap making and traditional rice-cake pounding. Customers spending at least ₩50,000 can receive a ₩10,000 market coupon.
Haengdang Market Shopping District — Seongdong-gu
October 15, 4 p.m.–8 p.m. Location: Around 32 Haengdang-ro 17-gil
The Haengdang Golden Ginkgo Road Festival will include more than 10 food booths, performances by local artists and university groups, and a residents’ singing competition. A neighborhood mission tour and Digital Onnuri gift certificate rebates will also be available.
Sinyeong Market — Yangcheon-gu
October 15–17, 2 p.m.–6 p.m. Location: Central market passage
The New Zero ON Market Festa combines shopping with an environmentally focused pop-up. Visitors can collect market merchandise, participate in Digital Onnuri rebate events and visit the “Container Laboratory,” featuring reusable containers and shopping bags. Market character merchandise and special snacks will also be sold.
Hwagok Bon-dong Market — Gangseo-gu
October 16, 4 p.m.–8 p.m. Location: Central market passage
The Come and Enjoy, the Market Pays event will feature an outdoor pocha zone selling special snacks, traditional music and community performances. Customers can receive Digital Onnuri rebates, while shoppers with same-day receipts can receive a free beer and enter prize draws.
Gongneung-dong Dokkaebi Market — Nowon-gu
October 16, 4 p.m.–9 p.m. Location: Throughout the market and road beside Gongneung Shopping Center
The market’s fourth nighttime food festival will feature a Dokkaebi Food Street serving popular items including jokbal, gopchang and burgers. Busking, DJs and a merchant singing competition will accompany glow-in-the-dark face painting, lantern making, games and prize draws.
Sangdo Traditional Market — Dongjak-gu
October 16, 4 p.m.–10 p.m. Location: Market interior
The Aria Moonlight Market returns with an outdoor beer plaza and a market-wide system allowing customers to order snacks from participating stores for delivery to outdoor tables. University music clubs and young artists will perform, while a flea market, tarot readings, caricatures and calligraphy activities will also be available.
Sanggye Central Market — Nowon-gu
October 17, 2 p.m.–9 p.m. Location: Throughout Sanggye Central Market
Held in connection with the Nowon Moonlight Walk public art festival along Danghyeoncheon Stream, the market’s Moonlight Night Market will offer signature market foods, discounts and tastings. Visitors can also enjoy busking, magic, DJs, singing and random-play dance, along with traditional games and a giant full-moon photo zone.
Bangsin Traditional Market — Gangseo-gu
October 23–24, 5:30 p.m.–10 p.m. Location: Throughout Bangsin Traditional Market
The fourth Bangsin Four Seasons Festival takes inspiration from airports and travel. Visitors receive a passport-style stamp tour, while the food lounge will serve draft beer, cocktails and unusual snacks. Entertainment includes dancing, local performers, busking, karaoke and DJs. Completing three passport stamps earns a food-themed amenity gift.
Gaebong Central Alley Shopping District — Guro-gu
October 23, 4 p.m.–8 p.m. Location: Throughout the shopping district
The Gaebong Central Night Food Festival will feature outdoor tables, food stalls and a night-market atmosphere. Visitors can make their own beer cocktails and try character cotton candy and flavored popcorn. Customers spending ₩50,000 can receive a ₩10,000 rebate, rising to ₩20,000 for purchases of at least ₩100,000.
Namseong Station Alley Market — Dongjak-gu
October 23, 4 p.m.–9 p.m. Location: Throughout the market
This food festival centers on cold boiled pork, with local butcher shops developing special dishes for a dedicated food and draft-beer zone. There will also be K-pop dance performances, a singing contest, busking, cooking experiences and magic lessons.
Guro Market — Guro-gu
October 24, 3 p.m.–8 p.m. Location: Guro Market and adjacent open space
The fourth Guro Market Hanmaek Festival combines food and traditional Korean culture. A hanbok runway will showcase 10 representative market products, some discounted by up to 40%. Visitors can enjoy an outdoor food zone, make traditional soybean paste and try tuho, jegichagi and ddakji.
Hwagok Central Market — Gangseo-gu
October 29–30, 5 p.m.–9 p.m. Location: Hwagok Central Market
The Byeotgol Community Sharing Festival combines shopping with charity. Donated goods will be auctioned from ₩1,000, while beer will be sold for ₩500, with proceeds donated through the local community center. The festival also includes Digital Onnuri rebates, children’s environmental crafts and performances.
Kkachisan Market — Gangseo-gu
October 30–31, 5 p.m.–9 p.m. Location: Customer Center and throughout the market
The Kkamaek Festival will transform the market into a tropical-style night market with palm trees and outdoor tables. Market foods including bunsik, sausages and dried seafood will be discounted, with free tastings at major entrances. Music, magic, busking, face painting, tarot readings and prize events are also planned.
Bongcheon Jeil General Market — Gwanak-gu
October 31, 4 p.m.–9 p.m. Location: Throughout Bongcheon Jeil General Market
RED NIGHT in Bongcheon Jeil combines food and wine with classical music. Visitors can sample wine paired with signature market dishes while enjoying strings, popera, violin busking and jazz. Activities include candle and mood-light making, a red-carpet photo area and a wish-postcard program.
Gocheok Neighborhood Market — Guro-gu
October 31, 3 p.m.–10 p.m. Location: Merchants’ Hall and parking area
The GOGO Night Market will feature an evening food zone and limited-edition “Gocheok Home Run Cup” finger-food packages. Visitors can also enjoy performances, games and shopping events, with a ₩10,000 Onnuri gift certificate rebate available for purchases of at least ₩40,000.
Yangwon Forest Road Shopping District — Jungnang-gu
October 31, 5 p.m.–9 p.m. Location: Yangwonyeok-ro 14ga-gil area
The Yangwon Forest Road Spooky Library combines books, food and an autumn evening market. Limited-edition dishes inspired by foods appearing in selected books will be sold alongside food trucks. There will also be an outdoor reading area, book flea market, author talk, reading quiz, busking and university performances. Visitors can borrow blankets and reading lights, exchange used books and participate in bookmark-making and book-therapy activities.
Sinwon Market — Gwanak-gu
November 13–14, 4 p.m.–9 p.m. Location: Market interior and waterfront terrace
The Sinwon Market Night Market will offer special food menus alongside lantern displays, local performances and an impromptu dance competition. Activities include calligraphy, tarot, caricatures, photo booths and popcorn. Customers spending at least ₩50,000 can receive ₩10,000 in Digital Onnuri gift certificates.
Event times, programs and shopping benefits may change, and rebates, giveaways and activities can end early if supplies are exhausted.