Travel
Seoul, South Korea breaks ground on Shin Jungang Market redesign
haps Magazine Korea
September 23, 2026
Shin Jungang Market redesign (AI rendering image by Seoul Metropolitan Government/courtesy of haps Magazine Korea)
Seoul has begun work on a major redesign of Shin Jungang Market in Jung-gu, aiming to transform the traditional shopping area into a cultural and tourism destination connected to some of the city’s busiest neighborhoods.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on September 22 for the project, the first of Seoul’s “Design Innovation Traditional Market” initiatives to move into the construction phase. Completion is scheduled for August 2027.
Approximately 18.7 billion won will be invested in the redevelopment, which goes beyond renovating aging market facilities. The project will redesign the market’s layout, pedestrian routes and public spaces while improving connections with 16 surrounding alleys.
One of the biggest changes will be the replacement of the existing arcade with an environmentally friendly wooden roof designed to allow more natural light into the market. The design, known as “Roof Wave,” was developed by YOAP Architects and TCA Architects Lab.
Open-roof entrances will also be created at the market’s 16 alleyways, helping connect the market more naturally with the surrounding neighborhood. A stepped rest area will provide space for shoppers, visitors and merchants to sit and relax, while exposed electrical lines and other infrastructure will be reorganized.
The city hopes the changes will encourage people to spend more time in the market rather than simply visiting to shop.
Shin Jungang Market is also expected to become part of a broader nighttime tourism route linking Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), the increasingly popular “Hipdang-dong” area, Sindang-dong Tteokbokki Town and the Central Asian district in Gwanghui-dong.
Seoul plans to work with merchants and local organizations to introduce nighttime food, cultural and tourism programs, positioning the market as a place where visitors can shop during the day and stay for dining and entertainment into the evening.
The project is part of a wider effort to develop traditional markets as attractions where visitors can experience local food, culture and neighborhood life rather than treating them solely as retail spaces.
Similar design projects are planned for Tongin Market in Jongno-gu and Cheongnyangni General Market in Dongdaemun-gu. Construction at Tongin Market is targeted to begin in February 2027.