Gwangjang Market

Gwangjang Market, previously Dongdaemun Market, is a traditional street market in Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. The market is one of the oldest and largest traditional markets in South Korea, with more than 5000 shops and 20,000 employees in an area of 42,000 square metres. 

I love visiting Korea’s markets for their vibrant atmospheres and bustling crowds, but there’s an additional reason why I was super excited to visit Gwangjang Market, and that was none other than food!!!

Gwangjang Market was made famous internationally by Running Man, but it really took off when it was featured in Netflix’s Street Food. Many locals do come here to eat a piping hot bowl of comforting kalguksu (handmade noodles), so if you want to see a gathering of the most authentic and delicious Korean cuisine, Gwangjang Market is the one to visit.

We didn’t research beforehand on what to eat in Gwangjang Market but being the typical Singaporeans that we are, we immediately sensed that this stall was one worth checking out – all because of the long queue! This popular stall sells Gwabaegi, a Korean twisted donut made from rice flour and typically covered in sugar.

Plus an endorsement by Brie Larson?? You bet that we were going to try this out and see exactly what the hype is about!

Behind-the-scenes of making Gwabaegi feat. the long long queue behind us

Look at this beautiful donut coated in sugar and cinnamon – the dough was crispy and buttery, and the icing was really the perfect way to top it all off. The hype is 100% worth it – even if you have to endure the long queue to get to this, I would still recommend you do it!!

I also bought a bottle of (overpriced) Hallabong juice – this is typically a specialty from Jeju, but we didn’t get to go to Jeju on this trip and I was really craving Hallabong so I succumbed and bought this. Oops.

Some other delicacies you’ll see around (and should definitely try!) include:

• Bindaetteok – Mungbean Pancakes
• Tteokbokki
• Mandu
• Naengmyeon
• Yuk-hoe or Steak Tartare

I’ll update again when I try out more of the food options in Gwangjang Market!

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DIRECTIONS

Address: 88 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

[Subway]
Jongno 5-ga Station (Seoul Subway Line 1), Exit 8.
Euljiro 4-ga Station (Seoul Subway Line 2 & 5), Exit 4.

[Bus]
Jongno 5(o)-ga Station Bus Stop.
Green Bus: 111, 2014, 2112, 7212
Blue Bus: 101, 103, 106, 140, 143, 150, 160, 201, 260, 262, 270, 271, 273, 370, 720, 721, N15, N26, N62
Red Bus: 9301
Maeul Bus: Jongno08

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