2023-08-31
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The shopping experience in Jongno differs slightly from that in other parts of Seoul. Traditional markets, workshops in tiny alleys, or little businesses on the streets welcome you at Myeong-dong or Dongdaemun near Jongno instead of fancy shopping malls, department stores, and well-known road shops. If you are a traveler who likes retro atmosphere, vintage, and tradition and plan to go to Jongno's famous landmarks and restaurants, we recommend that you check out the shopping spots in Jongno as well.
1. Gwangjang Market
Gwangjang Market is where you'll really get to experience the joy of shopping in Korea. It's a traditional Korean market and culture, and you'll find a huge variety of products. You'll find everything from traditional hanbok to vintage fashion, jewelry, fabrics, and textiles.
The first floor is mainly for groceries and food, while the second floor sells hanbok, vintage clothing, accessories, and clothing accessories, so you can enjoy the delicious food at Gwangjang Market after your shopping spree.
Hours: 09:00 - 18:00 (2nd floor) / 09:00 - 23:00 (1st floor) / Varies by store
2. Insadong
Insadong is where traditional Korean culture and art meet, and it's the perfect place to go shopping. Here you can find a wide variety of arts and crafts, including traditional Korean crafts, calligraphy, ceramics, hanbok, paintings, and antiques, as well as unique Korean kitchenware, teacups, and traditional musical instruments.
It is the finest area to see Korea's cultural splendor while shopping for a variety of arts and crafts because you can mostly visit tiny workshops, shops, and artist galleries there. You can go to Insa-dong from Jonggak Station on Line 1 or Anguk Station on Line 3.
Hours: Varies by store
3. Iksun-dong
Iksun-dong, which is near Meat Alley and Exit 6 of Jongno 3-ga Station, has retro-themed cafes and eateries, but there are also adorable little accessory and clothing stores hidden away in the back alleyways. These stores, which are located in traditional houses, provide unique items of contemporary clothing. You'll appreciate visiting the various shops in Iksun-dong's alleyways and enjoying the shopping experience in and of itself.
Hours: Varies by store
4. Bukchon
Located to the east of Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon is famous for its hanok villages, which are a mix of real hanok houses with real residents and a wide range of hanok shops. Recently, the neighbourhood has become home to the flagship store of Korean beauty brand Tambourines and a store of fashion brand Anderson Bell, giving it a trendy vibe.
Opening hours: Varies by shop
5. Seochon
Divided by Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seochon is a western neighborhood where you can experience Korean culture, art, and trends firsthand. You can buy hanbok, ceramics and teacups, handicrafts, traditional accessories, and more, and just walking down the retro-tinged streets is a trip in itself. Many of the items sold here are handmade by Korean artists and boast unique designs and beauty.
Opening hours: Varies by shop
6. Dongmyo Flea Market
Located a bit off the main street of Jongno, this place is a heaven for vintage fashion seekers In the past, famous foreign designers were impressed by this place, and it appeared on famous Korean TV shows and YouTube. While there are plenty of vintage clothes here, there are also accessories, appliances, antiques, vinyl records, furniture, and more, making it a fun experience just to browse. It's far from the upscale, trendy atmosphere of other places in Jongno, but it smells like humanity more than anything else.