Namdaemun Underground Market

Below one of Korea’s largest and oldest and outdoor shopping areas, just north of the Han River, spreads the seemingly endless series of aisles of imported goods that make up the Namdaemun Underground Market. Also known as Doggaebi Market, if it’s been imported to South Korea, it can be found here.

It’s a great place to grab goodies you may be homesick for. Throw in some steaming food stalls selling spicy noodles and other Korean fare and its a great atmosphere to kill a few hours.

There’s also a host of medicinal and nutritional products not normally available at Korean pharmacies, and available six days a week as the foreign goods section is only closed on Sunday. Stalls and stands don’t have names so it’s really just a question of combing the maze of alleyways thronging with visitors until you see what you wish to purchase.

Locals here joke that you can buy anything under the sun except “nuclear weapons and tanks”.

While nearby Dongdaemun Market may specialize in apparel for fashion-forward shoppers, Namdaemun Underground Market sticks to everyday goods and those hard to find essentials for both foreigners and locals alike, and has done so since 1964.

A lot of the goods in Seoul’s Namdaemun Underground Market are of questionable provenance (don’t expect refunds) and are usually dirt cheap. Both perishable and non-perishable goods are stacked so high the shelves strain under the weight.

Getting there: The most recognizable entrance is close to Shinsaegae Department Store, just up from the main road’s bus stops and subway exits. The best way to get there is to take subway Line 4 to Hoehyeon Station and get out exit 5.