Namdaemun (Great South Gate), Seoul

Namdaemun is a big open air flea market. A great place to shop and also to people-watch. I like going to this kind of place because it is where I could really see the locals....how Korean peddlers conduct their business.

What to buy: There is a wide array of goods for sale, a street for each kind....clothes, toys, CDs, shoes, bags and even spices. You need something then most probably you'll find it here.

This is Korea's largest market. I love this place as you can find almost anything that you can think of here. Bargaining is necessary to get great deals. The most interesting aspect is the amount of black market goods that have been obtained from the US military.

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Nandaemun Market has been selling all types of goods for more than 600 years. The place has a lot of character and the market traders are very friendly. This is a good place to buy cheap gifts, ranging from ginseng products to glassware.

Food Vendor Alley is open 24 hours and there is a great variety of Korean snacks available.

Namdaemun Market is my favorite place. This Market history was the latter term of Joseon Dynasty.Namdaemun Market located in this area is one of the biggest wholesale and retail shopping districts in Korea. there is 74 shopping malls and 20,000 specialty stores. have plenty of custom about 300,000 over everydays. and Foreigner custom visit about 7,000~10,000 everydays.

This is typical buy a thing at Namdaemun Market of Foreigner customs. Japanese buy to Mushrooms, Ginseng, Gim, Clothes. Chinese buy to Mushrooms, Clothes, Handicrafts. Americans buy to Clothes, Folk Art articles, Handicrafts. Europeans buy to Clothes, Folk Art articles, Handicrafts. Russians buy to Clothes, Accessories. Eastsouth Asians buy to Clothes, Accessories, Korean Handicrafts. Central and Middleeast Asians buy to Clothes, Accessories. Central and South Americans buy to Clothes, Accessories, Folk Art articles, Korean Handicrafts. Living in Korea Foreigners buy to Clothes, Daily Necessities, Personal Ornaments.

What to buy: You're to find by sale items is Four Seasons whether Clothes, Personal Ornaments, Kitchenware, Accessories, Sunglasses, Leather products, Agricultural and Marine products, Food miscellaneous, Daily Necessities, Alcoholic liquors and Beverages, Import items, Digital Cameras, Korean handicrafts and etc

You can pretty much buy anything and everything at the various night markets around Seoul. My mom told me before my trip that I should buy some bras while out there. According to her (and mommys do know best), brassieres made in Korea are best at enhancing the top assets of the female population lacking in the boobage department.

What to buy: I shyly approached this street vendor, and started to check out her goods. Being that I am not accostumed at buying undergarments in the open like that, I was hoping for a quick recon mission, with a possible come back at a later, more empty street time. Right.

This lady, quickly started to give me different colors and models of bras, as I tried to shy away from her territory. Seeing my hesitation, she picked one up, started to tug at my jacket, and in one swift move, hooked the bra up on me.

Despite the embarassement of having a bra on top of my clothes in the middle of the street, my friend laughing her butt off and snapping pictures, I was lucid enough to tell the vendor: this bra doesn't fit me. Why, oh why did those words come out of my mouth. She quickly tugged at the straps, and reassured me that this one would fit fine.

Still hesitant over the $7 bra, I was thinking to myself "maybe I can get 2 for $10", when the lady gave one final tug on the strap, and with her index finger, proceeded to poke my boobs over the bra, and exclaimed: See, perfect fit, what did I tell you!!

Sold, 2 pairs of bras, and a few stockings! :D

Have you ever asked yourself where you could go to shop for a pig's head, dry anchovies, and a coat, all without having to make three trips? Well have I got the place for you!

Namdaemun Market had just about everything I could think of Flowers, wigs, coats, food, you name it, it is probably here, and that is just the outside open air market.

Namdaemun also features many stores nearby such as Mesa. Mesa is a fun place to shop. My first memory of Mesa was their bus which had people dancing on it. The bus was driven all over town. It is kind of fun to shop there.

Shinsegae Department Store is also a great place to shop. It is a lot more upscale than the open air market of Namdaemun, but a great place to pick up some finer items in Seoul.

If shopping is what you are after, then head to Namdaemun market, which is easily reachable by the metro. The Namdaemun market is located right next to the Southern Gate, which is well worth a visit while you're there. There is no entry to the gate, but you can still admire it and take pics. This market not only offers a vast array of shopping potential, but also has many restaurants to appease your stomach. I had a tasty fish dish for lunch.

This is a huge indoor/outdoor market that is very crowded and stimulating! Just about every "designer" fake you can imagine is here, with a big emphasis on Loius Vuitton.
There is something for everyone from clothes to Korean knicknacks, shoes,furs and lots of leather goods.

What to buy: "Changsung" or Spirit Posts are a traditional Korean item that were quite large and placed at the entrance of every village to protect from harm and ensure peace and prosperity. Now you can buy them in small wooden replicas easy to toss in your backpack.

Laquer boxes are very well made and come in all kinds of sizes and designs with lovely Korean motifs. These are small and make great gifts!

Open air, all kinds of goods, large number of tourists go to this place to see for them selves

What to buy: Any thing you wish, Including all the label brands too. for almost give away free kind of prices

What to pay: Little as possible

This is Seoul's second largest market and the one with most Korean crafts and souvenirs. It's close by Namdaemun and the Myeong Dong modern shopping and entertainment area.