In an area the size of a city block, the Hwanghak-dong Flea Market boasts over 500 stores with classic antiques to archaic electronics from the sixties. For book worms, the Second Hand Book Street occupies a popular spot just south of the Cheonggyecheon Stream with a city’s worth of classic Korean and foreign literature available.
떡볶이 Tteokbokki in
retail トッポッキ屋台 - Dongdaemun
떡볶이 Tteokbokki in retail トッポッキ屋台 - Dongdaemun. Photo by J.G. Wang
Foodies are in for a particular treat as Dongdaemun has four food attractions to visit. The Sindang Tteokbokki Town offers a royal buffet of the traditionally simple Korean dish. Visitors can try all the varieties of tteokbokki being served up by the restaurants and vendor stalls here. On the other hand, Gwangjang Market offers a dizzying variety of Korean street food from freshly steamed pork knuckles to fishcakes and servings of Korean sausages known as “sundae” alongside textile stores and bedding shops.
Finally, the Bangsan Market is lovingly referred to as Seoul’s “baker’s market.” Rather than serving up baked goods, Bangsan offers raw ingredients from confections to extracts. Bakers from across the city-state flock to Bangsan for ingredients, supplies, appliances, and tools to get the job done.