Tongin Market & Getting There | Seoul, South Korea

Tongin Market 통인시장

서울특별시 종로구 자하문로15길 18 (통인동) | 18, Jahamun-ro 15-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Market Stores (varies by store) 7:00 - 21:00.

Lunchbox Cafe 11:00 - 15:00 (Mon-Fri)/16:00 (Sat-Sun & PH). Closed every Tuesdays & 3rd Sunday of the month.

Free to visit.

Gyeongbokgung Station (line 3, exit 2). 10 mins walk.

tonginmarket.modoo.at

Tongin Market in Seoul offers an interesting experience where you can put together your own lunch box with different Korean food you wish to try, purchased with traditional brass coins.

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History of Tongin Market

Tongin Market was established in June 1941 for Japanese residents during the Japanese Occupation (1910 - 1945). The market was converted for Korean street vendors after the Korean War (1950 - 1953).

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Overview of Market Stores

There are about 75 stores in the market with majority of them cooked food and Korean side dish stores. Other stores include fruits, vegetables, seafood, meat and dry goods.

It is easy to get around Tongin Market as it is one long stretch starting from Jahamun-ro Road at one end to Pirundae-ro Road at the other end.

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Cooked Food Stores

You can try a good variety of popular Korean food from the spicy-oily tteokbokki (Korean rice cakes), tempura, gimbap (Korean seaweed rice rolls) to Eomukguk (Korean fish cake skewer soup) and more at Tongin Market.

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Korean Sweets & Fruits Stores

Check out the freshly-made Korean sweets and fabulous Korean seasonal fruits (particularly grapes, persimmons and strawberries) at Tongin Market.

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A Must-try at Tongin Market - Lunch Box Cafe

One of the highlights unique to Tongin Market and its popularity is the Lunch Box Cafe, a must-try for visitors.

How to use the Lunch Box Cafe:

1. Purchase a bunch of yeopjeon (i.e. Korean brass coins) at Lunch Box Cafe (2F of Tongin Market). Each brass coin is worth ₩500 and you are recommended to purchase a minimum of 20 coins (worth ₩10,000) per person. Unused coins can be refunded. Next, you will be given an empty plastic lunch box.

Tongin Market - Yeopjeon Brass Coins & Lunch Box

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2. With your lunch box, walk along Tongin Market alleyway (1F) and fill it up with food that you like at participating stores with the membership sign. Most food item costs around 2 - 4 coins.

💡You can also pay by cash if you run out of brass coins or when making purchase from non-Lunch Box Cafe participating stores.

Tongin Market - Participating Store Sign

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💡For a more unique traditional outdoor dining experience, you can head towards Tongin Market's Pirundae-ro exit to find a nice-looking wooden pavilion on your left.

3. Once you have filled up your lunch box, go back to the Lunch Box Cafe (2F) for spoons, chopsticks and drinking water, provided free. Alternatively, you can purchase beverages (coffee, tea, soft drinks, etc) at the Lunch Box Cafe too. Meals can be taken at comfort of the cafe on 2F or the more spacious 3F.

Tongin Market - Rest Pavilion (Pirundae-ro entrance)

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Other Attractions in Seochon Hanok Village

Besides Tongin Market, other popular places to check out at Seochon Hanok Village include the stone plaque of King Sejong birthplace, oldest book store in Seoul, cafes, bakeries, Tosokchon Samgyetang's famous ginseng chicken soup and Sejong Village Food Street.

Listing order from near to Tongin Market towards Gyeongbokgung Station.

Sangchonjae House

Seochon Cafe Street

SCOFF

Seochon Potato Croquette

Scooper Gelato

Plaque of King Sejong's Birthplace

Tosokchon Samgyetang

Sejong Village Food Street

Map of Tongin Market

Map of Getting to Tongin Market & Nearby Attractions

Getting to Tongin Market & Location Map | Seoul, South Korea

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