Namdaemun Market - 남대문 시장

History
Namdaemun market dates back to 1414, during the reign of King Taejong, as a government managed marketplace. In 1608, King Seonjo set up the office of seonhyechong (Hangul 선혜청,Hanja 宣惠廳, "tribute bureau" ) in the district to manage the tributes of rice, cloth and money. A trading marketplace took its form around that time and commercial activities flourished as traders set up various shops. Trade was active in grains, fish, fruit, and miscellaneous goods.
The management of the market went over to the Japanese in 1922, but after liberation in 1945 the merchants established the Namdaemun Merchant Organization and took over management. The market, however, turned to ruins during the Korean War and succumbed to fire in 1953. The Seoul Namdaemun Market Co. Ltd. was found in 1954 to rebuild the market, but efforts fell short due to financial troubles. Endeavors for reconstruction continued in the following years, but fires swept the market again in 1968 and 1975. The city of Seoul announced plans to renovate the market in 2007, and reconstruction and renovations are being continued in 2010.
  
Introduction
Opened in 1964, the Namdaemun Market is the largest traditional market in Korea with various goods in store. All products are sold at affordable prices and the stores in this area also function as a wholesale markets.
Most of the goods are made directly by the storeowners. Namdaemun Market opens from 11:00pm to 3:00am, and is crowded with retailers from all over the country. When day breaks, the site of busy Koreans bustling around the market, creates a unique scene that attracts tourists worldwide. The Namdaemun Market sells a variety of clothes, glasses, kitchenware, toys, mountain gear, fishing equipment, stationery, fine arts, accessories, hats, carpets, flowers, ginseng, and imported goods.
 * Children's/Infants Wear
The Children's Wear area at the Namdaemun Market offers the best selection, as it is the largest children's wear market in Korea with a 90% market share. Children's item comprise of products such as t-shirts, dresses, shoes, and socks.
* Ladies Wear
Ladies Wear at the Namdaemun Market offers quality clothing with the latest designs in fashion, such as casual wear, women's suit, clothing for the elderly, and much more. The clothes are made and sold directly from the stores.
* Imported Goods
The Namdo Import Market and the underground market known as the Donggaebi Market also have many goods in store, including furniture, clothing, medicinal drugs, liquor, infant goods, kitchenware, electronics, canned food, dried fish, and more.
Newly designed Hanboks (traditional Korean costume), blankets, and bed sheets can be purchased at great bargains.
* Kitchenware and Lacquer Ware
Kitchenware range from China used in restaurants, stainless steel ware, lacquer ware inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and pottery, to imported kitchen utensils.
* Optician's Shop
All of the opticians are gathered in one area at the Namdaemun Market. A wide selection of eyewear are sold at reasonable prices, including corrective glasses, contact lenses, and sunglasses for both children and adults. The shops are open until late at night, and also funtion as a wholesale market.
* Mountain, Ski, & Fishing Gear
Sporting goods stores in the area offer backpacks, mountain boots, and other various equipment for mountain climbing, skiing, and fishing at wholesale prices.
* Ginseng
Ginseng, laver, dried squid, croakers, dried cod, octopus, peanuts, and pine nuts are all available at both retail and wholesale prices so that costumers can make reasonable purchases.


Structured Size
Total area: about 20,000 pyeongs
10,172 stores
Closed every Sunday


Address
21, namdaemunsijang 4-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul / 서울특별시 중구 남대문시장4길 21 (남창동)
Directions
[Subway]
Hoehyeon Station (Subway line 4), exit 5.
[Bus]
Blue bus 103, 104, 105, 108, 51, 152, 163, 261, 262, 263, 300, 371, 401, 402, 406, 500, 501, 503, 504, 505, 604, 700, 701, 704
Green bus 0013, 0014, 0015 (to Yongsan), 0211, 7015, 7021, 7022, 7023,
Yellow bus 01,02

Type/Products
Traditional markets / fashion apparel, accessories, consumer electronics, cosmetics, ginseng, and much more.

Homepage
http://www.namdaemunmarket.net/ (Korea only)
tour.junggu.seoul.kr (Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese, Russian)

Video
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Source: Wikipedia, Visit Korea