Often overshadowed by other popular counterparts such as Dongdaemun and Namdaemun, Gwangjang Market is a popular market in Seoul that is truly deserving of a special mention. Established in 1905, Gwangjang Market is widely recognised as one of the oldest markets in Seoul.

While many parts of Seoul City has evolved to accommodate western influences and ideas from abroad, Gwangjang Market has retained all of its traditional Korean roots which makes it the best place to go if you want to experience authentic Korean street food and culture under one roof. Fans of Running Man might find Gwangjang Market very familiar (watch episode 186).

Not sure what you can expect there? Here’s What To See And Eat At Gwangjang Market.

WHAT TO SEE AT GWANGJANG MARKET

There are various sections in Gwangjang Market offering silk, clothes and food. Within the food section, you will also find a variety of items on sale which include fresh vegetables, fruits, kimchi, seafood and the best of all—delicious street food!

You are likely to see two groups of people at Gwangjang Market—locals going about their grocery shopping there and curious tourists wandering around the place.

There are many makeshift stalls set up around Gwangjang Market, but the place is far from being disorganised. Basically, all the portable stalls are lined up along the centre of the walkway so visitors are required to walk either on the left or right side of the pavement.

WHAT TO EAT AT GWANGJANG MARKET

If you are not interested in fresh produce, head straight for the street food section. Seoul may have amazing night markets that offer plenty of street food but you definitely should not miss out on the buzzing atmosphere at Gwangjang Market.

As cooking is done on-site, the first thing that will hit you is the glorious smell of street food from all the different stalls there. So come prepared with an empty stomach so that you can try many varieties of Korean street food!

Japchae (stir-fried glass noodles) and Kimbap (seaweed rice roll) are two local favourites you really have to try. This stall in Gwangjang Market is offering a set for W2,000/ S$2.38 and we noticed that it is extremely popular among young Koreans who would pop by for a quick meal and leave.

Another common dish you will find there is Pajeon (W2,000/ S$2.38). It may be a simple recipe consisting of only batter and wild green onions but you will be surprised at how the sweet and savoury flavours from the onions and pancake will create a nice balance on your palate.

We were given fresh kimchi and marinated onions as sides to give the dish an extra oomph. Side dishes are refillable so that really gives you more bang for your buck.

Another highlight at Gwangjang Market is Bindaetteok (W4,000/ S$4.77) which is also known as ‘Mung Bean Pancake’. Locals make these pancakes during Korean festival celebrations such as New Years and Chuseok, so you can imagine how significant it is to them.

Made from ground mung beans, the pancakes are pan-fried in hot oil before they are served to you with marinated onions. Since the portion is huge, light eaters can consider sharing one so that you still have enough stomach space to try other street food there.

If you are still feeling hungry after all that, go for a filling meal at one of the many casual restaurants there. We highly recommend the Yukhoe (W8,000/ S$9.54), which is essentially bibimbap with raw beef that has been seasoned with a mixture of sauces.

For an even more satisfying meal, pair it with a cup of ice-cold Makgeolli (traditional Korean rice wine) to wash it all down.

Gwangjang Market
88 Changgyeonggung-ro
Jongno-gu
Seoul, South Korea
General stores: 8.30am – 6pm
Restaurants: 8.30am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Jongno 5-ga / Euljiro 4-ga

For more recommendations, read our Seoul’s food and travel guides featuring the best places to visit in the city.

K-dramas is still one of the hottest forms of entertainment in today’s society.

If you have watched a Korean drama before, you know how addictive it can possibly get, and once hooked, it is so difficult to tear yourself away from the screen. Productivity basically declines.

If you are visiting Korea soon and you are a fan of K-dramas, we have put together a list of filming locations in Korea that you must visit. If you are lucky enough, you may even witness the filming of a drama at these locations or even spot one of your favourite celebrities!

Here are 7 Popular Filming Sites In Korea That All Korean Drama Fans Must Visit.

Photo Credit: The Seoul Guide

#1 BUKCHON HANOK VILLAGE

Fans of Personal Taste, the Bukchon Hanok Village is a must-visit for you. The Bukchon Hanok Village is a village with traditional Korean houses (called hanok) which holds over 600 years of Korean history and is conveniently located in central Seoul.

In Personal Taste, most of the plot was centered around Sanggojae, which is a hanok house featuring some modern touches. The gate of Sanggojae and the surrounding roads were filmed at 31 Gahoe-dong in Bukchon Hanok Village, and a picture at the gate is definitely worth a trip.

However, as the Bukchon Hanok Village is a residential village inhabited by local South Koreans, do be cautious and be quiet during your visit and to only take pictures of the exteriors of households.

Bukchon Hanok Village
Gye-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Tel: +82 2 2133 1371
Daily: 9.30am – 12.30pm, 2pm – 5pm and 7pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Anguk Station

Photo Credit: Tumblr

#2 COEX AQUARIUM

Situated in the lively Gangnam district in Seoul, the COEX Aquarium is presently one of South Korea’s largest aquariums. Once you enter the aquarium, follow a path through the aquarium and be enthralled by over 40,000 creatures from 650 species on display.

The COEX Aquarium is where the famous first kiss between the main characters in “I Hear Your Voice” took place. This kiss was shot in the abovementioned walkway, which transformed the kiss scene into an extremely romantic one as there was countless sea life swimming all around them when the kiss took place.

If you are visiting COEX Aquarium with your other half, it would not be a bad idea to recreate the kiss scene in this dreamy setting.

COEX Aquarium
513 Yeongdong-daero, Samseong 1(il)-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Tel: +82 2 6002 6200
Daily: 10am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Bongeunsa

Photo Credit: Travel 3 Sixty

#3 FIRST SHOP OF COFFEE PRINCE

For those who have barely recovered from the incredibly heartwrenching drama of Goblin and the thriller Train To Busan, why not return back to a K-drama which launched the charming actor, Gong Yoo, into stardom?

The First Shop Of Coffee Prince is a cafe in Hongdae which served as the filming location for the cafe featured in the 2007 K-drama of the same name. The cafe can be found along a street that is full of murals and has plenty of street performances.

A friendly reminder before your visit is that you would have to purchase a slightly pricier drink at the cafe in order to enjoy the cafe’s interior and recollect on the K-drama. Even so, time and money spent at this cafe will be worth it for those who are fans of the drama.

First Shop Of Coffee Prince
337-2, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Tel: +82 70 8234 1645
Daily: 10am – 12am
Nearest Station: Hongik University

Photo Credit: BOOMSbeat

#4 GWANGHWAMUN

Even if you are not a K-drama fan, the majestic glory of Gwanghwamun would be a good enough reason for you to drop by. And, no admission fee is required!

Founded by the first king of the Joseon Dynasty in 1935, the Gwanghwamun gate served as the main gate of Gyeongbukgung Palace and a reminder to Koreans of the dedication that their ancestors in the Joseon Dynasty had contributed to the creation of a new dynasty.

The Gwanghwamun gate was one of the places where the hit TV drama IRIS had filmed an action scene where the main characters tracked down a nuclear bomb, which had been planted by North Korean terrorists.

Gwanghwamun
161, Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Tel: +82 2 738 9171
Daily: All day
Nearest Station: Gwanghwamun

#5 NAMISEON ISLAND

Accessible by ferry or shuttle bus, Namiseon Island is a gorgeous island located on a half-moon-shaped isle and is also where the grave of General Nami lies.

Perhaps most fondly known for the beautiful tree-lined roads, Namiseon Island is also famous for being one of the filming locations for the iconic K-drama, Winter Sonata.

With the extremely peaceful atmosphere and emphasis on the preservation of nature, visitors can take the opportunity to re-enact the memorable moments from the drama, or even create new romantic or platonic memories at this island; priceless memories for a lifetime.

Namiseon Island
1, Namisum-gil, Namsan-myeon, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, Seoul, South Korea
Tel: +82 31 580 8114
Daily: 7.30am – 9.45pm

#6 N SEOUL TOWER

Apart from being a regular filming location for K-dramas, the N Seoul Tower is popularly visited by couples for dates and on special occasions.

Offering panoramic landscape views of the entirety of Seoul, the N Seoul Tower is 237m in height and is built on top of the Namsan mountain. To avoid a lengthy and tiring journey to the N Seoul Tower, there is a cable car service that will bring you to the entrance of the tower.

In Boys Over Flowers, the N Seoul Tower cable car was the first date of the main characters took place, and the Namsan Park is also where Yong Tae Yong met Park Ha in the drama, Rooftop Prince.

Relive the experiences of these K-drama characters (of course avoiding the bitter cold in the cable car service) for a memorable trip to Seoul with your travel partner.

N Seoul Tower
105 Namsangongwon-gil, Yongsan 2(i)ga-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Tel: +82 23 455 9277
Sun to Fri: 10am – 11pm
Sat: 10am – 12am
Nearest Station: Chungmuro

Photo Credit: Walk With Charm

#7 PETITE FRANCE

Other than serving as the film location for K-dramas such as Beethoven Virus, Secret Garden, and My Love From The Star, Petite France is a French cultural village that is set in the Korean countryside. The Petite France has 16 French-style buildings, where visitors can enjoy French food, clothing, and culture.

Based on the French novel, Le Petit Prince (1943), there is a memorial hall which is dedicated to the author of the novel, Saint-Exupery. Take in the lush green scenery and the gorgeous array of wildflowers as you walk through the village and refresh your senses from the daily complexities of life.

As this village is only accessible by ferry or bus, do make sure that you reserve your tickets early so as to secure a visit to this amazing site!

Petite France
1063, Hoban-ro, Cheongpyeong-myeon, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Tel: +82 31 584 8200
Sun to Thurs: 9am – 6pm
Fri & Sat: 9am – 8pm