Still, memories of nightlife under the dark night sky in the cool evening breeze are always sweet. Whether you’re sitting at a stall or on a nearby bench, we’ve collected the best night markets in Seoul to enjoy the raw charm of the night.
1. K-Food Festival Noknok
If you’ve been out and about in Gwanghwamun on the weekends, you’ve probably come across people lying in the plaza reading a book. In Sejongno Park next to the Seoul Open Air Library, where food trucks are lively, the K-Food Festival Noknok is being held.
📍Sejongno Park, 175 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul (Naver map)
🗓️ June 20 (Fri) ~ December
⏰ Every Friday through Sunday, 16:00-21:00
2. Sindang-dong Seoul Jungang Market
Sindang-dong is the next hip place after Triangle and Seongsu. Sindang-dong Seoul Jungang Market is at the center of Sindang-dong’s hipness. Sindang Jungang Market looks ordinary, but at night, it looks like a night market in Bangkok or other places in Southeast Asia. Many shops in the market open their doors at night and sell alcoholic beverages and snacks.
You can enjoy dried fish snacks such as Okkyungine Dried Fish, Golden Yukjeon, I Never Settle, Pho 25, Lacay, and Namba Snack, as well as pancakes, yukhoe, Vietnamese food, tacos, and more in one place. If you want to enjoy a night market with a Southeast Asian vibe in Hipdang-dong, we recommend Seoul Jungang Market in Sindang-dong!
📍36, Deunggye-ro 85-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (Naver map)
3. Gwangjang Market
Gwangjang Market is the largest market in Seoul and holds the title of Korea’s first traditional market. It is popular both day and night, but the yukhoe and bindaetteok are especially delicious when enjoyed with a drink in the evening.
You can enjoy the night market by entering the yukhoe alley, such as Jinju Yukhoe, Buchon Yukhoe, and Sister House, or sitting at any stall in the main Gwangjang Market. There are also stalls that sell trendy reinterpretations of familiar sweets such as taiyaki and walnut sweets, such as bachelor’s taiyaki, so you can try new sweets in advance.
📍88, Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul(Naver map)
4. Seokgye Station
Seokgye Station is an unexpected battleground for nighttime pochas. It is a nighttime street where you can find everything from mulhoe to chicken stir-fried soup to Seokgye Station’ s specialty, Ilbunji Pojangmacha, as well as whole chicken, pork belly, and muktae.
📍341, Hwarang-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul