Namdaemun is Seoul's largest traditional market and one of the oldest surviving commercial areas in the country, operating continuously since 1414. The market sprawls across several blocks around Sungnyemun (the Great South Gate), with over ten thousand shops and stalls selling everything from ginseng and dried seafood to clothing, hardware, and kitchen equipment. The streets most interesting to visitors are those selling Korean street food, imported goods, and tourist-oriented products.
The best time to visit is early morning, when the wholesale trade is happening and the streets are busiest. The street food vendors near the gate are particularly good: spicy rice cakes, hotteok (sweet pancakes filled with cinnamon and sugar), kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup), and various fried items. The market is within walking distance of Myeongdong and makes a good complement to time spent in that neighbourhood.