통인시장: Tongin Market in Seoul and Nearby attractions

by bofuregi bofu24

A hidden gem in Seoul, Tongin Market was founded in 1941 as a public market and now has more than 80 shops. The market offers a wide variety of food and daily necessities, and is especially famous for its specialty, bento cafes.

Location and Transportation

- Address : 18, Jahamun-ro 15-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea

- Subway : 500 meters straight from Exit 2 of Gyeongbokgung Station on Line 3

- Opening hours : 07:00 ~ 21:00 (closed on the third Sunday of every month)

- Phone number : 02-722-0911

- Website : [Tongin Market OfficialWebsite]

A. History of Tongin Market

Tongin Market started as a public market in 1941 and is now home to more than 80 shops. There are mainly restaurants, side dish shops, and other food shops, but there are also shops selling vegetables, fruits, fish, and meat. Since being introduced on TV, bento cafes have become very popular among tourists.

B. Specialties of Tongin Market - How to Use Bento Cafes

Bento cafes offer a unique experience where you can enjoy a variety of foods using postcards that are only available at Tongin Market. Here's how to use it

1. Purchase postcards : Purchase postcards at the Bento Cafe on the 2nd floor of the Customer Satisfaction Center. You can purchase at least 10 postcards, and each postcard costs 500 won.

2. Purchase food : Take the empty lunch box that comes with the postcard and purchase food from a vendor in the market. Most foods, such as tteokbokki and side dishes, can be purchased with 2-3 postcards.

3. Complete your lunchbox : Return to the Bento Cafe with your filled lunchbox and purchase rice and soup. Rice and soup cost 1,000 won each, and if you don't have enough Ipjeon, you can pay with cash.

4. Eat : The cafe will provide you with cutlery and drinking water, and you can sit down and enjoy your meal. If you use the lunch box cafe, you can get a 500 won discount on drinks at the cafe in the customer center.

B-1. Bento Café hours

- Tuesday through Friday : 11:00 ~ 15:00

- Weekends and holidays : 11:00 ~ 16:00

- Closed : Monday, third Sunday of every month

C. Nearby tourist attractions

C-1. Iksun-dong Hanok Street

Lined with hanoks built in the 1920s, Iksun-dong Hanok Street is home to unique cafes, shops, and galleries. You can find traditional hanoks and modern cafes and restaurants in one place.

- Address : 28 Cheok-ro 28-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea

- Access : Subway Line 1, 3, and 5, Jongno 3-ga Station Exit 6, take bus 7212 from Tongin Market Jongno-gu Health Center and get off at Jongno 3-ga.Topgol Park, 10 minutes on foot

C-2. Yoon Dongju Literature Center

This museum was built to honor the literary passion of the poet Yoon Dong-joo, and contains a variety of his works. Behind the literary center is a walking path called Poet's Hill.

- Address : 119, Changangmun-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

- Access : From Gyeongbokgung Station Exit 3 of Subway Line 3, take buses 1020, 7022, or 7212 and get off at Jahamun Pass and Yoon Dongju Literary Center, or take bus 7022 from Jongno-gu Health Center in Tongin Market and get off at Jahamun Pass and Yoon Dongju Literary Center

- Hours : Tuesday through Sunday 10:00 ~ 18:00 (Closed on Mondays)

- Telephone number : 02-2148-4175

C-3. Daelim Museum of Art

Started as Korea's first art museum specializing in photography, it now hosts exhibitions in various artistic fields. Exotic exhibitions and events are held frequently, making art accessible to everyone.

- Address : 21, Jahamun-ro 4-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea

- Transportation : 3-minute walk from Exit 3 of Gyeongbokgung Palace Station on Subway Line 3, about a 10-minute walk from Tongin Market

- Phone number : 02-720-0667

- Website : [Daelim Museum of Artofficial website]

Tongin Market is a unique space that blends tradition and modernity, and is recommended for anyone visiting Seoul. With delicious food and a variety of cultural experiences, Tongin Market is a great place to make memories.