Gyeongdong Market
Gyeongdong Market
4
About
The country's largest medicinal herb market features a seemingly never ending array of spices, herbs and mushrooms. This is also a great place to try unusual medicinal teas, like deer antler or holy mushroom tea.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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The area
Neighbourhood: Dongdaemun-gu
How to get there
- Jegi-dong • 5 min walk
- Cheongnyangni • 7 min walk
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4.0
94 reviews
Excellent
35
Very good
44
Average
10
Poor
2
Terrible
3
JHL
Seoul, South Korea9,344 contributions
Mar 2020
Gyeongdong Market is famous for its fruit sellers and low prices. The fruit zone is really huge and lively. You can find various kinds of Korean fruits and imported fruits.
However, be careful. There are dishonest sellers giving lower quality fruits than samples. So, you should check before paying especially purchasing as a box.
Also, there are many others like ginsengs, vegetables, grains, seafoods, etc.
However, be careful. There are dishonest sellers giving lower quality fruits than samples. So, you should check before paying especially purchasing as a box.
Also, there are many others like ginsengs, vegetables, grains, seafoods, etc.
Written 6 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Todd V
Austin, TX24 contributions
May 2023
Anything you could possibly want to see or buy, you can't find here - or at least very close by. The people are pretty great, for the most part. But have no interest in going beyond (maybe) saying 'hello' and taking your money. They are pretty hard-scrabble and act as if they've seen it all. Which makes sense, since they sell dog meat. You can get that image out of your head once you see it. Definitely worth a visit, though it's surreal and outrageously capitalistic. Imagine NYC in the late 80s without the personality. Again, butchered dog... But d-mn it, the fried chicken and seafood restaurants are exceptional. The other patrons are borderline rude with the pushing and shoving.
Written 15 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TS0187
Singapore61 contributions
Oct 2013 • Couples
Take Subway Line 1 to Jegi Station Exit 2. The arch for Traditional Medicine Market (药令市场） is on the left, do not turn left here as it will lead you to some stores selling dried Ginseng and other medicine. Walk straight, cross the street and turn left followed by right turn. You will reach a local market selling lots of raw Ginseng and other produce. During our visit in Oct 12, 300 grams of 6 years old raw Ginseng is selling around 10K to 13K won. Average about S$3.50 to $4.00 per piece. We visited here on our last day in Seoul so that we can bring it back as fresh as possible.
Written 29 October 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Oui71
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia12 contributions
Thank you for this tripadvisor guide, we managed to come here. We came here by metro line 1. We found out lots of herbs to buy. Worth to go, but really need to go deeper so can bargain with good price. At first we didnt know that, the more we get inner part, the cheaper price we get.
Written 1 January 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
my_traveller
Singapore, Singapore8,090 contributions
Jan 2015 • Friends
The market is long about 1km. Many stores selling ginseng and foods. You can see people selling strawberries, promengrates, blueberries, oranges, apples, chestnuts. You have to see which stores offer good value food. Prices might varies along the way.
Ginseng price varies too. We purchased from the store which is deep inside the market. The young guy seems honest, he explained to us which was suitable to make chicken soup. He also told us to choose the short and pump ones, with lots of roots to make good chicken soup.
Because more roots meaning that the ginseng has absorbed lots of nutritients.
He put those good ones inside the store. Hence, we have purchased them thinking it was the best. The price was 300g for 20,000 krw. We brought 1.5kg of 20,000 krw. The weight was 620 and 915. Hence, he gave us extra for the weight. If the taste was good, we would buy again.
The ginseng smell was super strong and good. More mud at the ginseng means that they have just taken it out from the ground.
Ginseng price varies too. We purchased from the store which is deep inside the market. The young guy seems honest, he explained to us which was suitable to make chicken soup. He also told us to choose the short and pump ones, with lots of roots to make good chicken soup.
Because more roots meaning that the ginseng has absorbed lots of nutritients.
He put those good ones inside the store. Hence, we have purchased them thinking it was the best. The price was 300g for 20,000 krw. We brought 1.5kg of 20,000 krw. The weight was 620 and 915. Hence, he gave us extra for the weight. If the taste was good, we would buy again.
The ginseng smell was super strong and good. More mud at the ginseng means that they have just taken it out from the ground.
Written 21 January 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pangu_Rites
Hong Kong, China221 contributions
I came here with my mum to purchase some fresh ginseng, there is plenty of choice. Remember to walk in deeper into the market for better bargains! We purchased 300g for 15,000KRW. It made a delicious ginseng chicken soup when we took it home! The vendors mostly do not speak any English but we found some that could speak chinese! We were told that the shorter stouter ginseng is good for soup and the taller thinner ones are best for making tea or drinks.
Written 23 March 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jasonteh7
Singapore, Singapore277 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
Went for the novelty of it, realized every store was selling more or less the same stuff. And every shop we walked past, the owner will come and badger us into making purchases.
We ignored most of them until we came to one where the owner didn't harrass us. Bought ginseng and ginseng tea for quite reasonable prices
However, as we left the other store owners were like staring and judging us so we decided to make a quick getaway.
We ignored most of them until we came to one where the owner didn't harrass us. Bought ginseng and ginseng tea for quite reasonable prices
However, as we left the other store owners were like staring and judging us so we decided to make a quick getaway.
Written 4 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stealthcritic
Palm Beach, FL299 contributions
Oct 2014 • Friends
We took a stroll at the market and there certainly a lot of ginseng. The fruits and vegetables look wonderful.
Unfortunately we took a wrong turn and ended up on a street that had live animals a few of the cages had
Dogs, which made me want to vomit. It ruined my day.
Unfortunately we took a wrong turn and ended up on a street that had live animals a few of the cages had
Dogs, which made me want to vomit. It ruined my day.
Written 10 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JHL
Seoul, South Korea9,344 contributions
June 2018 • Family
This is a huge traditional market for truly local people's sake. It'll be a good time to experience a Korea's market.
- The location is a walkable distance from Cheongnyangni or Jegidong.
- I recommend buying fruits here. Fruits are comparatively expensive Korea. But, here is cheaper than many other places.
- There are also other fine products. Take a look first and pick the best one after.
- The location is a walkable distance from Cheongnyangni or Jegidong.
- I recommend buying fruits here. Fruits are comparatively expensive Korea. But, here is cheaper than many other places.
- There are also other fine products. Take a look first and pick the best one after.
Written 3 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Havenq
Singapore16 contributions
July 2016 • Solo
I came here via the subway to Jegi-dong station. As you walk tap out of the gantry area, you will be mesmerized by all the different herbal medicine displayed in the station as you access Korea's traditional herbal market. It was a truly local experience there, with very affordable herbs and groceries you can find. Most of the people you see there are ahjummas (aunties), and I could barely see any young people my age. There weren't a lot of tourists around that area, and certainly the cultural experience is very much enriching. There was a really kind ahjumma I met along the way, she was actually selling some grains such as barley and buckwheat, her stall was located near to the exit of Jeji-dong station. I was conversing with her in Korean, I actually wanted to buy some grains from her but she refused to accept my money since I was a student (that feeling of 'paiseh' is real). I managed to buy some very cheap fresh ginseng there for about 12,000 krw for 300g. The place do sell groceries as well, with berries like aronia, blackberries, and blueberries in very huge boxes. At the same time, you could enjoy lunch there as well with food like cold buckwheat noodles and sikhye rice drink for a true local experience.
Written 17 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hi, I would like find a place where to buy Korean ceramic at normal price, no touristic place.
There is ceramic area in that market? Any suggestions? Thanks
Written 22 June 2018
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