February 3, 2025
SEOUL – The bustling neighborhood of Hongdae in Mapo-gu and Seongsu-dong, a vibrant cultural hub in Seongdong-gu, have been the go-to date spots for many millennials and Gen Zs.
But, Korean baby boomers — those who were born between 1955 to 1974, which is a period when South Korea’s economic development began in earnest — have Dongmyo Flea Market, which is their own version of Seongsu-dong where cool vibes coming out from almost every shop and store filled with retro items.
Attracting more locals with the revival of the 1980s and 1990s across various sectors, from fashion and food to music, Dongmyo Flea Market is winning people’s hearts once again as a place that evokes nostalgia for older travelers and offers a time-travel-like experience to younger visitors. The market’s renewed popularity was further fueled after being featured in an episode of the hit Korean reality series “I Live Alone,” where Key of the popular K-pop boy group SHINee explored the area and embraced the retro vibe in his own unique way.
The main street of Dongmyo Flea Market begins from Dongmyo Station Exit No. 3 on Subway Line No. 1.
And the small alleys and corners stretched from this main road is a feast for the eyes.
One of the highlights of the market are the clothing stalls where the owners simply pile up the clothes on the street and the buyers must dig through the piles with their backs bent to find hidden gems.
The conditions of the clothes are certainly random, but their unbelievably low prices — starting from 1,000 won ($0.72) — motivate the people to spend some quality time to find a hidden jewel that is not only fashionable, but also suit the buyers’ taste.
For those who want to take a close look at the vintage clothes without any excavation, head over to Dongmyo’s popular vintage shops Sold Out and Vintory.
Diverse items to complete your outfit or follow the ongoing Y2K fashion revival are all stocked to please the visitors with the sense of fashion and fascinate the ordinary tourists.
Even if you are not a big fan of buying clothes and other accessories, have a look around the shops where faded DVDs, vinyl records, fashion accessories, plush dolls and other exciting merchandises are displayed.
Instead of heading to the convenience stores to get the extra drinks, quench your thirst with a cup of coffee, sikhye — a sweet-flavored rice drink — or makgeolli at the nearby beverage stalls. Most of those drinks cost 1,000 won as well.
Visiting a traditional Korean market is a must-do for local and overseas travelers. These markets offer visitors a chance to experience life in Korea, explore lesser-known areas in the city and window-shop to enrich your trip to Seoul. In this series, The Korea Herald introduces Seoul-based street and flea markets other than the most popular.