Namdaemun Market emerges as new shopping destination for foreign tourists
Namdaemun Market in Seoul is attracting growing numbers of foreign tourists, as visitors increasingly venture beyond familiar shopping destinations such as Myeong-dong and Gangnam to explore traditional markets, data showed Thursday. According to data accumulated by Shinhan Card, card sales at tourism-related businesses at Namdaemun Market totaled 109.18 billion won ($81.4 million) in the…
Seoul's Namdaemun Market is gaining popularity among foreign tourists, as more visitors broaden their shopping horizons beyond traditional hubs like Myeong-dong and Gangnam. According to data from Shinhan Card, card sales at tourism-related businesses at Namdaemun Market reached 109.18 billion won ($81.4 million) from January to September, marking a 7.5% increase compared to the previous year.
Spending by foreign cardholders surged by 65.6% to 15.76 billion won, up from 9.51 billion won a year earlier. However, domestic cardholders' spending only rose by 1.5%, from 92.01 billion won to 93.42 billion won. The market's appeal for foreign tourists seems to stem from its offering of everyday items that have gained popularity among younger Korean consumers on social media.
Unlike Seoul's major shopping districts, Namdaemun Market is home to a diverse array of affordable household goods, clothing, and accessories, conveniently located in its narrow alleys.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
