Photos by Taylor Ha
Since 1905, Gwangjang Market has been one of the oldest and largest traditional markets in South Korea. Located in Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea, it continues to thrive as a popular tourist destination today.
Back in the early 1900s, most markets were temporary and open only occasionally to the public. However, Gwangjang Market became the first permanent market to stay open every day of the week.
The market currently holds approximately 1,500–2,000 vendors who sell food, clothing, textiles, handicrafts, kitchenware, souvenirs and Korean traditional medicine.
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- People mill around Gwangjang Market, a traditional street market located in Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea on July 1, 2016. It opened in 1905 and remains the oldest traditional market in Korea. Photo by Taylor Ha.
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- A man dines on pork at one of the market’s stalls. Photo by Taylor Ha.
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- A pig’s head, which is considered to be delicacy in Korea. Photo by Taylor Ha.
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- A customer surveys an array of pickled items offered by many food stalls. These include pickled vegetables and crab. Photo by Taylor Ha.
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- A woman prepares kimchi at Sunghwanae Kimchi. Photo by Taylor Ha.
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- A wide variety of fresh beans. Photo by Taylor Ha.
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- Green chili peppers, known as “cheong-gochu” in South Korea. Photo by Taylor Ha.
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- Bowls of iced seafood are ready for hungry customers. Photo by Taylor Ha.
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- Dried croakers hang from the roof of a food stall. Photo by Taylor Ha.
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- Packaged dried fish and squid sit in front of a paper cutout of Song Joong-ki, a popular South Korean actor, model and host. Photo by Taylor Ha.
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- Hundreds of accessories for hanbok, or traditional Korean dress, are advertised. Photo by Taylor Ha.
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- Rolls of hanbok material line the wall of a hanbok shop. Photo by Taylor Ha.
