Gwangjang Market With Kids: A Long Walk, Yukhoe, Bindaetteok, and Beer

Gwangjang Market was the final stop for the five of us after Changdeokgung Palace. We wanted to try dishes that appeared constantly on Korean social media, especially yukhoe tangtangi and bindaetteok. A large taxi never arrived, so we carried our tired daughters in turns and walked. The meal—and the cold beer I could enjoy because we had left the car at home—felt especially satisfying after that effort.

Our spontaneous Seoul day-trip series

1. Our daughters’ first KTX ride and Insadong pottery workshop
2. Walking through Changdeokgung, where their grandfather worked
3. A long walk and family dinner at Gwangjang Market

Why finding a taxi became difficult

By the time we left Changdeokgung, our group included my wife, our two daughters, my sister-in-law, and me. Five passengers meant that an ordinary taxi would not work. We tried to request a larger vehicle, but none was assigned despite a long wait.

The girls had already walked through Insadong, Ssamziegil, and much of the palace. Eventually, we stopped waiting and headed toward the market on foot. When a child became tired, one of us carried her. When she recovered, we walked hand in hand again.

Finally reaching Gwangjang Market

The market was still full of movement and cooking smells when we arrived. Ingredient shops lined the indoor lanes, while the food alley was dense with stools, griddles, conversations, and the sound of bindaetteok frying.

Yukhoe, bindaetteok, and a cold beer

We had come for yukhoe tangtangi—a combination commonly made with seasoned raw beef and chopped live octopus—and bindaetteok, a crisp mung bean pancake. A plate of red yukhoe arrived with egg yolk, followed by hot pancakes and other dishes to share.

Leaving our car at home brought one small reward: I could drink a cold beer without worrying about driving. The decision to travel by KTX had made the morning feel adventurous and the final meal more relaxed.

Gwangjang Market visitor information for 2026

• Address: 88 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
• General market hours: 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; listed as closed Sundays
• Food alley: 9:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m.; listed as open year-round
• Nearest subway: Jongno 5-ga Station Exit 8 on Line 1, approximately 60 meters away
• Well-known foods: Bindaetteok, yukhoe, mini gimbap, sundae, assorted jeon, tteokbokki, and fish cake

Market-wide hours do not guarantee that every vendor will be open. Individual restaurants and shops set their own closing days, may sell out, and may change prices. If one specific restaurant matters to you, check its latest notice before traveling.

What I would do differently with children

• Choose transportation from the palace area before everyone becomes tired.
• For five or more passengers, plan a subway or bus alternative rather than relying entirely on a large taxi.
• Hold children’s hands in the crowded food alley and agree on a meeting point.
• Consider visiting outside the busiest lunch and dinner periods.
• Choose cooked options for children and anyone at higher risk from raw food; ask about spice and allergens before ordering.
• Order a few dishes at a time and share, since many foods are rich and filling.

Frequently asked questions

Is Gwangjang Market’s food alley open on Sundays?

Visit Seoul lists the general market as closed Sundays but the food alley as open year-round. Individual vendors can still take separate days off, so check a specific restaurant directly.

Which subway exit is closest to Gwangjang Market?

Jongno 5-ga Station Exit 8 on Line 1 is the closest option in the official Seoul tourism listing, at roughly 60 meters from the market.

What foods work well for families?

Cooked dishes such as bindaetteok, assorted jeon, noodles, tteokbokki, fish cake, and gimbap are easy places to start. Check spice levels and allergens, particularly for younger children.

A tiring day that remains vivid

We began the morning without an itinerary. By evening, our daughters had taken their first KTX and subway rides, painted pottery in Insadong, and walked through the palace where their grandfather had worked. The taxi problem and long walk were not pleasant at the time, but they became part of the story.

The trip was not effortless or perfectly planned. It was memorable because one beautiful blue sky persuaded us to leave home and give our children several first experiences in a single day.

Start from Part 1: Our daughters’ first KTX ride and Insadong pottery workshop →

Editorial note: This story is based on our family trip on August 28, 2022. Gwangjang Market’s address, transit access, and area-specific hours were checked against the official Seoul tourism guide on September 3, 2026. Vendor schedules and prices can change.

Official sources: Visit Seoul: Gwangjang Market · Visit Seoul: using the subway