Imagine the traditional Korean buy some foods or groceries with coins; isn’t that fun?
Now you still could have this unique experience nowadays; just go to TongIn market!
History:
Tongin Market dates back to 1941 when it was a public market set up for Japanese residents near the Hyoja-dong neighborhood when Korea was still under Japanese rule.
After the Korean War the nation experienced swift rise in population, which led to a natural increase in consumption and demand. As a result the area’s street vendors and stores used the former Tongin Market area as their marketplace.
Now, Tongin Market consists of 75 stores, most of which are restaurants and grocery stores. There are also some shops selling manufactured goods like underwear and shoes.
Visitors could buy tradtional 10 coins(one for ₩500) at the customer center 2F. When you walked around the alley and see the blue or red mark, you could use the coins instead of cash to buy something food and drinks.
You could choose what you wanna eat, and it costs 1~4 coins. depending on what you order. After buying what you wanna eat, you could sit at the customer center 2F or 3F, and they also serve rice and soup there.(2 coins needed)
You might ask “Do I definitely need to exchange coins to buy foods?”
The answer is No! You could buy it with cash. People doing this is just for fun (￣▽￣)
11:00a.m. open ~17:00 p.m. closed
Off-day: Every Monday & the 3rd Sunday of month
How to get there:
[Subway] Gyeongbokgung Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 2.
Go straight for about 700m. The market will be on your left. Or take a green bus No.9 at Gyeongbokgung Station Exit 2
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References:
The shops information in English
Tongin mareket introduction
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