There are Korean & international food trucks, handmade crafts & art pieces, and sometimes even a live performance or two. However unlike many of the other night markets covered here, this one is focused on all the elements of a good date night. So while families do attend, the balance definitely leans towards hand-holding and a long romantic stroll. In 2024, Myeongdong night market hours will be longer and later than at any time since the pandemic, as visitor numbers are expected to swell to more than pre-covid levels.
The Best Night Markets In South Korea
One of Seoul’s most popular night markets and easily accessible by the Metro, Myeongdong Night Market is a tasty, treasure trove of cheap street food and evening eats. From the lively Gwangjang Market and Haeundae Market to the charming Insa-dong Street Market and Jeonju Nambu Market, each market has something unique to offer. Whether you are looking for traditional Korean street food or handmade crafts, these markets will not disappoint. South Korea’s night markets are not just about shopping and dining; they offer cultural workshops that deepen visitors’ experience. Many markets provide opportunities to learn traditional Korean arts and crafts through hands-on workshops.
- Withinthe country itself, there has been a growing lack of trust of its citizens towards thestate’s Public Distribution System in accommodating for their welfare.
- The growth of Huione Guarantee shows that while dark web drug bazaars may have once made the headlines, the cyberscam business is considerably more profitable than narcotics.
- At the end of the eighties, the activities of Room 39 were made public for the first time.
- “In 2019, there was over 23,000 square meters of new market space built around the country.
- Commerce in North Korea’s once bustling marketplaces has slowed to a trickle thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, raising questions about the long-term prospects for Kim Jong Un’s experimental effort to give citizens a bit more economic freedom.
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Apart from the dark web markets that are operating online today, some raided platforms influenced many markets. WeTheNorth is a Canadian market established in 2021 that also serves international users. It offers counterfeit documents, financial fraud tools, hacking and malware services. Believe it or not, some dark web marketplaces have pretty advanced systems for building trust. Sellers often need to pay a deposit to prove they’re serious, and they build their reputation through positive reviews. Expect to find handmade burgers, Korean-style tapas, craft beer, and desserts made with local ingredients.
Can You Resist The Temptations Of Korea’s Night Markets?
But above all, the Yeouido World Market is intent on celebrating different international cuisines! Even though the food comes from different cultures, here they’re given a unique Korean twist. The decadence from the cheese and the fresh flavor of the lobster will keep you wanting more. Fish cakes and rice cakes are also classic Korean street foods that you have to try. If you’re craving for something sweet instead, then we recommend hoddoek, which are like pancakes filled with cinnamon sugar. Now that you’ve shopped for traditional Korean medicine, it’s time to explore the historic market.
Euljiro, often called “Hipjiro” by locals, is a retro-industrial area that has transformed into one of Seoul’s trendiest nightlife districts. What used to be an area filled with printing shops is now a hotspot for unique pubs, breweries, and hidden bars tucked away in alleys. Home to historical landmarks like Gwanghwamun Square and Insadong, the area transitions into a lively scene of traditional Korean bars (pojangmachas) and modern pubs after dark. Members must deliver quotas to the Women’s Union to satisfy demands for everything from kilos of silkworm cocoons to kidney beans or matsutake mushrooms for the regime to sell for foreign currency, or scrap iron for a local construction project.
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For many families, opening a stall in the open-air market became a means of survival. Prosecutors also confiscated 4.4 kg of marijuana and other kinds of illegal drugs from them. On the open market-style website, drug sellers placed advertisements after an initial registration cost of 1.5 million won, received payments from drug buyers in virtual currencies and delivered the products without contacting the buyers. In addition to and as a result of the juche and songun Ideologies, North Korea’s economy is hindered due to extensive sanctions implemented by the United Nations Security Council 15 . The primary reason for these sanctions is because of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, although the first sanctions placed by the United States date back to the 1950s aimed at restricting the country’s financial transactions.
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The vibe is lively yet relaxed, with street performances and twinkling lights creating a festive mood. In 2025, this market continues to be a hotspot for experimental foodies looking to try something new. Don’t miss the napjak mandu (flat fried dumplings), makchang (grilled pork intestines), and chewy rice donuts.

Which Top Companies Are The Leading Key Players In The South Korea Dark Spirits Market Industry?
And just to make sure GIs and dependents behaved themselves, periodic PSA warnings on the Armed Forces Korea Network (AFKN) TV station reminded everyone of the penalties for black marketeering. In a strange twist of fate, the same GI might later find himself drinking from the very bottle he’d sold. My new apartment in Jamsil was just a stone’s throw from a supermarket, a two-story, nondescript building across from Lotte World and the Hanyang Shopping Center. This virtual event picks apart the various components of attack surface management strategy, the push to mandate continuous asset visibility and inventory tools, and the use of red-teaming, bug bounties and pen-tests in modern security programs. The fact that so many dark Chinese sites are on the Chinese clear web raises the question of collusion between the hackers and the government.
Common Scams On Dark Web Marketplaces

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has directed officials to crack down on marketplaces, citing concerns about the spread of capitalist influences. The directive prompted an emergency meeting of provincial officials in South Pyongan province to implement stricter marketplace regulations. Euljiro is also known for its late-night pojangmachas (tent bars), where you can grab a plate of grilled meat, spicy chicken feet, or freshly steamed seafood paired with soju or beer. Start your evening with cocktails at Monkey Museum, a chic lounge known for its luxurious interiors and lively music.

Many visitors make it a point to come here at the end of their night to wander around and haggle after dinner, or occasionally as a way to kill time before the subway reopens. Most of the street food vendors are open quite late, so this also a great place to come for late-night eats. This phrase perfectly metaphorizes night markets in Seoul, because this is what generally happens. Dongdaemun, for example, is barren during the day, when people only come to see the art installations in full view; at night, it turns into a shopping mecca. While some of the shops close around 3 AM, many street food vendors stay open until 5 AM to feed the hordes of hungry locals. Autumn is a favorite for its nuts and chestnuts, with sellers roasting them to perfection, providing warmth in the chillier air.
The border in the north is very long and much less guarded than the border with South Korea. Hundreds of kilogrammes of narcotics produced in the neighbouring country are repeatedly found in China. Not a single North Korean has access to the Internet, yet the country has a Cyber Army in which about 1800 people are supposed to be deployed. An auxiliary office is even said to have been established for this purpose—Bureau 121. In 2016, Bangladesh’s central bank was hacked—several million dollars were stolen, and the FBI is convinced that North Korea was involved.

Strategic partnerships, global expansion, and product diversification are common growth strategies. While market concentration is high, emerging competitors and international entrants pose increasing pressure. Overall, the top players maintain their leadership through continuous innovation, operational excellence, and responsiveness to local and global market dynamics. The Korean government’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 aligns with international efforts to promote eco-friendly production practices within the spirits sector. As a result, industry players face mounting pressure to incorporate industry-specific innovations such as renewable energy-powered distillation, organic grain sourcing, and biodegradable packaging solutions. Some markets are invite-only or have strict registration rules to keep out scammers and law enforcement.
- Based on our own experiences, it is popular with Korean workers and young locals plus sport fans – oh and the occasional travellers like ourselves.
- The primary reason for these sanctions is because of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, although the first sanctions placed by the United States date back to the 1950s aimed at restricting the country’s financial transactions.
- South Korea’s revised Electronic Commerce Act represents a major step toward protecting consumer rights in the digital space.
- L7 Myeongdong by LOTTEThis trendy 4-star hotel is located right by the subway station and within a few minutes of the shopping areas.
- Dark patterns refer to online marketing tactics that subtly mislead consumers into spending money.
“In the past, a woman with a pretty face and a certain job was regarded as a good bride,” she says. I could have any man I wanted.” With her capital and his political connections, she bought a large house and converted it into a confectionery factory, an illicit private enterprise that served markets across the entire province. Ransomware threat actors use malware to lock users out of their systems, demanding payment to restore access.
Popular on Instagram and TikTok, this recently renovated hypermarket has thousands of Korean products and is designed to attract travellers from all over the world with its specialised sections and deep discounting. During festivals and Christmas, the Cheonggyecheon stream sometimes has special lights and pop-up events like the Seoul Outdoor Library, open from April to October along the stream. One of the best walks in Seoul at night, the Cheonggyecheon is a downtown public park and river walk that is it up and open 24 hours (just be careful not to fall in, especially on the stepping stones). But one of the biggest highlights of this place was the walk-in refrigerator which was packed with bottles of Maekgolli (Korean rice wine) and other alcoholic beverages such as soju. The Seoul craft beer scene and brewery bars are on the rise in Seoul so it (thankfully) isn’t just about the bland mass produced beers like Cass or Terra. A lot of the karaoke rooms here have huge glass windows meaning you can watch people sing (and dance!) from the streets.