Seomun Market

About this place

The largest traditional market in Daegu, with more than four thousand shops. Its name means «west gate», because it grew up outside the west gate of old Daegu Castle, demolished in 1907. It goes back to a market held every five days in the late Joseon period, when it was one of the three biggest in the country, and took its present form in 1920. The market is known above all for fabrics and tailoring, since Daegu was the centre of Korea's textile industry, and whole buildings are given over to hanbok fabric, silk and bedding at wholesale prices. There are also kitchenware, clothes, dried goods and herbs. In the evening the main street turns into one of Korea's best-known night markets, lined with dozens of carts cooking street dishes in front of you, with lights and music. Most of the food is not halal, so ask about ingredients and choose seafood or vegetable dishes. The market has burned several times, most recently in a large fire in one of its sections in 2016, and has been rebuilt. The day market closes on the first and third Sundays of each month, and the night market runs at weekends.