Namdaemun Market, which has stood for 600 years, has been transformed into a space that is easier to walk through, easier to navigate and more inviting to linger in.
Seoul's Jung-gu district completed the "Namdaemun Market Emotional Street Creation Project" four months after breaking ground in March.
The district installed distinctive sculptural features and landscape lighting, added new comprehensive maps and fully repaved aging walkways — all aimed at improving visitor convenience and enhancing the market's appeal.
Namdaemun Market is one of South Korea's most iconic traditional markets, drawing tourists from home and abroad. Jung-gu said the project focused on preserving the market's history and energy while making it easier for visitors to explore every corner.
The renovation first gave the market a distinctive visual identity. Seven entrance gate structures were fitted with unified sculptural designs blending historical character with a modern sensibility, and soft LED landscape lighting was added to reinforce the market's symbolic presence. On the wall of the Sungnyemun Import Shopping Center, design installations and lighting evoking Sungnyemun — National Treasure No. 1 — were installed to create a nighttime photo spot. A plaza in front of Sungnyemun was also furnished with designer benches, giving visitors a place to rest.
The pedestrian environment in the market's alleyways became safer and more comfortable. Worn asphalt walkways were fully repaved with high-quality, pedestrian-friendly stone. Existing stone-paved sections were also carefully repaired down to minor damaged patches, making it easier for tourists pulling luggage or visitors with strollers to move around freely.
Finding a specific alley has also become much simpler. The market's dense network of lanes — which visitors once found confusing — now features intuitive directional signs tailored to each specialty alley, including the stationery alley, braised cutlassfish alley, women's clothing street and eyewear street. Comprehensive maps were installed at four main entrances so visitors can take in the entire market layout at a glance.
Merchants welcomed the changes. "Customers used to ask for directions a lot because they couldn't find the alley they were looking for — I think more people will be able to find their way just by reading the signs," one said. Another added, "The market feels so much brighter and cleaner now. I'm hoping customers will stay longer and enjoy themselves more."
Jung-gu said it plans to keep improving the market as a space where anyone can walk comfortably and linger, while preserving the history and identity of the traditional market, in order to strengthen its competitiveness as a global tourism destination.
Jung-gu District Mayor Kim Gil-sung said Namdaemun Market is "South Korea's most representative traditional market, one that has preserved its long history and vitality," adding that the district would "continue to support the market in building its reputation as a destination where visitors stay — by preserving its unique charm while consistently improving the experience."
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