Tongin Market in Seochon is known for its distinctive oil-fried tteokbokki. Instead of simmering rice cakes in a pool of sauce, vendors cook them in oil and seasoning until the outside becomes lightly crisp and the inside stays chewy.
The market is a convenient food stop near Gyeongbokgung Palace, especially for travelers exploring Seoul’s historic western neighborhoods.
What to Eat
Oil Tteokbokki (Gireum Tteokbokki)
The signature dish comes in two main styles:
- Red tteokbokki: Rice cakes coated in a spicy red pepper seasoning and fried in oil.
- Soy-seasoned tteokbokki: A lighter-colored version with a savory soy-based seasoning.
The rice cakes are chewy inside, with a slightly browned surface and a concentrated seasoning. This is the main food to try when visiting the market.
Price and How to Order
Prices vary by stall and may change. As a rough planning guide, allow around ₩3,000–₩5,000 for a small serving of oil tteokbokki, but check the displayed menu before ordering.
- Minimum order: There is no confirmed market-wide minimum. At many snack stalls, a small individual serving can be ordered, but each vendor may set its own portion or ordering rules.
- How to eat: Eat the rice cakes while they are warm. Try the red and soy-seasoned versions side by side to compare their flavors.
- What else to try: The market also has other Korean snacks and dishes, so you can combine a small serving of tteokbokki with another food instead of ordering a large meal.
A Short History
Tongin Market developed into a local marketplace as Seoul’s population grew after the Korean War. Its oil tteokbokki became a distinctive snack, prepared by frying seasoned rice cakes on a hot, oiled cooking surface rather than serving them in a soupy sauce.
The market is also known for its traditional lunchbox experience, where visitors can collect foods from participating stalls using market coins. Oil tteokbokki remains one of the foods associated with the market.
How to Get There
By Subway — Recommended
Gyeongbokgung Station (경복궁역), Seoul Subway Line 3
- Exit 2: The most straightforward exit for Tongin Market.
- Walking distance: Approximately 500–515 m to the market entrance, depending on the route and entrance used.
- Walking time: Around 7–10 minutes at a comfortable pace.
From Exit 2, walk toward the Seochon and Tongin Market area, following signs or your map app to Tongin Market (통인시장). Once inside the market, follow the food stalls to find oil tteokbokki vendors.
Some individual tteokbokki shops are deeper inside the market, so allow a few extra minutes beyond the market entrance.
By Bus
Bus routes and stop names can change, and I could not confirm a reliable current list of routes serving the market entrance. Rather than give you potentially incorrect bus numbers:
- Search “통인시장” or “경복궁역” in a live Seoul transit app.
- Select a bus stop near Tongin Market or Gyeongbokgung Station.
- Check the walking directions from that stop to the market entrance before boarding.
For first-time visitors, Line 3 to Gyeongbokgung Station Exit 2 is the clearest route because the market is within walking distance.
Practical Tips
- Visit during the daytime when more market food stalls are likely to be operating.
- Individual stall opening hours and closing days vary.
- The market can be busy around lunch, so allow time to browse before choosing food.
- Oil tteokbokki is best eaten soon after it is cooked, while the rice cakes are warm and their outer surface is still lightly crisp.
Check current opening hours, stall availability, menu prices, and transport information before visiting.