5 Best Markets in Daegu

Gyodong Market, located near Yeosu Coastal Passenger Terminal, is a traditional market with a long history that began in 1965. As it is adjacent to the passenger terminal, it is a place where fresh seafood caught in the sea off Yeosu is gathered. Although it is mainly a seafood market, it sells a variety of products such as vegetables, fruits, and meat. It is open as a morning market and is only open from 5 am to 2 or 3 pm. In the evening, there is a Pungmul Street Night Market. Try the local food, seafood samhap (fermented hongeo skate, kimchi and steamed pork), at the night market. Samhap, which is stir-fried with pork and aged kimchi accompanied by seafood such as fermented skate, pen shell scallops, jumbo shrimps and octopus, is a good accompaniment to drinks. You can enjoy late-night meals relatively quietly compared to the romantic food stalls.

Bongdeok Market is a traditional market in Bongdeok-dong, where you can spend a day shopping for clothes, snacks, and fresh produce at relatively low prices. This is a smaller market when compared to some of the other markets in Daegu, but you can score some good bargains on various Korean items if you invest some time browsing through its many stalls. 

Chileseong Market consists of 7 smaller markets within Daegu’s Taepyeong-ro area. This shopping venue dates back to the Japanese occupation period, and has since been a popular trading place for Korea’s fishermen and farmers.  

This is a great place to purchase agricultural products – you’ll find the Daegu fruits and vegetable market, Apple market, Buk-Mun market, Samsung market, and Kyeonghyeong market. High quality apples are auctioned at really affordable rates at Chileseong Market, so make sure to add them to your grocery list.

The Daegu Herb Wholesale Market has been around since 1658. It has a number of shops selling tea and herbal medicine, as well as clinics with doctors specialising in oriental medicine dating back to the Joseon Dynasty.  

The market is often packed with Asian visitors looking to purchase quality herbs, such as ginseng, goji, mushrooms, and gingko. Every May, Herb Wholesale Market hosts the Medicine Festival – among the many events taking place here include folk music concerts, exhibitions on medicinal herbs, and herb-cutting competitions.

Seomun Market was founded during the Joseon Dynasty, making it one of the oldest traditional markets in Daegu. It has more than 3,500 shops selling all kinds of items, though it’s where you can get high-quality textiles, handicrafts, silver products, and dried seafood.

This market is always crowded, especially in the evening. Seomun Market becomes a food market when the sun sets – must-tries include makchang (beef intestines) and tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes).