[One Day Ten Thousand Steps, One Day One Thousand Characters] Visiting Traditional Markets on Seollal Means 'Walking Exercise as a Bonus'

Seodaemun-gu Traditional Market Stamp Tour and More
Shopping That Also Cares for Your Health Draws Attention

As the Lunar New Year approaches, the number of people visiting traditional markets has significantly increased. This is because purchasing products needed for the Lunar New Year ancestral rites table at traditional markets is cheaper than at large supermarkets. Moreover, this year, there is growing interest in the exercise benefits of shopping at traditional markets. Issues such as accessibility, which were once considered inconvenient, are now seen as advantages because they encourage more walking, leading to the development of courses centered around traditional markets where people can shop and exercise simultaneously.

On the 7th, Seodaemun-gu announced that it will hold a ‘Traditional Market Stamp Tour’ for this Lunar New Year. Participants can join this challenge through ‘WalkOn,’ a walking community platform operated by the startup Swalabi. Seodaemun-gu is home to many traditional markets, and the markets included in this challenge are Moraenae Market, Baekryeon Market, Sareoga Shopping Center, Yeongcheon Market, Yujin Arcade, and Inwang Market. From February 5th to 25th, around the Lunar New Year holiday, participants who collect stamps at these traditional market courses will be entered into a draw to receive mobile Seoul Love Gift Certificates.

Visiting the bustling traditional markets during the peak holiday season adds energy to what might otherwise be a monotonous walk. Among the representative markets in the Seodaemun-gu Traditional Market Stamp Tour challenge, Yeongcheon Market is one of the district’s iconic markets with over 50 years of history. It is located near Dongnimmun Station and sells a wide variety of food ingredients, from fruits to agricultural, fishery, and livestock products, attracting many visitors especially before the holidays. Inwang Market, operating since the 1960s, offers a diverse range of products including fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, clothing, and miscellaneous goods. Moraenae Market derives its name from the Moraenae area in Namgajwa, Seodaemun-gu, and is popular for its variety of food options. Sareoga Shopping Center, based on Yeonhui Market, has been operating since 1975 as a community-based mart where you can buy eco-friendly foods as well as ingredients from various countries. Yujin Arcade is located in a building opposite Inwang Market. The interior is designed like a department store, and outside, there is a fruit wholesale market where fresh fruits can be easily purchased.

Seoul City has also developed walking paths along traditional markets. These six courses start from subway stations and pass along streams and parks before arriving at the markets. The final destinations of the six courses are Yeomcheon Market, Tongin Market, Pobangteo Market, Yongmun Market, Hwanghak-dong Market, and Dunchon Market. Walkers can enjoy sights such as Hongjecheon Stream, Gyeongui Line Forest Trail, and Sajik Park on their way to the markets.

Meanwhile, the Small Enterprise and Market Service conducted a price survey last month on 27 Lunar New Year ritual items at 37 traditional markets and 37 nearby large supermarkets. The results showed that the average cost of setting up a Lunar New Year ancestral rites table for four people was 298,392 KRW at traditional markets, which was 56,574 KRW cheaper compared to large supermarkets.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.