My entire IG feed and YouTube algorithm have officially been hijacked by Korean solo saunas and Namdaemun Market sauna hauls!🥵
Literally feels like every single YouTuber my age is doing a Namdaemun market run right now. So what else was I supposed to do? Obviously, I had to go check it out myself.
Below is a complete breakdown compiled from every vlog and blog I researched, plus all the actual shops I personally hit up. Let’s get into it!
Check out previous posts before reading!
👉 [K-Trend] Inside the Korean Spa Trend: What It’s Really Like ♨️
👉 [K-Trend] The Private Sauna in Seoul: Trendy Spots, Enzyme Spas, and Moxibustion
🧷 Trending Seoul Shopping Route: Namdaemun Market
🫠 Sauna Gear Essentials: Daedo General Market ‘대도종합상가’
Location: Daedo General Market (4-21 Namdaemun-sijang 8-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul)
- Chubby Character Sauna Bags: Packed with trending characters like Monchhichi, Hello Kitty, and more. (Waterproof PVC, full mesh, or hybrid mesh-bottom PVC).
- Cute Korean Exfoliating Towels (Italy Towels)
Ever wondered why they’re called “Italy towels”? → The viscose rayon thread used to make them was originally imported from Italy. Fun fact: Italy doesn’t even have these. 😶🌫️ - Hair Caps: Keep your hair mask locked in and protect your scalp/hair from heat damage. It might feel a little old-school, but it’s super cute.
- Sauna Seat Pads: Essential for hygiene and keeping your skin off public benches.
- Exfoliating Soaps: ‘Ttae’ soap—in Korean, ‘Ttae’ refers to dead skin cells on your body. Scrubbing is basically how you rub ‘Ttae’ off. Dead Sea salt for dead skin, volcanic ash for pores.
- Sweatbands & Sauna Hats: Sweat absorption, total game changer.
- BUCO Hair Brushes: Trendy, tons of colorways.
- Sauna Slides: Anti-slip + hygiene.
- Loungewear/PJs: Cute, breezy sets to throw on after.
♨️ Key Shops
- Clean Aroma: Hall D, 1F, No. 26 클린아로마
- Doksuri: Hall D, 1F, No. 53-1 독수리
- Daehoon Sanghoe: Hall D, B1, No. Gong-4 대훈상회
- Seongwon: Hall D, No. 41 성원
🍽️ All the Kitchenware in Korea: Jungang Market ‘중앙상가’
Location: Jungang Market Hall C, 3F (4-21 Namdaemun-sijang 4-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul)
👀 Key Shops
- Aju Kitchen (아주키친): Semi-translucent glassware/plates.
- Belle Kitchen (벨키친): Aesthetic glass cups.
- Hyundae Gimul (현대기물): The most popular spot here. Details are in my last guide! 👇
🤿 How about Swim Accessories?: Sungnyemun Import Market ‘숭례문 수입상가’
Location: 21 Namdaemun-sijang 4-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Hours: Mon-Sat 6:30 AM – 6:30 PM
👀 Key Shops
- No. 97 Rainbow (무지개): Go straight from Entrance 2. Packed with swimsuits, caps, goggles, and fins.
💍 Add Accessories : Common Plaza ‘커먼 프라자’
Location: 47-14 Namchang-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul
👀 Key Shops
- Jade Rings: Shop #58 Yoon Gongbang, Shop #21 Bogyeongsa (under $10).
- Summer Bracelets: Shop #32 Eden (beads, pearls, crystals).
🙌 Other Famous Street Shops
- Character Goods, Cute Keychains, Pouches & Bags: Happiness Trading (해피니스 무역), Kiddy Park (키디파크)
- One-Stop Sauna Gear: Jeil Sanghoe (제일상회)
- PJ & Loungewear World: Namsi Apparel (남시어패럴), Wondangsa (원당사)
📌 Pro Tips for Seoul shopping route:
Go Early: While the market itself has set operating hours, individual shops do their own thing and hours can be pretty unpredictable. I recommend hitting the market in the morning or early afternoon. Plus, Namdaemun Market has amazing street food, so grabbing lunch before exploring is the move.
Bring Cash: Most shops accept cards, but a few might insist on cash only. On top of that, tons of sellers will give you around a 10% discount if you pay in cash, mainly because it saves them from card processing fees.
Watch Out for Overcharging: Since prices aren’t always labeled, sellers can sometimes name any price they want. Shop around a bit to get a feel for standard pricing before pulling the trigger. As a rough rule of thumb, small items usually sit around $5, with most other everyday finds landing closer to $10.
Korean wellness culture is currently in its sauna era, which means Namdaemun Market—the place that literally has everything—is packed with cute sauna gear right now. Everyone’s heading there to haul their essentials.
If you want exact locations or more details, copy and paste the Korean names straight into Naver instead of Google!
Did you check out my previous Namdaemun Guide yet?
Go read that first for more shopping hacks 👉 Namdaemun Market Shopping Guide