Mom realised that actually it is pretty fun shopping in Korea as things are like hidden gems, you have to know the correct places to get things at a good price. She wanted to experience a local market. Thus, we made time for Namdaemun Market (남대문시장). It is the largest traditional market in Seoul and majority of the items sold here are pretty affordable as they are mainly wholesale price. For example, you can get steamed buns at 10 for KRW5,000, where usual steamed bun shops can sell them at 3 for KRW5,000. This place is great for kids clothing, souvenirs, traditional items, miniature items and toys.
在南韩几天后，妈妈发现其实这里是个很好购物的地方，只要找对地方，就能低价买到许多东西。她想体验当地传统市场，所以我们决定去南大门市场 (남대문시장)。这是全首尔最大型的传统市场，大多数都以批发价销售，所以价格非常合理。比如蒸包 10 颗韩币 5,000，通常都是 3 颗韩币 5,000。这里也很好买儿童服装，纪念品，传统手工品，迷你模型和玩具。
Namdaemun Market 남대문시장
21 Namdaemunsijang 4-gil, Namchang-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul
Hoehyeon Station Exit 5 (line 4)
#1: Namdaemun Market.
Following which, we went to Myeongdong (명동) to try Andong Jjimdak (안동찜닭). Jjimdak is Korean braised chicken and Andong is one of the best places to try. It is cooked in Korean soy sauce with a mixed of vegetables (onions, leeks, carrots, potatoes, mushrooms) and sweet potato noodles. My favourite part is actually the noodles! It really soaks up all the flavours of the broth. The onions are really good as well, with all the flavours. Recommended! 👍🏻
接着我们到了明洞 (명동) 试一试安东蒸鸡 (안동찜닭)。Jjimdak 是韩式炖鸡而安东是最好试吃的地方之一。煮在韩式酱油内的鸡块，和一些菜类（洋葱，韭葱，萝卜，马铃薯，蘑菇）和番薯面一起熬煮。我最喜欢的部分其实是面！它真的吧汤汁的精华都吸收在内。洋葱口感也非常好，记得推荐！👍🏻
Andong Jjimdak 안동찜닭
2-22 Myeongdong 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul
1100-2230hrs (daily)
Myeongdong Station Exit 6 (line 4)
#2: Andong Jjimdak.
#3: These sweet potato noodles are the best!!
Previously I did not buy anything from the LINE store as actually many of the merchandises bought from last year and 2 years back are not used yet, and the items are all about the same. BUT, I lost my Brown pen when I was in Jeju! 😭 So since we are back in Myeongdong again, I thought I should go get a new one. And in the end, I bought a basket of Brown items again, hahahaha...
之前经过 LINE 店时打算不买，因为很多在去年和两年前买的商品都还未用过。可是，我竟然不小心把我去年买的 Brown 笔在济州岛给弄不见！😭 所以竟然回返明洞，所以决定去买支新的。结果，买了一篮的 Brown 商品，哈哈哈。。。 Next, we went to O'sulloc Tea House (오설록티하우스). This is a must-go place for me every time I am in Seoul, I do not know. It is just really soothing to visit a Korean teahouse, and O'sulloc's Korean green tea is really good, very similar to matcha. Their green tea spread is 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻! I do not really drink tea, so I just bought like the special edition teas to keep as souvenir. Certain tea flavours are seasonal, like this time round, they have new Cherry Blossom Tea and Strawberry Tea. And yes, it is also the Korean strawberry season now, and everywhere are selling season special strawberry drinks and desserts.
然后到了 O'sulloc 茶馆 (오설록티하우스)。每次来首尔不知道为什么一定要来这里。进入韩式茶馆就有一种很舒服的感觉。本店的韩式绿茶值得推荐，和抹茶类似相同。它们的绿茶酱真的是 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻！我不真么喜欢喝茶，所以买了些限量版茶叶当纪念品。有些茶叶是季节性，比如这次，新上架的有樱花茶和草莓茶。对了，现在也是韩国草莓季节，到处都在卖草莓特备饮料和甜点。
O'sulloc Tea House 오설록티하우스
12 Myeongdong 7-gil Myeongdong 1(il)-ga Jung-gu Seoul
0900-2230hrs (Sun-Thu), 0900-2300hrs (Fri, Sat)
Euljiro 1-ga Station Exit 5 (line 2)
#4: O'sulloc Tea House.
#5: Starbucks Cherry Blossom season drinks!
#6: Comes topped with Cherry Blossom popping candy!! Amazeballs! 😱
#7: Iced Cherry Blossom Latte.
#8: Pretty pink popping candy!!
Following after, we went to the nearby K-style Hub (케이스타일허브). This is a Korea information centre, a great place to learn more about the Korean culture. The exhibition is located within a building, from the second to the fifth floor. Second floor is by the Korean government on health care and on this level you can get services such as measuring your stress level, skin analysis, muscle mass and body fat percentage. Very detailed reports will be presented to you. On the third floor is a exhibit on the history of Korean cuisine. Upon completing this exhibit, you will receive phamflet which entitles you to try on hanbok - Korean traditional costume - on the fifth floor. Fourth floor is dining area and kitchen. You can also register for free Korean cooking class and it will be held at this level. On the fifth floor, besides trying on hanbok, it is a display of various Korean souvenirs, artwork and artifacts.
接着到了附近的 K-style Hub (케이스타일허브)。这是个韩国资讯中心，可以了解更多关于韩国文化。展览厅分别在建筑的 2 到 5 楼之间。2 楼是由韩国政府提供的保健服务。在这里可以免费测验压力指数，皮肤状况，身体肌肉脂肪指数等。3 楼是韩式料理历史展览。看完这层的展览后，会收到一张册子，可到 5 楼免费试穿韩服拍照。4 楼是餐厅和厨房，你可以免费报名韩式料理课。5 楼除了可以试韩服外，也展示许多韩国纪念品，艺术品和文物。
K-style Hub 케이스타일허브
40 Cheonggyeocheon-ro Da-dong Jung-gu Seoul
Level 2: 0900-2000hrs (daily)
Level 3-5: 1000-2000hrs (daily)
Level 5 Hanbok trying: 1000-1800hrs (daily)
Jonggak Station Exit 5 (line 1), Euljiro 1(il)-ga Station Exit 2 (line 2)
#9: Choryesang - a traditional wedding ceremony table where the married couple vow in front of the God.
#10: Yipmaesang - a separate dining table for the married couple.
#11: Five colours of garnish in Korean cuisine.
#12: The sharing culture in Korean cuisine.
#13: My heart rate and stress level analysis at the health care section.
#14: Free Hanbok trying and photo taking.
Last but not least, we went to have Samgyetang (삼계탕) - Korean Ginseng Soup at michelin-awarded Korean restaurant, Korea Samgyetang (고려삼계탕). This is one of the oldest running traditional Korean restaurant in Seoul. As compared with Tosokchon (토속촌), this is slightly less complex, more salty with a slight sweet note, and the ginseng taste is less strong, which makes it more palatable. Tosokchon’s broth is cooked with lots of herbs, so the soup is very flavourful, but bland. The ginseng taste is also very strong, so the glutinous rice stuffed in the chicken tastes just like ginseng, bitter. I would actually recommend this place instead of Tosokchon for a good bowl of samgyetang.
最后，我们去试了参鸡汤 (삼계탕) - 获得米其林星的韩国餐厅，高丽参鸡汤 (고려삼계탕) 的韩式参鸡汤。这是全首尔最古老的传统韩式餐厅之一。和著名的 Tosokchon 相比，这里的汤味觉简单，较咸带甜，人参味也没那么重，所以口感比较顺。Tosokchon 的汤和许多药材一起熬煮，汤虽然和有味道，当偏淡，人参味也很重。所以鸡内包的糯米满满是人参味，非常苦。比起，我会选在推荐高丽参鸡汤。
Korea Samgyetang 고려삼계탕
1 Seosomun-ro 11-gil Seosomun-dong Jung-gu Seoul
1030-2130hrs (daily)
City Hall Station Exit 10 (line 1, 2)
#15: Korea Samgyetang.
#16: Korean Chicken Ginseng Soup with Abalone.
On our way there from K-style Hub, we passed by Deoksugung (덕수궁)! This is also another place to go for free hanbok trying.
从 K-style Hub 前往餐厅时，我们经过了德寿宫 (덕수궁)！这里也可以免费试穿韩服拍照。
Deoksugung 덕수궁
99 Sejong-daero Jeong-dong Jung-gu Seoul
0900-2100hrs (Tue-Sun)
Admission: KRW1,000
City Hall Station Exit 2 (line 1), Exit 12 (line 2)
#17: Deoksugung.
#18: Buying too much! This is probably about 60 to 70% of the things bought! Socks itself already like 40 to 50 pairs. 😂
Expenses for Day 6
Namdaemun Market:
- Seaweed (3pkts of 40pkts) KRW30,000
- Minion Gummy KRW2,000
- Ceramic Magnet KRW2,000 x2
- Transformer Keyring KRW5,000
- Meat Bun KRW1,000
Myeongdong Street, Socks 10+1: KRW10,000 (KRW1,000 for 1)
LINE Store:
- Brown Pen KRW3,500
- Brown Postcard KRW500
- Brown and Cony Jigsaw KRW5,000
- Brown Almonds KRW3,500
- Brown Potato Chips KRW2,000
- Brown Lipice Lip Balm, Lemon KRW3,800
- Brown Letter Set KRW2,500
- Brown Message Cards (3pcs) KRW3,500
Andong Jjimdak: KRW19,000 /2 + Rice KRW1,000 / 2
O'sulloc (10% off with Korea Tourism Card):
- Green Tea Spread KRW8,500 x0.9 = KRW7,650
- Mixed Tea Set (4pkts) KRW6,000 x0.9 = KRW5,400
- Wedding Green Tea (1pkt) KRW2,000 x0.9 = KRW1,800
Starbucks, Cherry Blossom Iced Latte, Grande: KRW6,100
Korea Samgyetang with Abalone: KRW21,000 / 2
E-mart:
- Cheese Choco Pie (12pkts) KRW2,980
- Korean Yogurt Candy (160g) KRW3,980
- Lotte Mom's Homemade Pie, 엄마손 파이 (20pcs per pkt) 1+1 KRW4,780 (for 1)
Total for Day 6: KRW129,490 = $156.96 Balance forward: $1,908.28 Current Total Expenses: $2,065.24