Seoul also has a place similar to Toys R Us abroad. Although it isn’t a department store, toy shops are located in every nook and cranny of the long alleyways. The place I’m going to introduce today is the Dongdaemun Toy Market (Changsin-dong Toy Street). Actually, I didn’t know about this place when I was young. Whenever I got good grades or did something good, my mother used to take me to small neighborhood toy shops or large department stores in Myeongdong to buy me toys. So, I was unaware of its existence until I became an adult and realized that such a place had been here. Now, let’s get right to the introduction.
Brief Introduction
Dongdaemun Toy Market is a wholesale market. Therefore, you can purchase toys at much lower prices than in the toy sections of department stores or supermarkets. This is its biggest appeal. Furthermore, this place sells a wide variety of toys, ranging from the latest trendy items to nostalgic retro toys.
From small stationery items costing 1,000 won to Lego sets, rare retro toys, Tiniping dolls, and K-Demon Hunters dolls, you can find everything here. If you’re lucky, you might have the chance to buy items for even less than the lowest online prices. I visited last week and was able to purchase a small Lego set I wanted at a low price. It was a total bargain!
Let’s head to the Toy Market
Getting there is simple. You just need to get off at Dongdaemun Station on Subway Line 1 or Line 4. Exit through Exit 4 and walk straight ahead for a short distance, and you will see a large pencil-shaped sign that reads “Stationery and Toy Wholesale General Market.”(문구 완구 도매 종합 시장) That is your starting point.
Look for the large pencil-shaped sign and enter the alley on the right. Various shops will appear right from the entrance. Each shop displays and sells a variety of toys, games, and the latest trendy “it” items.
Here is my tip
Most shops in the Dongdaemun Toy Market are open from 8 AM to 7 PM. It can be quite chaotic on weekends due to the large crowds. I usually visit on weekday mornings or during lunchtime if I have time. It’s nice because it isn’t crowded, allowing me to browse the toys at my leisure. If you get hungry before or after visiting the toy market, check out “Seoul snack tour (paid for by me) When you feel hungry after lunch” to try some delicious twisted donuts and doughnuts.
Toy Market Location: Check Google Maps.
Landmark of Dongdaemun Toy Market: Seungjin Toys
I always stop by Seungjin Toys whenever I visit the Dongdaemun Toy Market. It is the largest store here and the most famous spot. If you walk straight down the alley, you will reach an intersection; look for the large gorilla sculpture there. Easy to find, right? I even saw Woody, the main character from Toy Story, standing in front of it. Inside, it is a two-story building packed entirely with toys. It is truly a paradise for children. Even as an adult, my eyes were spinning, so imagine how the kids must feel.
One of the biggest advantages of this place is the barcode scanner. You might be curious about the price of a toy or doll you want to buy. You can check the price immediately using the barcode scanners located on each floor. It is a great advantage that you can find out right away without having to ask the owner individually. If you are interested in browsing nostalgic toys other than Seungjin Toys, please refer to my post “Ggum-dong-san Dongsim shopping center, where you can travel to Korea’s past.”
Today, I introduced the Dongdaemun Toy Market, which is like Seoul’s Toys R Us. Perhaps because it is not yet widely known among foreigners, most of the visitors are Korean. That is why I recommend it even more. Isn’t exploring new places instead of the usual tourist spots what real travel is all about? If you are a family traveler visiting with children, wouldn’t it be nice to visit at least once to give them great joy?
- MokmyeokSanbang: A Serene Korean Restaurant Near Namsan Tower
- Haenam Nakji: A Famous Octopus Specialty Restaurant near DDP
- drRobin, a wellness restaurant in Gwanghwamun
- Mugyodong Bugeokukjib, a must-visit restaurant the day after drinking
- Seoul snack tour (paid for by me) When you feel hungry after lunch