Walking from Myeongdong: Minutes to Namdaemun, Deoksugung, Insadong, Gwangjang Market and More
Walking distances and times from Myeongdong Station (Line 4) Exit 6 to nearby sights, as given by Kakao Map's walking directions (main-road route). Kakao Map says its times assume an adult pace of 4 km/h, so traffic lights and crowds can add time. Anything under about 20 minutes is an easy walk; for Gwangjang Market and DDP, which take over 35 minutes on foot, the subway option is listed too.
Last checked: 2026-10-31·Desk-researched — not yet verified on site
Namdaemun Market — 758 m, 12 min
Follow Toegye-ro to Hoehyeon Intersection, cross at the crosswalks and turn into Namdaemunsijang 6-gil. All three Kakao Map routes (main road, shortest, easiest) are the same here, so it is hard to get lost.
Deoksugung, Daehanmun Gate — 1.2 km, 18 min
From Hoehyeon Intersection the route takes one underpass on the Sogong-ro side to Namdaemun-ro, then two crosswalks at City Hall Intersection bring you to Daehanmun Gate. To avoid the underpass, Kakao Map's "easiest route" uses crosswalks instead (19 min).
Namsan Cable Car station — 942 m, 19 min
The main-road route goes from Hoehyeon Intersection via Sogong-ro up to Sopa-ro; the shortest route goes via Toegye-ro 14-gil and is 839 m, 16 minutes. Kakao Map does not show gradient, so allow extra time in case the way up to the cable car station (83 Sopa-ro) is uphill.
Cheonggye Plaza (start of Cheonggyecheon) — 1.5 km, 25 min
The main-road route passes one underpass and then goes via the Bank of Korea intersection along Sogong-ro and Sejong-daero. The shortest route goes through the Euljiro-ipgu underground shopping arcade to Namdaemun-ro and Mugyo-ro, 23 minutes.
Insadong, Ssamziegil — 2.0 km, 31 min
The main-road route passes Euljiro 1-ga, Gwanggyo and Jongno 1-ga before turning into Insadong-gil, with no underpasses. The shortest route uses one underpass at Euljiro-ipgu and is 1.7 km, 27 minutes.
Gwangjang Market — 2.3 km, 36 min (20 min by subway)
On foot the route crosses Samil-daero and follows Cheonggyecheon to Cheonggye 4-ga. By subway, take Line 4 toward Jinjeop two stops, change at Dongdaemun History & Culture Park to Line 5 toward Banghwa for one stop, then walk 409 m (8 min) from Euljiro 4-ga Station Exit 4. Kakao Map gives 20 minutes and ₩1,550 in total, and also lists buses 7011 and 604 (21 min, ₩1,500).
Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) — 2.6 km, 41 min (14 min by subway)
On foot it follows Toegye-ro past Toegye-ro 4-ga and 5-ga to Gwanghui-dong Intersection, over 40 minutes. By subway, ride Line 4 toward Jinjeop two stops with no transfer, exit at Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Exit 1 and walk 360 m (7 min). Kakao Map gives 14 minutes and ₩1,550 in total, so the subway is far quicker.
Tips
- All times here start at Exit 6, so they shift by a few minutes if your hotel is deeper in Myeongdong or toward Euljiro. Before setting out, put your hotel into Kakao Map or Naver Map walking directions. For the subway options, Kakao Map routes you in through Myeongdong Station Exit 7 (136 m from Exit 6).
Myeongdong · Places
Bumin-ok
부민옥A long-running yukgaejang (spicy beef soup) and yang-gomtang (beef tripe soup) restaurant, in business since 1956 (according to the official blog of Seoul Oraegage, Seoul city's long-standing shop program). Naver and DiningCode give 11:00–22:00 on weekdays and 11:30–21:00 on Saturday, with a break from 15:00 to 17:00, closed on Sundays. Per the Kakao Map menu, yukgaejang is ₩11,000, yang-gomtang ₩12,000, seonjiguk (blood curd soup) ₩9,000 and bibimbap ₩10,000. It is in Da-dong near Euljiro 1-ga and City Hall, outside central Myeongdong.
Daiso Myeongdong Station
다이소 명동역점A multi-floor Daiso at 134-1 Toegye-ro, near Myeongdong Station. It is a fixed-price household-goods chain, so souvenirs, beauty items, snacks and travel supplies are all in one building. The Korea Tourism Organization lists it as a tax refund shop.
Dakjinmi Gangwonjip
닭진미강원집A chicken-soup and boiled-chicken restaurant inside Namdaemun Market, at 22-20 Namdaemunsijang-gil. DiningCode lists it 08:00–20:30, closed Sundays. Dak-gomtang (chicken soup) is listed at 10,000 won, a meat set meal at 12,000 won and a whole chicken at 23,000 won. It is a hot-soup breakfast option in the market, Monday to Saturday.
Donghwa Sikdang
동화식당A grilled and braised fish restaurant in Namdaemun Market, open 07:00–21:00 daily and closed every other Sunday. The signature braised hairtail is ₩14,000 per person with a two-serving minimum, so solo diners should look at grilled mackerel (₩12,000) or a stew (₩9,000), though single servings of those were not explicitly confirmed. A queue forms after 11:00.
Sources
- https://place.map.kakao.com/10337090
- https://kko.to/TF_w0j2Qan
- https://kko.to/fHipjnhJ-Q
- https://kko.to/KCaWmGm5ut
- https://kko.to/f2CZZsN148
- https://kko.to/PWjiYMdJjq
- https://kko.to/LhbAUmwUkB
- https://kko.to/AHZXA1Qqi2
- https://place.map.kakao.com/7934963
- https://place.map.kakao.com/17582477
- https://place.map.kakao.com/8233285
- https://place.map.kakao.com/11512319
- https://place.map.kakao.com/7984319
- https://place.map.kakao.com/27383851
- https://place.map.kakao.com/25022134