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Imagine that you have just taken a subway ride. You step back out into the open air and take in your surroundings. To your left and in front of you tower skyscrapers. You turn your head to the right and are amazed to see a historic gate.

When you walk out of Dongdaemun Station (동대문역) you are surrounded by tall buildings, much like in New York or London, but a seemingly out of place structure also sits peacefully just across the road. This is Heunginjimun (흥인지문), one of the Eight Gates of Seoul. Heunginjimun was once part of the fortress wall of Seoul during the Joseon Dynasty. “Dongdaemun” translates to “Great East Gate”, and it is because of this structure that the surrounding area is called Dongdaemun.

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As you walk around this area bursting with history, I suggest a visit to Dongdaemun Market, which is famous for fashion. Many up-and-coming designers sell their wares here to get their names in the public eye. The biggest part of the market is dedicated to sellers of fabrics and fabric accessories (thread, sequins, etcetera). Because of this, it is more friendly to those cut from the artistic cloth, but even if you do not lean toward the fabric arts I encourage you to go to the market simply for the cultural experience.

Dongdaemun also boasts of some great little hole-in-the-wall bookshops, perfect for the traveling introvert.