Seoul Travel Journal: Chimaek, Makgeolli & Traditional Market Vibes near Chungmuro

A Spontaneous Saturday Outing in Seoul: From Chimaek to Market Vibes

This is a travel journal entry from July 5, 2026.

I made plans to catch up with a close friend who works as a patent attorney. We originally planned to meet up around Sadang or Isu Station. However, after a third friend had to cancel last minute, it ended up just being the two of us, so we decided to switch our meeting spot to Chungmuro Station.

Chimaek Near Chungmuro Station

The summer heat was intense, and we were both dying of thirst. Naturally, we went straight for Chimaek (chicken and beer). We popped into a BHC Chicken right near Exit 2 of Chungmuro Station.

It was my first time visiting this location. Even though it was located in the basement level, it had a surprisingly lively atmosphere and was packed with people. Most importantly, the draught beer was ice-cold and refreshing. We ended up devouring the chicken faster than expected, so we decided to keep the night going and explore another neighborhood nearby.

An Unplanned Detour to Sinseol-dong

Since my friend graduated from Korea University nearby, he suggested heading over toward that area. We decided to try Omeoni Daeseong-jib in Sinseol-dong, a super famous local spot known for its legendary hangover soup.

Unfortunately, we hit a snag: we didn’t realize they close early at 3 PM on Sundays! Disappointed, we had to turn back. Since Gyeongdong Market was close by, we made a quick pivot and headed straight there.

Gyeongdong Market & Jeon (Korean Pancakes)

Gyeongdong Market is a massive traditional market located near Cheongnyangni Station. After exploring the bustling market alleys for a bit, we stumbled upon a local Jeon-jib (a pub specializing in savory Korean pancakes).

We headed inside, ordered a platter of Modeum-jeon (assorted traditional pancakes), and paired it with a fresh bottle of Makgeolli (Korean rice wine).

It turned out to be an amazingly packed day—hopping from Chungmuro to Sinseol-dong, and finally ending up at Gyeongdong Market. (And although I forgot to take photos, we even wrapped up the night with some late-night Chinese food up in Nowon!)