Euljiro, Seoul
The Euljiro area is large and diverse, ranging from industrial shops to hip bars
Nearby Cheonggyecheon Stream is a popular destination for strolls
Pojangmacha food stalls line the streets in the evening
Euljiro is a main avenue in Seoul with many popular areas along it. The stretch between Euljiro 3-ga and Euljiro 4-ga are typically referred to as “Euljiro”. In these areas, you’ll find everything from industrial items and traditional seafood markets to one of the trendiest eating and drinking areas in the city.
How to get there
The city’s loop line, Seoul Subway Line 2, travels along Euljiro avenue. Euljiro 3-ga and Euljiro 4-ga will bring you to the centers of each area, but they’re also walking distances from Jongno 3-ga and Jongno 5-ga stations, as well as Chungmuro station, all of which are popular destinations for food, drinks and market eats.
About Euljiro
Euljiro is a collection of neighborhoods along and around the avenue. Many businesses began sprouting up here, including the country’s first modern printing press over a century ago.
Take a walk around the area and you’ll come across a variety of interesting shops, ranging from metalwork, electronics, textiles, household appliances, and more.
On the north side of the Euljiro area is Jongno and the Cheonggyecheon Stream, an accessible stream great for strolls and hanging out. You’ve probably seen it in K-dramas if you watch them.
On the south side of the area is Chungmuro, considered country’s hub for theater and film.
Euljiro-3
The area’s hub for nightlife, Euljiro-3’s small streets and alleys are buzzing in the evenings, filled with groups of friends and couples out to grab a bite or drink.
Euljiro Nogari Alley
This area gets its name from young dried pollack, or “nogari” in Korean, which is often dipped in gochujang to make for a snack while drinking. The narrow streets are lined with small restaurants and bars, which attract nearby office workers after work as well as college students.
In the evenings, people will either fill these spots or grab a seat at one of the many outdoor plastic tables and stools, and enjoy a night out over food and drinks like beer, makgeolli and soju.
You can see what this is like in this video (at 2:20 mark), where I meet up with a local friend and go out for food and drinks.
Pojangmacha
You may notice tents on some of the sidewalks and streets in this area. Pojangmacha, or “pocha” for short, are mobile street food stalls that come out in the evenings. These are fantastic places if you want to experience street food and local drinking culture.
Some common dishes include tteokbokki (rice cakes in a spicy sauce), odeng (fish cake often on a stick in a broth), and of course soju.
These food stalls are often manned by one person who cooks and serves everything. It’s best to bring cash - as of 2025, I’ve yet to come across a pojangmacha that takes card or mobile payments.
While there is a lively pojangmacha street on the north side of the Jongno 3 area, it is packed with tourists so I recommend checking some of the calmer ones on the south side for a more authentic feel.
Check out my video from 4:15 to see what the experience of eating and drinking at a pojangmacha is like:
Cheonggyecheon Stream
As a result of an urban renewal project, the current Cheonggyecheon Stream came to be after an elevated highway was taken down. The result is a picturesque, walkable stream right in the middle of the urban jungle that spans 6.8 miles (10.9 km).
It often appears in Korean dramas and movies as it makes for a very beautiful and calm place to go for a stroll, particularly in the evenings. What’s also great is that it doesn’t smell. You’ll find kids playing, friends hanging out, couples sitting along the banks, and people going for a jog.
Euljiro-4
As soon as you step out onto the streets around Euljiro 4-ga, you can immediately tell that this isn’t where the tourists flock to. There are shops selling everything from electrical appliances to home renovation items, fabric, craft materials and more.
Despite being a short walk away from the popular Gwangjang Market and Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), the Euljiro 4-ga area is where you catch glimpses of everyday life, where people come and go to pick up items as they work on building whatever their new project may be.
For a street photographer, there’s no shortage of scenes to snap.
Jungbu Market
Rows of stores lined up next to each other at Jungbu Market sell a wide assortment of dried seafoods such as different types of nori (seaweed laver), squid, pollack and more.
Going earlier in the day is probably recommended. I visited in the late afternoon and while shops were still open and we did buy something, the crowd seemed to have died down and some stores were closed or about to close.
If you’re planning on doing some cooking while in town or want to take back some ingredients to cook back home, Jungbu Market has a large selection that is said to be cheaper than other markets.
If you’d like to see more of Jungbu Market the Euljiro-4ga area, here’s a video (start at 9:16):
Where to eat
Bogeon-Og
If you find yourself in Euljiro, and specifically the Euljiro-4ga area, you’re probably looking for a local experience. Bogeon-Og is a casual eatery that specializes in bulgogi, which is a stir-fry of beef, onions, green onions, enoki mushrooms and more here.
There is nothing touristy about this place. It is down a narrow alley, the slightly smokey restaurant exudes the smell of beef, and service is no-nonsense as they manage 2 floors of tables drinking beer and soju and having a good time.
A good spot to immerse yourself amongst the locals if you’re in the area.
Keep in touch:
Euljiro’s neighborhoods feature pojangmacha street food stalls, hip drinking spots, local markets and a stream for scenic strolls.