Namdaemun Market: Shopping for Korean Bathhouse Essentials

Hello, I'm Heejji!

Lately, I've really been enjoying visiting saunas and jjimjilbangs, which naturally sparked my interest in sauna accessories.

Every time I opened social media, videos of Namdaemun shopping kept popping up, featuring everything from exfoliating mitts to bath bags and hair caps, so I eventually had to go myself!

To get straight to the point, if sauna accessories are what you're after, you can see most of the popular items by starting your exploration at Daedo General Shopping Center, Building D.

However, just because a store is famous doesn't necessarily mean it has the lowest prices. I noticed that even for the same product, prices varied slightly from store to store.

Where to go for sauna accessory shopping in Namdaemun?

I did most of my shopping in Daedo General Shopping Center, Building D.

You can get there by getting off at Hoehyeon Station and heading into Namdaemun Market. If it's your first time, it might feel a bit overwhelming with so many shopping complexes and stores packed together.

But if you follow where the crowds are, you'll start discovering the sauna accessory shops you've probably seen all over social media, one by one.

From exfoliating mitts, bath bags, and hair caps to gua sha tools, massage items, and even combs – there was truly an incredible variety!

Buchang Sanghoe, Building D

1st Floor, Units 3 & 4

If you search for Namdaemun sauna accessories, Buchang Sanghoe is one of the most frequently appearing spots.

It was easy to find, located near the entrance of Building D on the first floor, and even on a weekday afternoon, there were quite a lot of people browsing.

They had a wide variety of products, so it seemed convenient for those who want to buy everything from one store.

However, when I compared it to nearby stores, some identical products had price differences ranging from just ~$0 to a few dollars.

The scalp gua sha tool I bought was ~$4 at Buchang Sanghoe, but when I later visited Jeil Sanghoe, it was only ~$2.

It was a bit of a shame, but I guess that's part of the fun of Namdaemun shopping, right? Haha.

🔻 Get your Songwol Exfoliating Towel here!

https://3ha.in/r/678615​

Clean Aroma, Building D, 1st Floor, Unit 26

If you're on the hunt for hair caps, Clean Aroma is also a great place to browse.

Among the places I looked around, this one stood out for its especially diverse range of hair caps. If you're looking for a cap to use in a public bath or sauna, don't just leave after checking out Buchang Sanghoe – definitely take a look here too!

Jeil Sanghoe

Jeil Sanghoe isn't in Daedo Shopping Arcade...

Don't wander around like I did.

Jeil Sanghoe isn't inside the Daedo Comprehensive Shopping Arcade T_T

I naturally assumed it was inside the arcade,

and walked around several times, but no matter how much I searched, I couldn't find it.

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20-1 Namdaemun Sijang-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

It's easiest to just plug the address into your map app and go there directly.

However, speaking for myself, if you've already explored enough at Daedo Shopping Arcade,

it's probably not worth making a special trip to find it.

Namdaemun Sauna Essentials: My Purchases & Prices

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Mesh bath bag ~$9

Hair gua sha ~$4

Massage ball ~$6

Boo Koo hair comb ~$1

Cap hat ~$3

Elephant exfoliating towel (long size) ~$3

Seongmi exfoliating soap ~$1

For popular items like exfoliating towels or exfoliating soap,

the prices didn't vary much

even after checking several stores.

So, rather than meticulously searching for the lowest prices even on items costing around ~$1 to ~$1,

it might be fine to just buy them wherever you see them.

On the other hand, for items with a slightly higher price point,

like gua sha tools or bath bags,

it's better to check one or two more places before deciding.

My Experience Visiting Namdaemun for Sauna Essentials...

I wondered if it was really worth making a special trip to Namdaemun,

but once I actually went, it was actually quite fun to browse around.

It was also great to be able to physically touch and compare items

like the famous elephant exfoliating towels, sauna hats, and bath bags, which I usually only ever see online.

Beyond just sauna products, I found a surprising number of other great items to buy together,

like massage balls, gua sha tools, and combs.

So, I ended up picking up more things than I originally planned.

Since the same items are sold in various stores,

rather than buying everything at the very first shop,

it was better to do a little comparison shopping.

If you're into sauna or bath products like I am these days,

you might find it fun to drop by while you're exploring Namdaemun Market.

​https://3ha.in/r/678615