Korean Reading Practice

외국인 ‘이불 성지’된 광장시장…”카드NO, 현금!” 낯뜨거운 K탈세

📅 December 24, 2025

1Introduction

Gwangjang Market in Seoul has become an unexpected shopping destination for international tourists seeking Korean bedding and blankets. While traditionally famous for its street food, the market’s “blanket alley” now attracts visitors from Taiwan, Singapore, and other countries who come specifically to purchase high-quality Korean bedding at competitive prices.

2Vocabulary

Korean Romanization Meaning Example
이불 ibul blanket, comforter 겨울에는 따뜻한 이불이 필요해요.In winter, you need a warm blanket.
시장 sijang market 전통 시장에서 쇼핑하는 것을 좋아해요.I like shopping at traditional markets.
관광객 gwangwanggaek tourist 외국인 관광객들이 많이 찾아와요.Many foreign tourists visit here.
현금 hyeongeum cash 현금으로 계산하면 할인해 줘요.They give a discount if you pay in cash.
카드 kadeu card 카드 결제가 편리해요.Card payment is convenient.
가격 gagyeok price 가격을 비교해 보세요.Please compare the prices.
골목 golmok alley 좁은 골목에 작은 가게들이 있어요.There are small shops in the narrow alley.
유명하다 yumyeonghada to be famous 이 음식점은 맛있기로 유명해요.This restaurant is famous for being delicious.
쇼핑 syoping shopping 주말에 친구와 쇼핑을 갔어요.I went shopping with a friend on the weekend.
비교하다 bigyohada to compare 여러 가게의 가격을 비교했어요.I compared prices at several stores.
환전하다 hwanjeonhada to exchange money 달러를 원으로 환전했어요.I exchanged dollars for won.
북적이다 bukjeogida to be crowded, bustling 시장이 사람들로 북적여요.The market is bustling with people.

3Reading Text

서울 종로구에 있는 광장시장은 오랫동안 김밥과 빈대떡 같은 전통 음식으로 유명했습니다.

Gwangjang Market in Jongno-gu, Seoul, has long been famous for traditional foods like gimbap and bindaetteok.

하지만 최근에는 ‘이불 골목‘이라고 불리는 곳이 외국인 관광객들 사이에서 인기를 끌고 있습니다.

However, recently, the area called “blanket alley” has been gaining popularity among foreign tourists.

평일임에도 불구하고 대만, 싱가포르 등에서 온 수십 명의 관광객들이 이불을 구경하고 있었습니다.

Despite being a weekday, dozens of tourists from Taiwan, Singapore, and other countries were browsing blankets.

많은 관광객들이 스마트폰으로 소셜미디어를 보면서 가격을 비교하거나 가족과 영상통화를 하며 쇼핑했습니다.

Many tourists shopped while comparing prices on social media with their smartphones or video calling their families.

그런데 문제가 하나 있었습니다. 일부 가게에서는 카드로 결제할 때와 현금으로 결제할 때 가격이 달랐습니다.

However, there was one problem. Some stores had different prices depending on whether you paid by card or cash.

한 대만 관광객은 “카드로 결제하면 더 비싸다는 이야기를 듣고 급하게 현금을 환전해 왔어요”라고 말했습니다.

One Taiwanese tourist said, “I heard that paying by card costs more, so I hurriedly exchanged money for cash.”

이렇게 현금카드 가격을 다르게 받는 것은 사실 불법입니다.

Actually, charging different prices for cash and card payments is illegal.

그럼에도 불구하고 광장시장이불 골목은 여전히 많은 외국인 관광객들이 찾는 쇼핑 명소가 되고 있습니다.

Nevertheless, the blanket alley at Gwangjang Market continues to become a shopping destination that many foreign tourists visit.

4Comprehension Questions

Q1
What was Gwangjang Market traditionally famous for before becoming popular for blankets?
Q2
Which countries do most of the foreign tourists visiting the blanket alley come from?
Q3
How do tourists typically shop for blankets at the market?
Q4
What pricing issue did some tourists encounter at the market?
Q5
Why did the Taiwanese tourist exchange money for cash before shopping?

5Cultural Notes

Gwangjang Market, established in 1905, is one of Korea’s oldest traditional markets and represents the evolution of Korean commerce from traditional food markets to modern tourist destinations. The phenomenon of different pricing for cash versus card payments reflects ongoing challenges in Korea’s transition to a cashless society, where some traditional merchants still prefer cash transactions to avoid credit card processing fees. This market’s transformation into a bedding shopping destination for international tourists demonstrates how social media and word-of-mouth recommendations can create unexpected tourism trends in Korea.

Source: Naver News |
Original Article

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