Discover Suwon’s Hidden Gems: Why Nammun and JoWon Markets are Must-Visit Destinations in 2026

Translation result.

Walking tours around Suwon Hwaseong Fortress are taking off, and traditional markets such as Suwon Nammun Market and Jowon Market have become key highlights of Visit Suwon Year.

According to Incheon Ilbo’s coverage on the 12th, Suwon is home to a range of traditional markets, including Suwon Nammun and Jowon. Each market draws on its history and community-centered character to serve as a distinct tourism asset.

Suwon Nammun Market traces its roots to King Jeongjo’s construction of Hwaseong Fortress — it’s often described as a “market created by the king.”

A market sprang up around Paldalmun between 1794 and 1796, and in the mid-2010s eight separate markets merged to form the unified commercial district now known as Suwon Nammun Market.

The market sits along the route that links the Hwaseong Fortress wall trail with Haenggung-dong and the city’s fried chicken street, creating a natural fusion of sightseeing and shopping.

During Visit Suwon Year, the market itself functions as both an attraction and an immersive experience.

Jowon Market represents another dimension of Suwon’s appeal. A little removed from major tourist hubs, it remains a neighborhood market rooted in everyday life.

Centered on food stalls and small independent shops, it’s a living, breathing commercial street that serves local residents.

Because it sits off the main tourist circuits, Jowon Market gives visitors a chance to feel the city’s everyday culture up close.

There’s a growing push to link these traditional markets into broader tourism strategies. Officials hope to spread visitor traffic away from crowded hotspots and encourage longer stays by weaving markets into the overall visitor experience.

Jowon Market’s relatively calm atmosphere sets it apart, offering an authentic, unhurried glimpse of local life.

The Nammun Market area is set to undergo the Hundred-Year Market project, part of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups’ specialized market development initiative.

The program will run for three years, from December 2025 through December 2027.

The project’s main aim is to brand the cultural and historical value embedded in the Hundred-Year Market concept. Officials plan a phased rollout of that branding across the market to reshape it into a mixed-use space where tourism and shopping complement each other.

Oh Sun-hwan, a professor of Tourism Management at Yongin University, said, “Expanding tourism to include everyday markets like Jowon Market broadens opportunities to experience the area’s unique daily culture. If these markets are connected, Suwon could take a big step toward becoming a stay-long destination where visitors can see, eat, and enjoy themselves.”

/Choi Jun-hee reporter wsx3025@incheonilbo.com