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Tongin Market Coin Lunchbox 2026: Where to Buy Coins Now
Quick answer
- Good for travelers who want to taste many small Korean market dishes on one tray, or need an easy lunch near Gyeongbokgung Palace. Not a great pick if flavor is your main goal, or if you want to sit indoors on a cold day while construction is on.
- From Sep 29, 2026 to Jan 30, 2027 (planned), coins are sold at a pop-up store across from the old customer center, and seating is at outdoor tables by a traditional pavilion.
- Closed every Monday and the 3rd Sunday of the month. One coin is ₩500, the first purchase is ₩10,000 per person, and foreign cards work. Refunds need the same card you paid with.
- Prices
- ₩500 per coin. First purchase from ₩10,000 (20 coins) per person
- Nearest station
- Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3), Exit 2, 515 m (about 8 min walk)
- Hours
- Coin sales: weekdays 11:00–15:00, weekends and holidays 11:00–16:00 (market shops 7:00–21:00, varies by shop). Closed every Monday and the 3rd Sunday
The short answer: buy your coins at the pop-up store until January 2027
The coin lunchbox is for travelers who want to try many small market dishes at once, or who need a quick, easy lunch between palace visits. If flavor is your main goal, or you want a warm indoor seat on a cold day, it is a weaker choice while the market's customer center is under construction.
Tongin Market (통인시장) is a small neighborhood market in Seochon, the old district just west of Gyeongbokgung Palace. It began as a public market in 1941, and since January 2012 it has run the "Dosirak Cafe Tong" coin lunchbox: you buy old-style brass coins (yeopjeon), carry an empty tray from stall to stall, and pay for each small portion with coins.
What changed on September 29, 2026
The customer center building is being renovated, so both the coin booth and the eating area have moved for now. According to the market's official notice, the temporary setup runs from September 29, 2026 to January 30, 2027 (planned).
- Where to buy coins: the "Pop-up Store" (also used as the delivery center), directly across from the old customer center
- Where to eat: outdoor tables near the traditional pavilion (jeongja)
- How to find it: walk straight into the market to the three-way junction and look for the sign "팝업스토어" (pop-up store)
Many English guides and search summaries still describe buying coins and eating upstairs in the customer center. That building is closed during the work, so skip it and head for the pop-up store. The outdoor seating sits toward the west entrance, under parasols and the pavilion roof.
Opening hours and closed days
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Coin sales (weekdays) | 11:00–15:00 |
| Coin sales (weekends, holidays) | 11:00–16:00 |
| Closed | Every Monday, 3rd Sunday of each month |
| Market shops | 7:00–21:00 (varies by shop) |
The regular closing day moved from Tuesday to Monday on April 1, 2026. Older posts that say "closed Tuesday," or "closed Monday and Tuesday," are out of date. Tuesday is now a normal business day.
Paying with a foreign card, and how refunds work
You can buy coins with a card, cash, bank transfer, or Onnuri gift certificates. The first purchase is ₩10,000 (20 coins) per person, so a couple starts with ₩20,000. One coin is worth ₩500.
Unused coins can be refunded, but only if you have used at least ₩8,000 worth. For card payments, the booth cancels the original charge and re-charges the amount you actually used, so you need the same card with you for a refund.
Most participating stalls also take cards or cash directly. Korean blog reviews mention running out of coins and simply paying by card for one more item.
How the coin lunchbox works in four steps
- Buy coins at the pop-up store and pick up a lunch tray and chopsticks.
- Look for stalls with the sign "도시락카페 가맹점" (lunchbox cafe member store). Coins work only at these stalls.
- Hand over the number of coins on the price tag and the vendor fills your tray. If there is no tag, just ask and they will tell you how many coins.
- Take your tray to the outdoor tables by the pavilion.
What your coins buy (examples from Sep–Oct 2026)
| Dish | Coins | In won |
|---|---|---|
| Oil tteokbokki (spicy red) | 5 | ₩2,500 |
| Oil tteokbokki (soy sauce, not spicy) | 5 | ₩2,500 |
| Dakgangjeong (sweet-spicy fried chicken) | 5 | ₩2,500 |
| Kimchi pancake, japchae | 5 each | ₩2,500 |
| Rolled omelette, pumpkin jeon (2 pieces) | 2 each | ₩1,000 |
| Kimchi and meat dumplings | 6 | ₩3,000 |
| Toast (with cheese) | 6 (8) | ₩3,000 (₩4,000) |
| Rice | 2 | ₩1,000 |
In Korean blog reviews, a common view is that ₩10,000–15,000 per adult is enough for a full lunch.
At the oil tteokbokki stalls, coins are meant for a small lunchbox portion. Takeout or a full plate eaten at the stall is paid for separately.
When to go, and how to get a better tray
On weekends, arriving between 11:00 and 11:30, right when coin sales open, is the easiest time. After noon, both the coin line and the food lines get long.
Opinions on taste are split. Korean blog reviews often say pre-made oil tteokbokki and fried food had gone cold, while dishes made in front of you, such as takoyaki, mini gimbap, handmade dumplings and hotteok, got much better marks. Choosing food that is cooked to order is the simplest way to a better tray.
The market's signature oil tteokbokki comes in two styles: spicy red pepper and mild soy sauce. If you do not like spicy food, go for the soy sauce version.
Getting there
Take Line 3 to Gyeongbokgung Station and leave by Exit 2. Walk straight up Jahamun-ro (자하문로) for about 500 m. After roughly 8 minutes, the market entrance is on your left. A palace visit in the morning followed by lunch at the market is an easy order for the day.
Tongin Market's coin lunchbox suits travelers who enjoy grazing on many small dishes, especially on a dry weekday before noon. If you mainly want great flavor or a comfortable indoor seat, it is better to wait until the customer center reopens after January 2027.
FAQ
- What day is Tongin Market's lunchbox cafe closed?
- Every Monday and the 3rd Sunday of each month. The closing day changed from Tuesday to Monday on April 1, 2026.
- Where do I buy the coins now?
- Until January 30, 2027 (planned), at the pop-up store (delivery center) across from the old customer center.
- Can I pay with a foreign credit card?
- Yes, cards are accepted for buying coins. To refund leftover coins, you need the card you paid with.
- How many coins should I buy?
- The minimum first purchase is ₩10,000 (20 coins) per person. ₩10,000–15,000 is usually enough for one adult.
- Can I get a refund for unused coins?
- Yes, if you have used at least ₩8,000 worth of coins.
Sources
We read these Korean sources on the dates shown and compared them before writing.
- [공지] 통인시장 엽전판매처 이동 안내 외 엽전도시락카페 운영 공지 — Naver Place notice (Tongin Market coin booth move and operating notice) (Oct 25, 2026)
- 통인시장 — Naver Place (Tongin Market) (Oct 25, 2026)
- 통인시장 — Korea Tourism Organization (VisitKorea, Korean) (Oct 25, 2026)
- 통인시장 엽전도시락 비추후기 (Naver blog sklee0626, 2026-09) (Oct 25, 2026)
- 통인시장 엽전도시락 2만원어치 솔직후기 (Naver blog paran_byeol, 2026-10) (Oct 25, 2026)
- 통인시장 경복궁 대한민국역사박물관 (Naver blog sapphire_117, 2026-10) (Oct 25, 2026)
- 통인시장 엽전도시락 가이드 (Naver blog millier_enrich, 2026-10) (Oct 25, 2026)
- 서촌 놀거리 통인시장 엽전도시락 (Naver blog eunicho_, 2026-09) (Oct 25, 2026)
- 서촌 통인시장 도시락카페 가는법 (Naver blog amyangela, 2026-10) (Oct 25, 2026)
- 서울 종로 가볼만한곳 통인시장 (Naver blog ay5870, 2026-10) (Oct 25, 2026)
- 서촌 통인시장 엽전 도시락 체험 (Naver blog journey__life, 2026-10) (Oct 25, 2026)
