How to Walk from the Sincheon Embankment to Kim Gwang-seok’s Street through Daegu’s Bangcheon Market

Why the Livelihood Base of Returnees in 1945 Became Bangcheon Market

Bangcheon Market is located beside Suseonggyo Bridge on Sincheon Stream, along the Sincheon embankment. It began when displaced people returning from Japan, Manchuria, and elsewhere after Korea's liberation in 1945 started selling goods to make a living. The name “Bangcheon Market” was given because the market was established along the embankment.

In its early days, the market extended about 500 m south from Suseonggyo Bridge, and merchants organized the complex marketplace by dividing sections with straw ropes. In the 1960s, it was known for its rice and tteok stalls, and there was a period when the number of shops exceeded 1,000. Even today, traditional-market goods such as vegetables, fruit, grains, and miscellaneous items are mixed with restaurants and cafés in a single alley.

How the Market Alleys Changed After the 2009 “Market of All Kinds of Stars” Project

Bangcheon Market's commercial district weakened because of downtown hollowing-out and the influence of hypermarkets and department stores. However, it reached a turning point beginning in 2009, when the “Market of All Kinds of Stars” project, which combined culture and the arts with the market, and the Munjeonseongsisi project were carried out. During this process, art projects were added to old signs and alley walls, and Kim Gwang-seok Repainting Street east of the market became a linked destination for visitors.

Kim Gwang-seok Repainting Street is a mural-lined street extending about 350 m through the back alleys of Bangcheon Market. Daegu tourism information introduces it as a place that can be explored free of charge with no time limit, and lists 053-661-2626 as the tourism information contact number. The market itself and the mural street have different characters, so rather than expecting only grocery shopping, it is better to plan a one- to two-hour route that takes in both the market alleys and the cultural street.

Why It Cannot Be Set as “09:00–18:00”: Business Hours Vary by Shop

There is no single operating schedule that applies to the entire Bangcheon Market. The Korea Tourism Organization's barrier-free tourism information states that both business hours and closing days “vary by shop.” Therefore, when making the market a destination, you should check the business hours of specific restaurants, cafés, or stores separately. This article likewise lists the operating hours as “varies by shop.”

There is no admission fee. Passing through the market and walking along Kim Gwang-seok Repainting Street are free, but individual shops set their own prices for meals, drinks, experiences, and purchases. If you are visiting for an afternoon meal, for example, Bangcheon Family Jokbal inside Bangcheon Market operates from 15:00 to 24:00 on weekdays and from 15:00 to 01:00 on Saturdays and Sundays according to Daegu Food information. This is information for one business, not for the market as a whole.

• Market inquiries: Economic Affairs Division, Jung-gu Office, Daegu 053-661-2677
• Kim Gwang-seok Repainting Street tourism information: 053-661-2626
• Market admission: Free
• Market closing days: Vary by shop

About 510 m from Exit 3 of Kyungdae Hospital Station; Buses Stop at “Bangcheon Market (Kim Gwang-seok-gil)”

The distance from Exit 3 of Kyungdae Hospital Station on Daegu Metro Line 2 to the interior of Bangcheon Market is about 510 m, or approximately a six-minute walk. The closest stop when heading toward the market's restaurant area is “Bangcheon Market (Kim Gwang-seok-gil).” The market is located near Suseonggyo Bridge and Dalgubeol-daero, so you can visit Kim Gwang-seok-gil first and then enter the market, or eat at the market first and walk to the mural street afterward.

For those arriving by car, parking outside the market and walking is more realistic than driving into its alleys. Restaurant information for the market also states that there is no private parking lot and that the alleys are narrow. Tourism information for Kim Gwang-seok Repainting Street says that visitors can use the outdoor parking lot at Daebaek Plaza, with two hours of free parking on weekdays for vehicles with a leaflet stamp. The applicable conditions and whether the arrangement is operating should be confirmed on the day of departure.

A 90-Minute Route Connecting Suseonggyo Bridge, Kim Gwang-seok-gil, and the Market Restaurants

For first-time visitors, the easiest route to understand is to walk from Exit 3 of Kyungdae Hospital Station toward the market and connect it with the 350 m Kim Gwang-seok Repainting Street before or after a meal. The market is beside Suseonggyo Bridge, and Kim Gwang-seok-gil adjoins the back alleys of the market, so there is no need to connect the two locations by separate transportation.

The recommended duration is about 60–90 minutes for walking through the market alleys and Kim Gwang-seok-gil alone, or at least two hours including a meal. Daegu city materials state that approximately 90 cafés, restaurants, galleries, and art shops are distributed along the area from Daebaek Plaza to the western end of Suseonggyo Bridge and the entrance to Kim Gwang-seok-gil, as well as from Exit 3 of Kyungdae Hospital Station to the vicinity of Daebonggyo Station. If you do not choose a restaurant in advance, selecting a place to eat may take a considerable amount of time.

Three Things to Check When Using a Wheelchair: Curbs, Public Parking, and Shop Interiors

The Korea Tourism Organization's barrier-free information states that wheelchairs can access Bangcheon Market because there are no curbs along the main access route or at the main entrance. The public parking lot is marked as having accessible parking spaces. This means that the major routes outside the market are relatively accessible; it does not mean that the passage width, restrooms, or seating arrangements inside every individual shop are the same.

If you plan to dine with a stroller or wheelchair, it is safer to contact the shop in advance and directly confirm whether the entrance has a step and whether the restroom can be used. Foreign-language assistance has not been confirmed as a regular service throughout the market. For nearby tourism information, you can also use the English, Chinese, and Japanese menus on the Daegu tourism website together with the 1330 tourism information service.

It May Not Be Suitable If You Expect a “Set Grocery-Shopping Time” Rather Than a Market

Bangcheon Market is not structured like a large traditional market where every shop opens at the same time. Official tourism information also states that operating hours and closing days vary by shop, so you need to call ahead if your schedule involves visiting a specific restaurant in the morning or purchasing a particular item without fail.

Conversely, it is a compact area for travelers who want to understand at once the market's history, which began on the Sincheon embankment, the art projects launched after 2009, and Kim Gwang-seok Repainting Street. On June 26–27, 2026, the “Respond, Bangcheon Market” event was held around the Bangcheon Market customer lounge. Programs on specific dates, such as this event, may differ each year and each time, so visitors returning to the area should check notices from Jung-gu Office or Daegu Tourism.