Although we are living in the time of supermarkets and online shopping, the traditional market is the best place to feel Korean Jeong, and find cheap food ingredients and delicious street food. This is an introduction of the three main traditional markets of Seoul.

 Mangwon Market 

 Mangwon Market, located in Mapo-gu, Seoul, is famous for ‘Manglidangil’ which is the street consisting of various cafes and delicious restaurants. You may think that traditional markets are for elderly people, but Mangwon Market is loved by younger generations and this is why this market is full of trendy and delicious foods.

 First, there are various street foods in the market. Because of cold weather, stores which sell warm foods like ‘bunshik’ were crowded, and also fried things like cutlets and donuts were popular. Among them, ‘Hongdukkea Kalguksu’, which is one of the most popular stands in the market because of their cheap price, is so full of people it is necessary to wait about 10~20 minutes.

 There are lots of good shops and restaurants around the market, therefore it is good to look around those shops. We especially recommend a gelato shop named ‘Dangdo’ where you can taste many different kinds of hand-made gelato.

 Pungmul Market 

 Pungmul Market is located in Dondaemungu, Seoul. This market is an indoor market so that visitors can comfortably look around it even during winter and summer. Unlike the previously mentioned market, Pungmul Market doesn’t offer food or groceries. However, it is a treasure trove of vintage items including various antiques, old electronics, like radios, CD players, typewriters, and LP records. If you’re interested in collecting antiques or if you enjoy nostalgic atmospheres, it would be a memorable experience to visit Pungmul Market.

 One thing to note is there is nowhere to eat except one small restaurant inside, and you have to get permission from the market management before taking photos or videos.

 Tongin Market 

 Tongin Market is a traditional market located in Jongno-gu, Seoul. After the Korean War, the number of residents in the Seochon area increased, and several stores formed around it became the Tongin Market today.

 Tongin Market is very popular with Korean as well as foreign tourists when it introduced a method of purchasing food from the market with ‘Yeopjeon’ in 2012. First, you can buy Yeopjeon, which is sold in bundles inside the market, and exchange food and Yeopjeon at the store that is designated as a lunchbox cafe franchise. In particular, the oil tteokbokki from ‘founder Grandmother Jeong’s Oil Tteokbokki’ is the most famous food in Tongin Market, so it is recommended to taste it. If you want to feel the oldness of Korea and have a unique experience through Yeopjeon, Pharos recommends Tongin Market.

 With the development of the Internet and the introduction of new discount stores, Korea’s traditional markets are becoming increasingly losing vigor and many stores are naturally closed. However, traditional markets are recommended not only for foreign tourists but also for Koreans as a unique experience destination and dating course because they can see Korean culture and feel the ‘Jeong’ of Korea. How about visiting traditional markets that maintain Korean traditional culture in this changing world?

Editor-in-Chief • CHO SEO YUN • jeoyum@gmail.com

Media Management Editor • KIM TAE WOO • jerryfighter27@gmail.com