Between Uncommon Spectacle And Normal

How often do you go to traditional markets? Nowadays, many people prefer to purchase goods from supermarkets and online shopping malls rather than from the traditional markets. However, going to traditional markets is very attractive. Especially, the traditional markets of Busan have unique characteristics because Busan is the second largest city and located by the sea. The Chungdae Post went to the Jagalchi and the Gukje market at Nampo-dong of Busan. Let’s go to Busan!

 
The Jagalchi Market by the Sea
   The Jagalchi Market is a typical marketplace in Busan. Busan is located on the coast and this feature is reflected in aspects of the Jagalchi Market. Many travelers visit this market when they take a trip to Busan. Hence, the marketplace is always crowded with people on the weekend. Actually, there is a special origin for the name of the Jagalchi Market. Because the market was placed on the pebble, it used ‘jagal’ which means pebble in  Korean. As soon as you go into the Jagalchi Market, you can smell the sea air. Since Jagalchi Market is next to the sea, we can also see the sea, ships, and flying seagulls from the Jagalchi Market.

We Can Buy Fresh Sea Food!
   Fresh sea-food is available from the sea around Busan. Most merchants sell various kinds of fresh sea food. We can also see the new 7-story center. In the center of the market, merchants keep seafood in the water tanks. Therefore, we can see seafood such as diverse kinds of still living fish and crabs. As there are lots of seafood shops on the first floor of the market, we can enjoy various kinds of seafood. If you buy some fish from the shops on the first floor, you can immediately eat the fresh fish on the second floor.

Grilled Fish vs Raw Fish
   If you are hungry while looking around the Jagalchi Market, you can eat slices of raw fish or grilled fish at the market. In addition, you can have grilled clams and sea eels. Many people seem to want to eat grilled fish or slices of raw fish when they visit the Jagalchi Market. Hence, CP chose grilled fish to try. We ate grilled fish in the restaurant that was located on the side street where many grilled fish restaurants were concentrated. It was
very delicious and each fish had diverse flavors. If you go to the side street, you can enjoy grilled fish meal for about 7,000 won.

Gukje Market Has a Different Mood from the Jagalchi Market

 
   If you cross the street from the Jagalchi Market, you can reach the Gukje Market. The Gukje Market was named in 1950 when the Korean War broke out. Most of the traded goods in the Gukje Market were from the US military or Japan. Therefore, it was said that everything in the Gukje Market was foreign except for the people. These days, merchants sell normal goods that people can see at other markets except for the Jagalchi
Market which reflects features of Busan. Principally, traded goods are clothing, home appliances, fabrics, shoes, bags, and daily necessities.

Enjoy Various Foods!
 
   The Gukje Market is famous for many kinds of delicious food. In particular, we can see special foods that people can’t see in other cities such as Chinese noodles with assorted mixtures. There are many street stalls which sell various foods on the side streets; therefore, you can eat food for cheap prices. CP decided to eat Chungmu Gimbap because it was popular and nearly half of the visitors ate it. Chungmu Gimbap was very tasty
and it was enough to eat for one meal. Besides, you can also enjoy many delicious foods other than Chungmu
Gimbap!

Dessert with Cheap Price
 
   There is a famous dessert at the Gukje Market. You might have heard about this food. This food appeared at “One Night Two Days,” KBS2’s variety show. On this program, when Lee Seung-gi went to Busan, he ate this food. What is the name of this dessert? The answer is a Chinese pancake stuffed with sugar and seeds. This food is different from normal Chinese pancakes because seeds are added to this special pancake. There are several stores which sell this food in the Gukje Market, and many people line up to eat this Chinese pancake. If you want to try it, you can buy it for about 1,000 won.

We Can See Many Things through the Traditional Markets

 
   Each city has traditional markets which have their own attractions. When we go for a trip, it is a good choice to go to the traditional market of that region because it is gathering of the features of the region. We can see general aspects and special features of traditional markets at Busan when we compare Busan’s traditional  markets with other traditional markets. Therefore, I recommend you go to the Jagalchi Market in order to experience something special. On the other hand, you can go to the Gukje market to experience something more common. However, in the Gukje market, you can also experience something extraordinary such as the famous food of Busan. Where do you want to visit between the two markets?


Welcome to Jagalchi Market and Gukje Market of Busan!

Hours
Jagalchi Market
7:00~21:00, 2nd and 4th Tuesday is day off.
Gukje Market
9:00~20:00 (Opening and closing time can be different
from store to store), 1st and 3rd Sunday is day off.

How to get to these markets : If you use the subway, you have to get off at the Jagalchi station and go out
through the 10th exit in order to reach the Jagalchi Market. In addition, if you cross the street from the Jagalchi Market, you will find the Gukje Market.

By Heo Moon-hee CP Reporter moony01@cnu.ac.kr

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