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Korean Food Tour: Famous Markets and Food Streets

Famous Korean food markets and streets and what to eat there, with 5 Korean phrases for ordering, with audio and a quick quiz.

  • Tongyeong Jungang Market (통영 중앙시장)
    Data: Korea Tourism Organization (한국관광공사)
    Tongyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do

    Tongyeong Jungang Market

    통영 중앙시장

    A market with almost 400 years of history, next to Dongpirang Village and facing Gangguan Port, where replicas of the turtle ship are moored in honor of Admiral Yi Sun-sin. Being right by the sea, it is full of fresh and dried fish, and you can also find rice cakes, quilted goods and mother-of-pearl crafts.

    Opening hours and days off vary by store.

  • Masan Odong-dong Agujjim Street (마산 오동동 아구찜거리)
    Data: Korea Tourism Organization (한국관광공사)
    Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do

    Masan Odong-dong Agujjim Street

    마산 오동동 아구찜거리

    Masan is famous for agujjim, steamed monkfish: sweet, mild fish in a strong, spicy sauce with bean sprouts and greens. The street began in the 1960s, when a restaurant started steaming freshly caught monkfish with doenjang, gochujang and bean sprouts. Local fishermen loved it, more restaurants followed, and the street was born.

    Opening hours vary by restaurant.

  • Hwagae Market (하동 화개장터)
    Data: Korea Tourism Organization (한국관광공사)
    Hadong, Gyeongsangnam-do

    Hwagae Market

    하동 화개장터

    A market where the Seomjingang River meets Hwagae Stream, where people from the Yeongnam and Honam regions once met to trade. It reopened in 2001 with traditional stalls and a green tea shopping area, and now opens every day instead of only on five-day market days. Browse chestnuts, wild greens, farm produce and medicinal herbs, and try local food as you walk.

    Hours and closed days vary by shop. Parking is available.

  • Jinju Jungang Market (진주중앙시장)
    Data: Korea Tourism Organization (한국관광공사)
    Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do

    Jinju Jungang Market

    진주중앙시장

    A long-running market in the heart of Jinju whose roots go back to 1884. Once a five-day market, it now opens every day under a 980 m retractable arcade, with about 850 shops in three sections: hanbok and fabric, food alleys and general goods. A dawn market starts trading early in the morning.

    Open 04:00-22:00 (varies by shop); dawn market 04:00-10:00. Closed on the 1st and 3rd Sundays. Parking is available.

  • Masan Fish Market (마산어시장)
    Data: Korea Tourism Organization (한국관광공사)
    Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do

    Masan Fish Market

    마산어시장

    A big seafood market in Masan, Changwon, with about 200 raw-fish restaurants and tanks of fish from the clean waters of the South Sea, from premium fish to mackerel and pollock. Dried and salted seafood is sold at reasonable prices, and the market has modern arcades.

    Open 10:00-22:00 (varies by store). Parking is available.

  • Tongyeong Kkulppang (Honey Bread) Street (통영항 꿀빵거리)
    Data: Korea Tourism Organization (한국관광공사)
    Tongyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do

    Tongyeong Kkulppang (Honey Bread) Street

    통영항 꿀빵거리

    A street by Tongyeong Port and Jungang Market lined with shops selling kkulppang, Tongyeong's signature sweet. The dough is filled with sweet red bean paste, deep-fried and coated with honey; it was first made in the 1960s as a snack that kept well for sailors in the warm coastal weather. Dongpirang Village and Sebyeonggwan Hall are nearby.

    Near Tongyeong Port. Open all year round; shop hours vary.

Data: Korea Tourism Organization (한국관광공사), via TourAPI. Photos are shown as provided, uncropped. Facts are checked against VisitKorea and official festival sites, and the descriptions are our own. Dates can change, so check the official site before you travel.