Why you Should Skip Gwangjang Market (and go to these instead)

When you search for which food market to visit in Korea, or Seoul, the top result is often Gwangjang Market - and chances are you've seen viral videos of this market that serves raw octopus, meats, and unique foods only found in South Korea. However, after rapidly gaining popularity, Gwangjang Market is more of an eyesore and embarrassment to locals due to the vendors rude behavior and tendency to overcharge and scam visitors. In this post I'm sharing my honest experience at Gwangjang Market, and 5 other food markets to visit instead.

My Essential Korea Travel Resources :
​There are a lot of travel companies out there, but some are better than others. After traveling to South Korea over a dozen times, these are my favorite websites and resources to help plan an incredible trip.

For flights, I recommend using WayAway or Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to South Korea.

Car rentals, although not common in Korea, are best through Discover Cars - just make sure to have a copy of your international driver's permit with you!

I always use AGODA for hotels. They have an easy-to-use platform and tend to focus on the Asia-Pacific region.

To keep cell phone service, I always use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required).

For fun things to do, Klook specializes on tours in Asia, otherwise Viator also does the trick.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use when visiting a new country.

Lastly, my essential packing list when traveling.

3 Reasons to Skip Gwangjang Market

1. It's a Tourist Trap - Although it's great seeing celebrities enjoying different areas of Korea, because so many have visited Gwangjang Market and so many multiple videos have gone viral - in recent months it's become a bit of a tourist trap. During my visit, I noticed that other than the store owners most people inside the market were actually foreigners and tourists - including multiple tours of people walking through. There were a few locals having dinner and drinks, but for the most part, you'll be meeting other travelers! Which can also be a great thing, but not exactly what everyone is looking for when visiting a "local" market.

2. Scams are Everywhere - Although not common in Korea (and considered quite a cultural disgrace and embarrassment by other Koreans), Gwangjang Market has multiple price levels. The lowest of course is for locals and the highest price is for all the other foreigners. Because I went with my mom, she ordered a single tempura pepper and was told 1,000 Won, whereas when I went up to order after her I was told I had to spend a minimum of 10,000 Won. We also experienced quite a bit of rudeness from different store owners - and I want you to know this is not common or ok in Korea.

3. The Food is Not the Standard - Unfortunately, due to it's popularity, a lot of the food at Gwangjang Market has become completely mass produced. If you visit other markets in South Korea you'll notice that often each booth will be hand making their items on the spot with each order. However at Gwangjang Market most booths have food sitting out, and there's a reason that everything looks the same at each booth. Although visitors that are trying these foods for the first time won't be able to tell - many of the food items just simply aren't up to the Korean standard.

My Favorite Food Tours near Seoul :
- Market Tour & Traditional Cooking Class
- Soju Tasting Experience

Best Food Markets to Visit in South Korea

1. Namdaemun Market, Seoul - If you're only visiting Seoul during your trip to Korea, this is a great option if you're looking for something a bit more local. As the second most popular food market for tourists, you can still find handmade items and Korean streetfood like Hotteok and Kimbap. It can get pretty busy, but has a much more equal local vs. tourist percentage - plus you can do a bit of shopping nearby as well! I recommend visiting during the early afternoon/evening for the liveliest market!

2. Moran Sejang, Suwon - Located a little South of Seoul, but accessible on the Seoul Subway System, is Moran Sejang. This is one of the most local markets you can find in the Seoul Area, and when I visited my husband and I were the only non-locals. Moran Sejang can be a little trickier to visit because it's only open on days ending in 4 and 9, and the best time to visit would be from about Noon till 6 pm. Here you can find many local products, cheap clothes, and a giant food market in the back. Because everything has prices, you don't need to worry about getting scammed.

3. Myeongdong Night Market, Seoul - If you want to try some of the newest and trendiest versions of street food in Korea, I recommend going to Myeongdong around 5 to 6 pm. You can find entire streets lined with food vendors, and although quite a few are mass produced, it can be fun seeing the new combinations of foods that are being created. Prices are typically displayed on the front of carts as well, so everyone pays the same price.

4. Seogwipo Olle Market, Jeju Island - If you end up visiting Jeju Island during your visit to Korea, the best food market on the island is Seogwipo Olle Market. Here you can find local restaurants, places to shop, and plenty of small vendors incorporating the Jeju Mandarins & Oranges into their products! Some of my personal favorites are the orange juice infused coffee and mandarin croffles! They also have a delicious "tteock" shop - serving traditional Korean rice cakes!

5. BIFF Square, Busan - I've saved the best market for last, as least in my personal opinion. Located in Busan, on the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula, the BIFF (Busan International Film Festival) Square is the liveliest and most fun food market I've been to in Korea. You can find entire streets lined with food vendors, and in addition to more traditional foods like Dalgona and Japchae, you can also find new street foods like Black Sesame Seed Ice Cream and Rain Drop Cake!

Watch my adventures at Gwangjang here!

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