What comes first into mind when you think of Busan? The best beaches? Busan tower? Gamcheon Culture Village? Delicious Bussan cuisine? If you love eating seafood and you are planning to visit Busan, you are off to a great food adventure! Itโs because Busan is where you can find the largest seafood market in Korea โ the Jagalchi Market.
About Jagalchi Market
The market was called Jagalchi market because of the physical form of the area which has many big pebbles on the seashore. Many refugees went to Busan during the Korean War and they built houses around the area. With that, several fish street stalls were also built there. ANd after the Korean War, Jagalchi market was solidified as a fish market. An interesting fact is that most of the fish vendors at the market are women that is why there are called as Jagalchi ajumma, wherein โajummaโ means middle-aged or married woman in Korean. As the largest seafood market in the country, Jagalchi market is not only popular in Busan, but also in whole Korea.
What to See in Jagalchi Market
Outdoor Jagalchi Market
If you roam around Busanโs Nampo-dong, itโs impossible for you not to notice Jagalchi market as many people are flocking there to buy raw seafood or eat cooked ones. There are also many colorful parasols and stalls selling variety of seafood around its vicinity. The outdoor market has a narrow alley just outside the indoor market where you can find live fish and other seafood in basins and baskets of the street vendors. Aside from the smell, you can also have a glimpse of the sea, hear the ocean waves and horns coming from different boats.
Aside from the stalls, you can also find several seafood restaurants where you can have a taste of freshly cooked seafood meals. Itโs one of the best way to have a great and authentic food adventure in Busan. It is also a way to support the livelihood of the locals.
Indoor Jagalchi Market
Aside from the outdoor market, there is also on indoor market. The indoor Jagalchi market is more neat and modern looking compare to the outdoor one. It is quite similar to the Noryangjin Fish Market in Seoul. In the morning, the market is so busy when different freshly caught fish products are being set by different shops. This 7-floor indoor market that consists of newly opened shops and old shops also offers full tanks of live fish.
On the first floor, you can find the Fresh fish market where vendors mostly sell live fish, live eel, albalone, and many more. While the second floor houses the Hoe Center. It has the East and West Hoe Center, the Resaurant zone and the Dried Fish Zone. In addition, the first floor houses an exhibition room and the Soribada noraebang. On the fourth floor, you can find the Dadohae Korean restaurant. While on the fifth floor, you can have a delectable buffet at Oase Seafood Buffet restaurant. If you go to the 6th floor, you can also see the Oase convention center. And lastly, on the seventh floor of the building, there is an observatory.
What a great way to enjoy Busan city by trying its fresh seafood at Jagalchi market!
Operating Hours
Jagalchi Market is open from 2:00 AM to 10:00 PM everyday except during the first and third Tuesday of every month.
How to get there
Location: 52, Jagalchihaean-ro, Jung-gu, Busan (๋ถ์ฐ๊ด์ญ์ ์ค๊ตฌ ์๊ฐ์นํด์๋ก 52 (๋จํฌ๋4๊ฐ)
Directions: Take Busan Subway Line 1 and get off at Jagalchi Station, Exit 10. Turn right onto Jagalchi 3(sam)-gil Street and walk for about 5 minutes.
Other Nearby Tourist Attractions
Other Sample Busan Itineraries
If you are looking for simple itineraries and guides to help you plan your trip to Busan, Korea, you may refer to the sample below:
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