1. Kukje Market, Bupyeong Market, and Jagalchi Market
●Kukje Market
-To get there: get off at the Jagalchi subway station, go to exit 7 and turn right.
Kukje Market has the biggest trade volume in Korea. It started with refugees doing business after the Korean War. Many products were supplied to all parts of Korea through the market. It is a really big market so people say “If I go there, I can get all the products I need.”
- Chinese Seed Pancake
The seed pancake became more famous because of the program One Night and Two Days. If you pay 900 won, you can eat this.
-Patjuk and Patbingsu Alleys
There are two alleys, one called Patjuk (adzuki-bean porridge) alley and the other called Patbingsu (adzuki-bean ice dessert) alley. If you want to eat old-fashined Patbingsu, try it here. This is different from the Patbingsu of today’s cafés. It costs 3,000 won.
The Chinese seed pancake and the Patjuk and Patbingsu alleys are located in PIFF plaza.
●Bupyeong Market (Kkangtong Market)- To get there: get off at the Jagalchi subway station, go to exit 7 and turn left (this market is next to Kukje Market).
Kkangtong means “can” in English. Kkangtong market is named this because lots of canned food is sold here. This market is known as the place that sells imported goods. In particular, there are various Japanese products. People joke that you can find all imported items here except people!
●Jagalchi Market- To get there: get off at the Jagalchi subway station and go to exit 10.
-Website: http://jagalchimarket.bisco.or.kr/
Jagalchi Market is a typical market and the biggest fish market in Korea. It opened after independence in 1945.
2. Bookstore Alley in Bosu-dong and Mural Alley
● Bookstore Alley in Bosu-dong- To get there: get off at the Jagalchi subway station, go to exit 3, turn left and go straight. You will see Bupyeong market. Walk through the market and cross the street.
-Website: http://www.bosubook.com/
When Busan became a temporary capital because of the Korean War, a couple started to sell used magazines, comic books and various other books from the American Army base. This was the beginning of Bookstore Alley. The alley has 50 years of history. There are about 50 bookstores. You can get used books at a 40-70% discount and you can also get discounted new books. The alley’s stores are closed on the first and third Sunday of the month. This place also became more famous because of the program One Night and Two Days.
●Mural Alley-If you walk towards Bookstore Alley, you will see a set of stairs. Mural Alley is along the staircase..The alley mural tells the story of a small lizard, so you may feel like you are reading a storybook as you walk up the stairs. It isn’t so long so you can experience the whole alley in about 15 minutes.
