Spotlighting Noryangjin Fish Market
South Korea is known for its eclectic, one-of-a-kind markets and Noryangjin Fish Market is no exception. In fact, a poll from 2011 showed that visiting this market is a favorite activity among tourists. With hundreds of vendors, you’ll find every seafood and crustacean imaginable to satisfy every craving and curious appetite.
- When to Visit
Located near the iconic 63 Building, Noryangjin Fish Market is the largest and oldest seafood market in the country. Although it’s open 24 hours, the best time to go is during the early morning. You can experience the market’s busiest hours from 4:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. when the wholesalers buy their products during an auction. You’ll also get first dibs on the freshest products, but there’s a catch (pun totally intended) — prices are usually 10%-20% higher during these times. Other busy times are evenings and weekends.
Address:
674 Nodeul-ro, Noryangjin-dong, Dongjak-gu
How To Get There:
Take Seoul subway Noryangjin Station (Lines 1 and 9) and follow the English signage
- Something For Everybody
There are around 700 vendors plus restaurants and shops within the Noryangjin Fish Market so you can have a great time just walking around, shopping, eating, or all of the above. Are you, or someone you know, into fishing? Why not check out the knife souvenir shop? Perhaps you’re into salted fish, or maybe want to try for the first time? Head to the salted fish market to see all the selections it offers; you won’t regret it! If you’re not a huge fan of eating seafood, don’t worry, because the restaurants offer plenty of other options to enjoy.
- Eat What You Buy
One of the highlights of this market is that you don’t have to take home your purchase and spend time cooking it. After making your selection, there will be someone who takes you to a restaurant within the market where they’ll cook your food. Talk about a win-win situation. Another perk is that both the fresh food you’re buying and the meals are pretty affordable so no need to worry about breaking the bank at Noryangjin.
- Challenge Your Tastebuds
If you want to recreate your own episode of Bizarre Foods then you must try san-nakji. San-nakji is raw, live octopus and it can be eaten in two ways. The first and most popular way to eat it is to have it cut in pieces, sashimi-style, and coated with soy sauce. The other way is to order a baby octopus that can be swallowed whole. If that is too adventurous for you, another unusual delicacy is gaebul. This sea creature, which is famous for its rather peculiar shape, is also eaten raw and it’s known to have a salty, savory taste. Gaebul is usually coated with sesame oil sauce or gochujang sauce.
That is all we have for Noryangjin Fish Market, but we’d love to know if you’re putting it on your to-visit list.
Written by Dianelys Fuentes
