Destination: Yeongdeungpo Market (Seoul)

You’d think fresh markets would get boring after awhile, right? Um, yeah, they haven’t lost their appeal despite having visited quite a few of them. Virtually every Korean city will have one or more (in larger cities like Seoul, they’re more like one a neighborhood), where you can find a pretty standard – albeit seasonal – selection of fresh veggies, fruits, fish, seafood, and at least a few booths selling clothing, socks, shoes, and much more.

Prices are pretty close to that of a big-box store in some cases, while in others there’s some decent savings to be had. Prices aren’t always displayed, so be sure to ask the price for a given quantity (a bowl of fruit, a bunch of bananas, or pre-packaged groups of veggies).

A man drying sheets of seaweed before packaging them in clear plastic. Seaweed (김, or gim), when dried / pressed into sheets, is used as a side dish or as a way of wrapping rice to make it edible. What does it taste like? Nothing, really – somewhat like a very dry, salty cracker that melts in your mouth with a little crackle to it.

Shoes, some clothes, and an overall view of the market. It’s quite normal to see fresh fruits right next to clothes, which in turn is next to a butcher of some kind, and so on.

Being from the landlocked state of Kentucky (and previously the western end of North Carolina), fish are one thing I’m not very familiar with. On the other hand, what you see is exactly what you get – raw fish not packaged, treated, preserved, without a gram of styrofoam or plastic wrapping around (some fish are packaged that way, but not these).

Meat – pretty sure it was pig of some kind… Vegans /vegetarians, look the other way – hey look, in-season romaine lettuce!

A well-designed mannequin of how a construction worker looks? Or just showing some of the protective gear they’re expected to wear? I’m just posting the picture…and moving on…

Just a few of the power tools the aforementioned construction worker might use. Most of the tools looked used and crammed into the smallish booths, even though this was outside of the main (read: covered) market.

A wonderful selection of colorful hanbok – Korean traditional clothing only worn on special occasions these days.

A last look at the market before moving on.

What else is happening in South Korea? Let’s find out.

Directions to Yeongdeungpo Market: Take line 5 of the Seoul subway system to the Yeongdeungpo Market station. Take exit 3 to street level and walk 25 meters, then take the first left and you’ll see the entrance to the covered market. There are many people and booths selling stuff beyond the covered market – once you exit, keep exploring. It’s easy enough to find your way back to the subway station.