Shopping the stalls of Seattle’s Pike Place and our local farmer’s market in Bellingham Washington has nurtured my love of open air markets, where choosing the ingredients that will make up your meal is not a rushed endeavor and a personal relationship between grower and consumer is possible. Although my verbal communication to vendors in Korea is limited, the Korean street market presents a unique and colorful shopping experience, one that I so eagerly anticipate I have it marked on my calendar every five days.
Like in any outdoor market, the Korean market sells fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables, affordable hand-made goods and local fare. What separates the Korean market from the rest is the oddities that are unique to this very culture:
- Live octopus
- Korean Pancakes
- Kimchi
- Dried Fish
- Insect larvae …
Among my favorite outdoor markets in Korea is the Jagalchi fish market in Busan. Visitors can wander through over ten blocks of undersea curiosities and enter a two story indoor group of stalls for even more seafood delights. On the second floor of this seafood market are restaurants who encourage customers to purchase fresh fish downstairs and then bring it on up to be cooked and served with a variety of side dishes.
The 24 hourDongdaemun market in Seoul is designed for the bargain hunting night owl. Whenever Matt and I take the midnight train to Seoul, arriving in the city by 5am, we stop in at this bizarre and unique market for a late night/early morning snack and whatever other oddities we can find at a haggled price. We’ve woken up Saturday afternoons wondering why we now own a giant whisk broom and 500 pair of knock-off “abbibas” socks.
The highlight of all my marketing experiences is our very own traveling neighborhood market that comes to our quiet street every five days. There are 40-50 stalls selling produce, live eel, bamboo salt, hand made pasta and Matt’s favorite: Korean pancakes. The experience is never complete without a few nudges from a pushy Adjima, or someone stopping you at the kimchi booth for a free English lesson, and I never arrive home without something new and curious. This week I was invited to sample four different types of bamboo salt, inspired by my dear friend SaltySeattle
Enjoy your farmer’s markets, late night markets, street fairs and taco stands in whatever open air you find yourself in this outdoor season!
Teachtravelplay's Blog 
I love this post. I really love our local markets in seatown! But it would be fun to shop where you are too. I hope you don’t mind that I live vicariously through your blog