Gukje Market

As a staple of Busan’s cultural and culinary scene, Gukje Market features on the majority of city tours—exploring the market with a guide allows you to overcome language barriers and discover local Korean produce. Day trips and shore excursions typically combine a wander around Gukje Market with stops at the brightly-colored Gamcheon Culture Village; Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, a collection of coastal Buddhist shrines; and Yongdusan Park. The market also tends to feature on food tours of Busan.

• With its traditional stalls and street vendors, Gukje Market offers a glimpse of local life in Busan.
• The market spans a flat boulevard, which is wheelchair- and stroller-accessible. However, the stretch can get crowded and feel narrow.
• The market is also home to Gukje Market Food Street, where you can sample local delicacies such as noodles, seaweed rolls, and Korean pancakes.

You can reach Gukje Market by way of Nampo-dong Station, via exit number 1. It’s also a 5-minute walk northeast of Jagalchi subway station on metro line 1.

Gukje Market is usually open daily, year-round from the early morning until the late evening. To encounter the most locals, head to the market in the early morning, when chefs and vendors are shopping for the freshest ingredients.

Within walking distance of Gukje Market, you’ll find two more of Busan’s major markets. Just across the road is Bupyeong Market, where locals flock to buy household goods such as pots and pans, and cost-effective clothing. A further few minutes away is Jagalchi Fish Market, where sprawling squids and octopus sit alongside dainty sardines and salmon, making for excellent photo opportunities.