Sokcho market gangjeong shop: 8 vs 12-piece sets compared, Ibuja Mayak

Where is Ibuja Mayak Gotgan in Sokcho Central Market?

Ibuja Mayak Gotgan (이부자마약곳간) is a grain gangjeong shop at 16 Jungang-ro 147beon-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do, on the first floor of the Sokcho Tourism & Fisheries Market (Sokcho Central Market), stall 137. The gangjeong comes in bags of 8 pieces each.

Why one bag of Sokcho Central Market gangjeong wasn't enough

The grain gangjeong I bought at Ibuja Mayak Gotgan in Sokcho Central Market suited me so well that I ate it down to the very last piece. When a food you brought back from a trip runs out so quickly, there's a thought that pops up before any photo: "I should have bought more!"

That was exactly me this time. These round snacks I picked up while wandering the market were so good that I kept grabbing one piece at a time, and before I knew it the last one was gone. I only meant to try a little, but once I got home I regretted not buying more.

The Sokcho Central Market stop I made was Ibuja Mayak Gotgan. The display of gangjeong in many colors caught my eye right away. Deep purple, bright cream and warm golden tones sat side by side, so just looking was fun.

After a good meal by the sea, you start looking for something to snack on at home, right? That's when a nutty, toasty bag like this is welcome. For me it was a treat that carried the afterglow of this outing all the way home.

What grains go into Ibuja Mayak Gotgan's gangjeong, and how crunchy is it?

The charm of Ibuja Mayak Gotgan's gangjeong is how the ingredients show in its look, and the light crunch when you bite in. The in-store sign at the time of my visit listed buckwheat, black rice, white rice and yellow grain, and the introductory material I separately attached also mentions germinated brown rice.

Since the two listings differ, it's worth checking which kinds you want when you order. I usually look at what a food is made from when I choose, so I was glad to see familiar grain names, and comparing the different colors was fun too. Still, I think of it as a tasty snack rather than judging its nutrition or health effects from the ingredients alone.

Up close, the grains were packed tightly onto the round, flat surface. The yellowish ones had fairly coarse grains standing out, while the brownish ones looked crowded with small kernels. The dark ones stood out even more clearly when packed together with the others.

The visual fun continued while eating. The way it crumbles crisply in your mouth felt so good that my hand kept going back. To my taste, the chewy-crunchy fun and the nutty flavor go really well together.

How long does one bag of grain gangjeong really last?

Once I started eating the gangjeong from Ibuja Mayak Gotgan at Sokcho Central Market, the bag shrank much faster than I expected. The reward of coming to a Sokcho Central Market favorite felt bigger after eating than while browsing. At first I thought a few pieces would be plenty. But once I started, it disappeared faster than I'd guessed.

Despite meaning to ration it, I kept reaching for it whenever it was in front of me. In the end it was only after finishing that I thought I should have brought more. I think this kind of review is better conveyed by what really happened than by grand descriptions.

Watching the bag empty and still not wanting to stop, then thinking of my next visit after the last piece — that's my honest impression.

8-piece vs 12-piece gangjeong set: which is cheaper?

The price board at Ibuja Mayak Gotgan shows ₩10,000 for the 8-piece set and ₩15,000 for the 12-piece set. By the prices shown at the time of my visit, both come to ₩1,250 per piece. Choosing the bigger pack doesn't lower the per-piece price.

Still, for someone like me who eats it fast, the larger count seems more satisfying. It's less about "buying cheaper" and more about getting as much as you want to eat, so you feel less regret.

• If it's your first time, start with the 8-piece set to find out what you like
• If you already love the flavor, go for the 12-piece set and pick generously
• Thinking first about how many people will eat and how much you'll carry makes choosing easier

What to buy next time at Sokcho Central Market

If you're looking for food to take away from Sokcho Central Market, I'd recommend a bag of Ibuja Mayak Gotgan gangjeong to anyone who likes nutty, crunchy snacks. It turns out it isn't only flashy food that stays with you as a travel memory.

Taking a bite back home and recalling the market stalls and the moments of browsing is a small joy too. I felt that this time. Next time I plan to bring a bit more from the start. Not because more pieces is automatically a better deal, but because I now know it suits my taste. The enjoyable experience became my guide for the next choice.

When you buy, check the grains you want, the pack size and that day's price together. If you can choose several kinds, mixing them to your taste could be fun too.

I thought I'd chosen well, but I'd chosen a little too few.

As much as I regretted the empty bag, on my next outing I'll bring back enough for the share I'll enjoy at home too.