Sokcho gangjeong shop: two ₩10,000 take-home bags, Ibuja Mayak Gotgan

A real review of the crispy handmade gangjeong at Ibuja Mayak Gotgan — great for gifting food lovers

Buying snacks for my nieces at Sokcho Central Market

After a bittersweet 2-night, 3-day trip to Sokcho, I wasn't quite ready to go home, so I stopped by Sokcho Central Market to browse. It happened to be on the way to visit my beloved nieces, so I dropped in for a bit while enjoying the drive.

Wandering the market always puts me in a good mood. And I couldn't show up to see family empty-handed, right? My nieces actually prefer a certain snack over store-bought cookies or chocolate — it's become our real go-to. Every time I visit Sokcho Central Market, I never forget to stock up on the handmade grain gangjeong (crispy grain snack) from Ibuja Mayak Gotgan.

This lively market alley — always buzzing whenever I visit — smells of frying jeon (savory pancakes) and sweet dakgangjeong (crispy fried chicken) as I stroll through, and before I know it, I've stopped in front of the familiar sign.

How to find Ibuja Mayak Gotgan inside the market

If you have trouble finding it, just look for stall number 19 nearby — that makes it much easier. Whenever I visit, the store is spotless, which I really appreciate. On the display shelves, big freshly made gangjeong are piled high, and that nutty aroma already gets my mouth watering.

Why is Ibuja Mayak Gotgan's gangjeong so crisp?

This is crispiness on another level. Market gangjeong is usually so hard it can hurt your teeth, but this place is different.

Instead of simply deep-frying, they steam buckwheat, germinated brown rice, and black rice until moist, then hot-air dry them. On top of that, they age it for a full 6 months to draw out the moisture. One bite and it's not sticky at all — just clean, light, and crisp.

There's a nice variety, too. Brown rice and buckwheat get nuttier the more you chew, black rice has a deeper flavor perfect for adult palates, and white rice is soft enough for little hands to hold and eat — pick whatever suits your taste.

Gangjeong prices and two ₩10,000 bags packed to go

With all that care going into it, the price is impressively reasonable. A generous 8-piece set is ₩10,000, and a 12-piece set is ₩15,000. Since they stick to the 'made same day, sold same day' principle, it's always fresh no matter when you buy.

I bought two ₩10,000 bags, my hands full, so my nieces could eat plenty for days — and honestly, it made my heart feel full too.

What did the nieces think of the gangjeong?

When I got home and pulled out the paper bags, the kids came running with cheers.

Watching them munch away happily with that satisfying crunch made me feel so proud as their aunt. With less syrup, it doesn't stick to teeth and isn't too sweet, so pairing it with cold white milk makes for a perfect combo.

How to bring softened gangjeong back to crisp

A little tip! If your gangjeong has gone a bit soft from damp weather or humidity these days?

Just microwave it for 20 seconds, then let it cool outside for a moment. It magically comes back to that crisp-outside, chewy-inside charm, just like when you first bought it. Lightly toasting it in a pan on low heat also brings out a toasty aroma, like freshly scorched nurungji (crispy scorched rice), for a different kind of treat.

Thanks for the parking discount voucher too! It's great as a snack for kids or adults, and would also make a nice gift when visiting your parents.

Delivery is also available. If you're looking for a healthy, delicious nutritious snack for your family, be sure to stop by Ibuja Mayak Gotgan at Central Market on your next trip to Sokcho.

Ibuja Mayak Gotgan hours, parking and delivery

• Address: 16 Jungang-ro 147beon-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do (1st floor, unit 137, Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market), South Korea
• Hours: Weekdays 08:30–19:30, weekends until 20:00
• Parking: Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market public parking lot
• Delivery orders available