Gwangjang Market bakery souvenir for relatives: Ssuk's Choco Pie

With Chuseok coming up, I stopped by Gwangjang Market looking for something light to bring family or friends. Familiar holiday foods like jeon (savory pancakes) or rice cakes are always good, but this time I wanted to bring something a little different.

That's when I thought of Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul. It's a mugwort choco pie shop near Gwangjang Market, with 3-piece and 6-piece sets in several flavors, which made it feel just right as a Gwangjang Market souvenir or Chuseok snack. I went with the 6-piece set covering all six flavors, brought it home, and shared one each with my family.

A walk through Gwangjang Market, then a Chuseok snack at Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul

Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul sits near Jongno 5-ga Station and Gwangjang Market, so it's easy to stop by while wandering the market. People usually think of Gwangjang Market for food to eat on the spot, but having a dessert you can pack and take home meant it was a good last stop after browsing.

Especially around Chuseok, you tend to want one snack to bring home. Rather than something heavy or tricky to store, individually wrapped desserts that are easy to share with family can actually be more convenient.

Ssuk's choco pies are chilled fresh choco pies, so they feel a bit different from regular packaged snacks.

What goes in the 6-piece set: picking your own flavors

This time I chose six flavors — Geomundo sea-breeze mugwort, sea-breeze mugwort injeolmi (glutinous rice cake), sea-breeze mugwort whole red bean, Nonsan strawberry, Jeju Udo peanut, and Gwangju real chocolate. Each piece is individually wrapped, so the box looked neat when opened and made sharing among several people easy.

What I liked most was that the six aren't all the same flavor — everyone in my family could pick according to their own taste.

🌿 Geomundo sea-breeze mugwort

The most basic mugwort flavor. The mugwort's distinct aroma comes through gently, blending smoothly with the chocolate and cream. If it's your first time trying these, this seemed like the natural place to start.

🍡 Sea-breeze mugwort injeolmi (chewy rice cake)

Adding injeolmi (rice cake coated in roasted bean powder) to the mugwort clearly leans nuttier. With injeolmi cream and rice cake pieces inside, there's a chewy texture too — a familiar combination older family members would enjoy.

🫘 Sea-breeze mugwort whole red bean

Mugwort and red bean are, of course, a great match.

The soft mugwort cream paired with the sweetness of whole red beans made this one feel especially fitting as a Chuseok snack.

🍓 Nonsan strawberry

The freshest-feeling of the six. Made with Nonsan strawberry purée, the strawberry's tartness comes through between bites of chocolate sweetness.

This one is a good pick if you're sharing with someone who isn't a big fan of mugwort.

🥜 Jeju Udo peanut

A distinctly nutty peanut flavor. The chocolate-and-peanut combo is familiar, but with a touch that still feels like Ssuk's own.

🍫 Gwangju real chocolate

Last but not least, this one's for the chocolate lovers. Rich cacao flavor, with chocolate chips inside the cream that give a stronger chocolate hit when you bite in. It was also the easiest one to pair with coffee.

Why Ssuk's choco pies travel well to a relatives' house at Chuseok

What struck me this time was how convenient a multi-flavor set like the 6-piece box is as a holiday snack. A single flavor can be hit-or-miss depending on taste, but with six in the box, everyone in the family can pick their own. The packaging is also neat enough that you don't need to repack it.

If you're planning to stop by Gwangjang Market before heading to your parents' or relatives' place, this worked well as a route — browse the market's food, then pick up one of these as a souvenir on the way out.

That said, since it's a chilled dessert, storage needs attention if you'll be carrying it around for a while. Choco pies need refrigeration, so if your travel time is long, it's worth packing them with an insulated cooler bag.

Trying all six flavors one by one this time, I could tell preferences would clearly split by person. If you like mugwort, go for the sea-breeze mugwort line; if you like nutty flavors, injeolmi or Udo peanut; if you want something fresh, go with Nonsan strawberry.

If you're looking for a Gwangjang Market souvenir or a slightly special Chuseok snack, picking up a 6-piece set with a mix of flavors is a solid choice. It has a different feel from the usual market food, so bringing one of these along this holiday season might be a nice touch. 😊