Sokcho fisheries market stall: same-day 3-color gangjeong, Ibuja Mayak

When you're traveling in Sokcho, you just can't skip Central Market.

Parking at Sokcho Central Market: 30 minutes even on a Tuesday

Sokcho Central Market was so busy that it took about 30 minutes just to get into the parking lot, even on a weekday Tuesday. I figured a weekday would be a bit calmer, but that was totally wrong, haha.

Sokcho Central Market was packed even on a weekday. Just so you know, this was a Tuesday.

There were so many cars that it took almost 30 minutes just to get into the Sokcho Central Market parking lot. It wasn't even a weekend, so I really felt how popular this market is. Once I parked and walked in, the place was buzzing with people browsing all the food. If you're planning to visit, I'd recommend building in extra time for parking.

What Ibuja Mayak Gotgan's grain gangjeong display looks like

Wandering around and hunting for good eats at Sokcho Central Market is half the fun, and this time something stopped me in my tracks as I walked by — it was Ibuja Mayak Gotgan (이부자마약곳간)!

The display case was piled high with grain gangjeong (crispy grain snack), everything from black rice to white varieties, so many kinds I just wanted to pick one up. We bought two of the 3-color grain gangjeong 8-piece sets to take home and share with the kids.

How much does the same-day grain gangjeong cost?

At Ibuja Mayak Gotgan, the grain gangjeong came in an 8-piece set for ₩10,000 and a 12-piece set for ₩15,000. The sign on the shop read 'made same day, sold same day.'

You could watch the staff packing the gangjeong right in front of the shop. But the phrase that really caught my eye was

Made same day, sold same day

When market food at a travel destination is made fresh on the spot, it just makes you want to reach for it one more time, haha.

The display was full of all kinds of gangjeong, so it was fun just to browse.

According to the sign in the photo, the 8-piece set was ₩10,000 and the 12-piece set was ₩15,000. Since you get to try several kinds at once, it made for a solid pick to take home from Sokcho Central Market.

Three colors in one set: picking your favorite grain gangjeong

What we picked was the 3-color grain gangjeong from Ibuja Mayak Gotgan! Compared to a single-flavor pack, the different colors and slightly different textures of each grain made it fun to choose as you ate.

The piece loaded with black rice especially looked nutty just from its appearance :)

Each piece was pretty sizable, so it made a good snack, and it came packed in plastic, which made it easy to carry back to the lodging or home.

If you're looking for something a bit different from chicken gangjeong or squid sundae on a Sokcho trip, this one's worth adding to your Sokcho Central Market food list.

• 5-color grain gangjeong 8-piece set ₩10,000
• 5-color grain gangjeong 12-piece set ₩15,000

Carrying the gangjeong home from Sokcho, plus a reheating tip

We ended up carrying home two bags of the 8-piece set, and the shop's sign said that if it gets a little soft, you can pop it in the microwave for about 20 seconds or warm it briefly in an air fryer on low heat.

I was debating whether to just buy one 8-piece set, but ended up grabbing two bags, and I'm glad I did, haha. The shop's sign also had a tip: if it gets a bit hard or soft after a while, microwave it for about 20 seconds or warm it lightly in an air fryer on low.

It's a nice travel snack, and it's just as easy to grab a piece at a time once you're back home, so I'd love to pick some up again next time I'm in Sokcho.

Wandering the market, I completely lost track of time :) If you're browsing Sokcho Central Market for a simple snack to pack up, keep an eye out for the grain gangjeong at Ibuja Mayak Gotgan.

Ibuja Mayak Gotgan location, hours and closing day

• 1F 137, Sokcho Tourist Fisheries Market, 16 Jungang-ro147beon-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
• Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 08:30 - 19:30
• Sat, Sun 08:30 - 20:00
• Closed every Wednesday