Sokcho Jungang Market travel snack: pumpkin chips at Sokcho Yetgokgan

Today I stopped by Sokcho Jungang Market for a quick snack run. Since we were headed to a pension, I also swung by Sokcho Yetgokgan for some old-fashioned snacks that are easy to eat alongside scallops.

Where is Sokcho Yetgokgan, and what are its hours?

Sokcho Yetgokgan is at 38 Jungangsijang-ro 6-gil, unit 104, Sokcho, Gangwon — unit 31 of the chicken gangjeong alley. Hours are 09:00 - 20:00, and takeout, reservations, and easy payment are all available.

The shop is right at the entrance of the market, so it was easy to find.

What traditional snacks does Sokcho Yetgokgan sell?

From oatmeal gangjeong to more unusual snacks, everything was packaged nicely for easy eating.

The buckwheat chips and pumpkin chips especially had that healthy feel, so my pick was the pumpkin chips!

Free samples: taste before you buy

One great thing about Sokcho Yetgokgan is that samples are available, so you can taste before deciding what to buy.

Oranda is another classic old-fashioned snack, right? Of course samples were available for that too. I tried it and it was so sweet and delicious, haha!

Sikhye and cheonhyehyang juice at Sokcho Yetgokgan

Beyond the traditional snacks, sikhye (sweet rice drink) and cheonhyehyang juice are must-haves at Sokcho Jungang Market. Sikhye in particular is an essential thing to try at the market.

Three-snack gift set for Korean holidays

They also sell a 3-snack gift set. It felt like a nice gift for both giver and receiver — not too heavy, but not too light either.

It seems like a good option for anyone wanting a special gift for holidays like Chuseok or Lunar New Year ✔️

Doraji-deodeok root syrup and ginger syrup

Besides the old-fashioned snacks, they also sell doraji-deodeok (bellflower and deodeok root) syrup and ginger syrup. Doraji-deodeok is said to be good for people prone to coughs, phlegm, rhinitis, and asthma, while ginger is said to help with inflammation, cold hands and feet, blood circulation, and boosting immunity.

Buying one bag of pumpkin chips for 10,000 won

So we ended up buying one bag of pumpkin chips. The price was ₩10,000 per bag.

A traditional snack that travels well in the car or at your stay

After buying scallops and the pumpkin chips at the market, we stopped by a mart and then headed to the glamping site we'd reserved. The packaging was solid, so storage was easy.

As soon as we got to the accommodation, I was feeling snacky, so I opened up the bag to try one.

It's a zip-bag, so it's easy to store any leftover snacks.

I tried one, and it was crispy and not overly sweet — the kind of snack you keep reaching for.

Pumpkin chips that I kept thinking about even after finishing dinner.

Our dog must have caught the savory smell too, because he kept sniffing around.

Even after finishing our meal, I kept reaching for the pumpkin chips again and again...

Delicious things are even better shared. We poured them into a bowl and passed them around.

Final verdict on Sokcho Yetgokgan

Sokcho Yetgokgan is a place where you can sample and buy a wide variety of old-fashioned snacks from Sokcho Jungang Market.

They also package the 3-snack gift set nicely, so I'd recommend it as a gift for friends and family.

With ginger and doraji-deodeok syrup that offer various health benefits, plus sikhye — a must-try snack at Sokcho Jungang Market — this place really has it all.

If you're visiting Sokcho Jungang Market, stop by and pick up some snacks that are easy to munch on as you go.

Who should visit Sokcho Yetgokgan?

• When you're a bit hungry before a meal
• When you want a light snack after a meal
• As a snack to keep you awake while driving
• When you want something to munch on while watching a show