Seoul choco pie bakery with fresh cream instead of marshmallow: Ssuk's

Hi, it's Goni. I was wandering around Gwangjang Market when a bright green storefront stopped me in my tracks. (Okay, honestly I stopped because I already knew about it, haha.) Ssuk's Choco Pie, famous for its Gwangju flagship store, had opened a branch right here in Gwangjang Market. (Wait, how did you jump straight from Gwangju to Seoul, that's wild.) Handmade choco pies made with sea-breeze mugwort from Geomundo Island — I grabbed a 6-piece set as a gift. Let's get into the Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul review.

Where is Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul, and what are the hours?

• Address: 25 Jongno 32-gil, 1st floor, Jongno-gu, Seoul (near Gwangjang Market South Gate 1)
• Hours: Daily 10:00–19:00 (some weekdays close at 18:30, so check if you're going late)

How to find Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul from Gwangjang Market South Gate 1

Walk from Exits 7 or 8 of Jongno 5-ga station toward Gwangjang Market and you'll get there quickly. It's near the South Gate 1 entrance, so you don't need to go deep into the market — access is really convenient. Since it's inside Gwangjang Market, public transit is the way to go. Public transit, BMW — bus, metro, walk, yeah~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Inside the all-green Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul shop

Open the door and the green interior hits you right away. The Bearbrick figurines are lined up in matching green too — the shop itself is small and tidy.

There's no seating inside, it's takeout only. (Kind of felt like walking into Charlie's Chocolate Factory...) What, you don't know what that is? ...Oompa loompa oompa loompa.

Choco pies, scones, cookies, and cheesecake are lined up side by side in the display case — it's fun just picking what to get.

Menu and the 24,800 won six-piece gift set

The Ssuk's Choco Pie lineup has six flavors total.

• Geomundo sea-breeze mugwort ₩4,500
• Sea-breeze mugwort injeolmi (sweet rice cake) ₩4,800
• Sea-breeze mugwort whole red bean ₩4,700
• Nonsan strawberry ₩4,700
• Gwangju real chocolate ₩4,600
• Udo peanut ₩4,600

Beyond that, there's a side lineup too — mugwort salt cookie, choco macadamia cookie, Geomundo mugwort scone, domestic soybean tofu scone, and mugwort cheesecake.

The 6-piece set is ₩24,800 — cheaper than buying six singles. You're not limited to choco pies either; you can mix in cookies and scones. Just pick whatever flavors you want. (I went with the full six choco pie flavors.)

Write a Naver receipt review and they give you three Ssuk's cookie samples!?

Is the packaging good enough for a gift?

Inside the green package box, individual boxes are packed in perfectly square rows. Not heavy, and a size that's easy to carry around, so it's perfect as a housewarming gift or a small present for friends.

On the side of the box, there's an illustration showing the cream filling inside each choco pie — I really liked that little touch.

The descriptions are detailed enough that people who love reading instructions would enjoy this a lot. What, did I read all of it? Nah, I'm just going to eat it. It's going to be delicious anyway, oishii!!!!!

Fresh cream instead of marshmallow: all six choco pie flavours compared

The key difference from a regular choco pie is fresh cream instead of marshmallow. That makes the texture much more moist and soft.

The Geomundo sea-breeze mugwort has a subtle, slightly bitter mugwort aroma that pairs well with the fresh cream. Think of it as a choco pie with the vibe of mugwort rice cake.

I shared them with friends, and everyone said they were delicious. One of them even went back the next day and bought some as a family gift — I was completely caught off guard by that follow-through. Is this the power of choco pie?

Who Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul is best for

• Anyone who needs a light gift to carry after browsing Gwangjang Market
• Anyone who dislikes marshmallow but loves choco-pie-shaped desserts
• Anyone looking for an affordable housewarming or just-because gift

The ingredient list is short and simple, so even people who watch out for additives can eat these with peace of mind. The flagship store is near Songjeong Station in Gwangju, and online orders are available too, so if you can't make it to Seoul, delivery works.

If you're looking for a Gwangjang Market bakery for a clean, easy gift, it's Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul. Going in feeling a little sheepish (ssuk-sseureopge) about it might turn into something you actually like — but that's probably just me. Sorry, haha.