Sokcho market gangjeong shop with a no-expiry free coupon: Ibuja Mayak

Today I want to introduce a Sokcho Central Market must-visit: "Ibuja Mayak Gotgan". Sokcho Central Market has so much to see that a single loop through it eats up time before you know it... which also means it's packed with people!!! Every stall sells slightly different things, so just wandering around and looking is fun in itself.

Where is Ibuja Mayak Gotgan in Sokcho Central Market, and when is it open?

Ibuja Mayak Gotgan is at 16 Jungang-ro 147beon-gil, Sokcho, Gangwon, South Korea, 1st floor unit 137, Sokcho Tourist Fisheries Market. It's closed every Wednesday and open 08:30-19:30.

So many varieties that it's great for gifts!!! Prices are cheap and great value, so I really recommend the 12-piece set over the 8-piece one! Search it on Kakao Map and you'll find it easily.

Ibuja Mayak Gotgan is one of the must-visit spots in Sokcho Central Market for handmade grain gangjeong to take home. Walk by and the toasty smell just pulls you in — impossible to pass!! Inside, they're making gangjeong nonstop, and the owner was super friendly and explained everything well.

Grain gangjeong prices: 8-piece set for 10,000 won, 12-piece set for 15,000 won

Ibuja Mayak Gotgan makes five kinds of gangjeong in total: brown rice, black rice, buckwheat, white rice, and yellow rice. The 5-color grain gangjeong 8-piece set is ₩10,000, and the 12-piece set is ₩15,000.

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

Cheap and generously sized, with each piece packed full of grains. There's a dakgangjeong (fried chicken crisp) stall and an ojingeo sundae (squid sausage) stall right next door too, so you can buy your way down the line — perfect route, love it!!!

Rice gangjeong made with grains aged for six months

According to the shop, Ibuja Mayak Gotgan's rice gangjeong is made by steaming three selected grains — buckwheat, sprouted brown rice, and black rice — then drying them with hot air, and finally aging them for 6 months to fully remove any remaining moisture in the grains. It's through this long, careful process that the five healthy, crispy varieties — brown rice, buckwheat, white rice, black rice, and yellow rice — are finally made.

Made and sold the same day, with a free gangjeong coupon for your next visit

Ibuja Mayak Gotgan gets a lot of orders and is clearly popular — the owner was packaging nonstop the whole time. Knowing everything is made and sold the same day made me trust it even more. Packaging goes fast too, so turnover is quick — don't worry even if there's a crowd!!

After I bought mine, the owner gave me a coupon good for one free gangjeong, and get this — no expiration date!! You can use it on a future visit, so I'm definitely planning to use it next time I'm back at Sokcho Central Market haha.

Why the 12-piece grain gangjeong set works as a gift for parents

Grain gangjeong bought as a gift for my parents!! If you're planning to visit Sokcho Central Market, I totally recommend browsing all the different food stalls, then finishing up with something to take home as a gift or souvenir!!! Even if it gets a bit soft over time, they say it tastes even better if you crisp it up in the microwave or a frying pan. I'd recommend it as a snack to share with family or as a Sokcho trip souvenir for friends!!

How to crisp up grain gangjeong that has gone soft

If it gets hard or soft after a few days depending on the weather and humidity, the owner shared a great tip: microwave it for 20 seconds, let it cool slightly, and it turns crisp outside and soft inside. Or lightly pan-fry it on low heat — it gets a nutty scent like nurungji (scorched rice) and tastes even better.

It wasn't hard at all, just soft and delicious, and each grain tasted different and nutty, so I ended up finishing it before I knew it... I think my grandparents would really love this as a gift. If you're at Sokcho Central Market, I recommend stopping by once to buy some as a gift.