Sokcho market gangjeong for late-night hotel snacking: Ibuja Mayak

Where is Ibuja Mayak Gotgan in Sokcho Central Market?

When you visit Sokcho, Central Market is basically a must-do stop, right? There are so many delicious snacks that you lose track of time just browsing, and this time I found a real gem of a snack shop haha. Most people come to the market for dakgangjeong (fried sweet chicken bites) or ojingeo sundae (squid stuffed with noodles and vegetables), but if you're after something crispy and sweet that you can't stop eating once you open it, you really need to pay attention here — it's Ibuja Mayak Gotgan, a must-visit spot in Sokcho Central Market!!

This place sits right on the main street of the Inwang arcade, one of the alleys in Sokcho Central Market where the foot traffic never stops, so it's super easy to find. The savory smell of fried snacks and grains drifts down the alley and pulls you in like you're under a spell haha.

Parking at Sokcho Central Market and the 30-minute voucher

• Parking: Just park comfortably in the large dedicated parking lot at Sokcho Central Market.
• Parking voucher: When you buy takeout at the store, ask for a parking voucher and they'll give you a 30-minute free discount ticket — don't forget to grab it haha.
• Route tip: From the parking lot, take the underground passage over to the market's main alley and you'll arrive in no time.

What kinds of gangjeong are on the display shelves?

As I got closer to the shop, I saw the neatly kept display case lined with colorful, pretty rows of gangjeong!! The friendly owner also gave me plenty of samples to try before buying, which was great. This is a shop that puts real care into making healthy gangjeong without artificial coloring or preservatives, so you can eat with peace of mind haha. The display case had a variety of hangwa (traditional Korean sweets) and gangjeong types laid out~

• Five-color grain gangjeong: made with five healthy grains — buckwheat, brown rice, black rice, white rice, purple sweet potato, and more — a signature that grabs you with its colorful look too!!
• Various handmade gangjeong gift sets: premium box packaging is available too, perfect as a travel souvenir or gift haha.

I ordered a hefty 8-piece box of the five-color grain gangjeong, both as a gift and to stock up on late-night snacks at the hostel!!

How does the five-color grain gangjeong taste back at the hotel?

As soon as I got to the hostel I opened the plastic box, and the five colorful shades of gangjeong were neatly arranged inside — the look alone made my mouth water haha.

With traditional gangjeong, you usually expect it to be so hard it hurts your teeth, right? But somehow Ibuja Mayak Gotgan gets the ratio of jocheong (rice syrup) exactly right, so it's very crispy but still bites through softly in your mouth!! It's a texture that's easy for elders or young kids to eat without any strain~

It's not overly sweet — the natural savory taste of the grains blends really well with the subtle sweetness of the rice syrup, so true to the name it kept me reaching for more like a 'mayak (drug)' haha. Pairing it with coffee or a warm tea was seriously an amazing combo!! Since I got the 8-piece set, the quantity was really generous, so it became a solid snack throughout the whole trip~

Is Ibuja Mayak Gotgan gangjeong a good gift to bring home?

Once I actually tried it, I understood right away why it's called 'Mayak Gotgan' haha. It's not overly sweet so you don't get sick of it, which makes it a must-add dessert spot on any Sokcho Central Market list!!

If you're visiting Sokcho and want a healthy, premium snack or gift instead of the usual street food, definitely get takeout of the five-color grain gangjeong at Ibuja Mayak Gotgan~ Next time I'm in Sokcho, I'm already planning to come back and buy a big batch as a gift for my parents haha.