Yeoju Hangul Market, for Korean Lunar New Year!

Happy Lunar new year! For celebrating the day, let's get to know about Yeoju Hangul Market, the most Korean, and traditional.

Virtual Trip to the Most Korean Traditional Market in Gyeonggi-do

What is Seollal?

Seollal refers to the first day of the lunar calendar, which is one of the most important days in Korea. The Lunar New Year holidays last for three days including the day before and the day after Seollal.

Traffic jams around the country are common during this holiday period as Koreans gather in hometowns with family members to share food and spend time with one another. For example, sliced rice cake soup, tteokguk, is a must-have meal on Seollal as it symbolizes becoming a year older as well as a long life. Another tradition of Seollal is for children wearing hanboks (traditional Korean attire) to perform a New Year’s bow to parents and elders in the family, wishing them good luck for the rest of the year. In return, children receive words of blessing and holiday pocket money.

Yeoju Hangul Market

As one prepares for Seollal, supermarkets or department stores may be an option for the purchase of ingredients for holiday dishes. But we suggest trying unique traditional markets as well, such as Yeoju Hangul Market.

Hangul Market is a 5-day market (held every 5 days) and a 10-day market, (held every 10 days) while everything else in the area is open daily. It is the second biggest market in Seongnam City after Moran Market. At the 5-day market, particularly, there are affordable regional products available, not to mention busking performances around the culture street with the statue of King Sejong.

There may be no exception when it comes to wanting to get the best quality food for ancestral rites. Hangul Market is where one can find quality ingredients in generous quantities. Yeoju is particularly well known for its famous sweet potatoes and rice.

Many visitors may choose supermarkets over traditional markets due to parking difficulties. With Hangul Market, however, there is no such issue as there is a separate parking lot available for all market visitors. One hour of parking is free upon presentation of proof of purchase from any of the shops you visited.

ⓒGyeonggi Province

Mural Alley

There are murals of King Sejong and the Korean written language in the alleyways of Hangul Market, comprising representative elements of cultural tourism. The murals were painted last year near the parking lot and portray unique qualities of Yeoju. This is a mural street depicting the history of King Sejong including his birth and achievements.

Once you reach the interior of the market, there are other murals to be found, not to mention other attractions around Hangul Market such as Silleuksa, Yeongneung, and the birthplace of Empress Myeongseong, which make good options for sightseeing on the way to the traditional market.

Living Culture Gallery, Duji

In addition to the murals, another attraction at Hangul Market is the living culture gallery Dooji. The gallery features displays that represent the lives of the residents from Yeoju’s 14 small villages as well as their poignant stories. Dooji, the name of the gallery, comes from the word ‘duijoo,’ which means wooden rice chest. Just as a rice chest kept valuable rice safe back in historic times, the people of Yeoju wish to preserve the valuable stories of their city in this gallery.

From farming equipment, traditional wedding paraphernalia, and a ‘flower’ palanquin to the haircutting implements of a 60 year-old barbershop, the gallery exhibits valuable belongings of the village residents. Admission is free of charge, but note that the gallery is closed every Monday. The pathways around the gallery connect directly to Hangul Market, where there is an iconic chair engraved with the written Korean characters of Hangul.

When the 5-day market is not operating, the area is filled with ‘Bogeul-bogeul’ stands owned by multicultural families and young entrepreneurs. From pork belly kimbab to Vietnamese pancakes, Hangul Market is where one can find night market food from diverse backgrounds.

Hangul Market is not simply just a place for shopping as it represents the values of the written Korean language as conveyed by more than 160 stores, murals, and a gallery. Why not prepare for Seollal celebrations this year with a visit to Hangul Market?

ⓒGyeonggi Province