Snapped a couple of photos while I was in Namdaemun Market today to pick up a new set of glasses:
Oh, and here the market’s specialty, galchi-jorim, or steamed largehead hairtail:
Korea’s outdoor markets are more than about just sights—they’re about sounds, too. So here’s a couple of quick videos:
I take it the samulnori in the market is thanks to Jeongwol Daeboreum.
Just a little sound to go with the imagery.
15 Comments
The reason I eat so much Korean food is that I veer towards holistic rather than processed Western style food. The “sights” of the food are indeed great, but I really have to wonder about what we can’t see–the sanitary conditions in some of these outdoor markets and vendors.
Some pig head pics would have gone nicely with the dog head protest post.
What happens to the market(s) after the old ajummas and halmoni vendors pass away? Probably only choice left will be E-Mart.
Oh man, Marmot, you’re makin me all reminiscent - what I wouldn’t give for some 분식 and some 막걸리…
I need to get back to Korea.
Although the amount of MSG might kill me…
Hairtail - On Okinawa, we called them ‘Ribbon fish”. We used to go out in the evening to catch them, with a small glowstick attached to your line so you could see when the fish took the bait - some were as long as a meter. Fun to catch, easy to clean and good eating.
Cool vids. Thanks.
Did a little market shopping of my own yesterday. Escaped from Podunk to attend a conference in Alexandria, Virginia, and stopped by Korean-owned Grand Mart on the way back. It was warmly familiar getting bumped and jostled with nary a “sorry” or “excuse me” as I loaded my basket with Chinese and Indian bitter melons, fresh lemongrass, Thai eggplants, Chinese celery, and assorted Asian greens. Thought I was ready to check out until I hit the prepared food section. I was in side dish heaven! For dinner I ate nothing but veggies and seaweeds. YUM! I started getting nostalgic for Korea until I remembered that half of the foodstuffs in my shopping basket are simply unavailable anywhere in Korea.
Interesting off-topic factoid I learned at the conference, a presentation on brain-friendly learning by Dr. Spencer Kagan:
“The amygdalae (a part of the brain located in both hemispheres) are threat sensors that fire more actively when we encounter 1) a stranger; 2) a person of a different race; 3) a fearful face; 4) an angry face; and 5) a member of an ‘out group’. “
Obviously, if the face of a person of a different race is a familiar one, then the familiarity overrides the racial difference, which is why people of different races can become friends and lovers. Dr. Kagan noted, however, that no one is colorblind because the brain is wired to take note of racial differences.
Sorry to wander off-topic, but I wanted to share this scientific fact that might be of interest to other commenters.
Talk about a freaking coincidence. I just decided to replace my glasses recently since I broke my last pair and my replacement set is 8 years old and scratched to hell.
Instead of going through the brick and mortar experience I’ve always done in the past, I shopped online for the the lenses and frames.
I ended up picking up some nice rimless bendable titanium frames and the ultra-high index lenses from Hoya for about 200 bucks total. They would have cost me three times as much in a normal shop.
How much do glasses cost in Korea?
Great photos–look at all the gochujang….
There’s some good eyeglass places on the side of Namdaemun that goes from the gate to Shinsegae Dept. Store. I got a pair of glasses like Jing’s for about $250-$300 (can’t remember).
Thanks for the photos and clips. Robert!
Jing /
A pair of glasses sold for $30 ~ $120 depends on frame and lenses of your choice. It will be ready to wear when you come back after having a galchi-jorim with MakGolri in an hour.
I picked up a decent pair of frames for 100,000 won (around 100 bucks), and the lenses were 60,000 won. So 160,000 won all together. I also picked up contact lenses for 60,000 won. Fairly reasonable all around.
Thankfully I’m not a geek so I don’t wear glasses
The real makkoli used to be poured out of a beat-up yellow kettle, now it comes in a green plastic bottle. Tragic.
Bluejives/Netizen Kim,
I see you ditched your gravatar, but I know who you are.
Gotta sneak in those off-topic personal asides before the comment thread police goes on the beat. 