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Black Market Bonanza

 
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Dr. Buck



Joined: 02 Mar 2003
Location: Land of the Morning Clam

PostPosted: Sun Mar 09, 2003 9:38 pm    Post subject: Black Market Bonanza Reply with quote

I'd like to know where some of the black markets for imported goods are around Korea. The local Costco has about as much variety as a typical Korean supermarket. I live out in the sticks and I'd like to pick up some western items for my own pantry, and also for some props/teachings aids in the classroom. I'd like to get these places mapped out so if I'm ever traveling through the area, I can stop by whenever.
Please post good directions and any relevant info.
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kimcheeking
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 10, 2003 1:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Namdaemun... there is a big underground maze that you can just wander through and stop at various shops to find what you want. Sorry that I dont' have better directions... I've only been there twice. I've gone native for 5+ years and don't need western products other than dill pickles and quaker instant oatmeal pouches.
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waterbaby



Joined: 01 Feb 2003
Location: Baking Gord a Cheescake pie

PostPosted: Mon Mar 10, 2003 4:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

There was a recent post in the General Discussion Forum titled "Cheese Salsa & other Western Food."

Here's a copy of what was written earlier... hope it's useful.


marsha marsha marsha wrote:
Okay. I have seen everyone posting on Carrefour and Lotte but I just wanted to let the newbies or oldbies that are out of touch know where to get the good stuff.

Itaewon is pretty much it.
The best place to get salsa is the Halal food shop behind the Hamilton Hotel. Its the shop that Muslims use to buy meat. They carry nachos, salsa, boneless chicken in big bags, curry, lots of stuff we use when cooking back home. AND they are cheaper than your typical blackmarket shop because they handcarry much of it from other countries or buy it wholesale in Korea.

There are 2 blackmarket shops, selling everything from poptarts to butter balls on the same street. One is run by an ajumma and the other is run by her daughter. They are very close together. Go to main Itaewon Road and take a right at the Burger King. Walk down about 3 blocks and you will see a money exchange on the left after passing a few "antique" stores. Her shop is on the left. It is very very small so look carefully. She has miniblinds to hide things a bit. A few stores down is her daughter. If you see a Pakistani restaurtant called Kashmir, you have gone to far (my friend's place, yummy, check it out). The ladies sell lots of cheese and stuff you want from home so look in their fridges. They don't mind really! Laughing

The another shop is called Jel. It is on Veggie Hill leading to the Hyatt. It is very expensive but still nice. Good selection of stuff when they just restocked. Most of their cheeses come from Australia so you will get a wider selection, like gouda and brie, than you will at the blackmarket shops that are all Army base goods.

The last is the Itaewon Market. Quite overpriced compared to the others but you can get some rare stuff there. It past Hannam towards the Hannam Village going towards Kangnam. It is below the Volvo Bldg.

Hope this helps. Drop me a line if you have anymore questions about food. I was in Korea for 4 years and rarely craved and didn't get what I was wanting!


Not Angry wrote:
Best place for cheese is Costco. The one in Yangjae has a great selection. By far the best I have seen in Korea. A few varieties of Cheddar... Real Wisconsin Cheddar, not that Australian immitaion stuff. And a large variety of others... I even bought some pepper jack. gouda and co-jack. A bit out of the way but as you a forced to buy in large quantities you don't need to make the trip to often.


marsha marsha marsha wrote:
Forgot to say that the salsa you can get at the shop behind hamilton has the big jug of salsa. Last I checked, it was 8000 won but that was quite some time ago. Still a good price and keeps ya from carrying around those glass bottles too.
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Captain Obvious 2.0



Joined: 09 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Mon Mar 10, 2003 5:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Technically, none of the stuff mentioned is black market product or even under the geise of a black market.

Uncensored porn, that's black market. Handguns, that's black market.

All this stuff is just imported. Most of it isn't even "grey market" which is when something is sold domestically, but it's cheaper to import and sell from another country.
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Blue Flower



Joined: 23 Feb 2003
Location: The realisation that I only have to endure two more weeks in this filthy, perverted, nasty place!

PostPosted: Mon Mar 10, 2003 1:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Captain Obvious 2.0 wrote:
Uncensored porn, that's black market. Handguns, that's black market.


When i think "Black Market" I think of a dirty underground cavern filled with dodgy men, and the porn and gun part def mixes well with this juvenile vision. When i get to Korea, i can't wait to see the seedy underbelly of Korean life. Can you take photos of the "real" black markets? and where are they?
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Bulsajo



Joined: 16 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Mon Mar 10, 2003 2:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

When you hear foreigners talk about 'Black Market' they're usually talking about little stores that sell foreign goods. They're called 'Black Market' because 99% of the time the goods are purchased from a U.S. military commissary or PX and then re-sold. This is illegal under the SOFA agreements (or perhaps some other bi-lateral agreement, I'm not up on that stuff). PX and Commissary goods prices are subsidized by the US govt. and it is illegal for anyone to re-sell them. You can take all the photos you want but it won't be of handguns and porn- it'll be deodorant, shampoo and hamburger helper.
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gajackson1



Joined: 27 Jan 2003
Location: Casa Chil, Sungai Besar, Sultanate of Brunei

PostPosted: Tue Mar 11, 2003 1:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

So, in response to the original post:

What kind of 'black market' are you referring to???

Then, maybe we can help.

As for me, I know mostly 'grey' markets, but HAVE been into a black market or 2 here in my time as well. DEFINITELY not photo ops!!!!

G.
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gang ah jee



Joined: 14 Jan 2003
Location: city of paper

PostPosted: Tue Mar 11, 2003 1:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
I live out in the sticks and I'd like to pick up some western items for my own pantry, and also for some props/teachings aids in the classroom.


Knowing Dr Buck, he's after porn and guns.


The black market in Shinchon is opposite Hyundae Department store, next to Grandmart. It's in the open basement on some building. The Korean says "Su-ib (is that right?) sang-ga. They have liquor, hygiene products, candy, condiments, and a decent selection of MREs for the andanoiacs who need to stock up. Or just for people like myself who enjoy making forts in their bedrooms and playing army. Mmmm Meal, Ready to Eat....
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william beckerson
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 11, 2003 4:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Blue Flower wrote:

When i think "Black Market" I think of a dirty underground cavern filled with dodgy men, and the porn and gun part def mixes well with this juvenile vision.


Now that I read that, I think you're confusing it with a PC Room. Wink
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Dr. Buck



Joined: 02 Mar 2003
Location: Land of the Morning Clam

PostPosted: Tue Mar 11, 2003 12:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Gang ah jee: I've got all the porn and guns I need. My shady connections keep me well-supplied with 12 gauge shotgun shells and the latest Korean love hotel video scandals. Let me know if you need anything.

Currently, I'm more in the market for the mundane things of life, especially a few oddball hard to find products of western manufacture.
The black market I was referring to was the looted goods that come from the US military bases.
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dutchman



Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: My backyard

PostPosted: Tue Mar 11, 2003 7:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Black Markets are ILLEGAL! If you shop at them you are breaking the law! And if you condmen doing privates because they are illegal AND shop at black markets you are a hypocrite.

Relax...just yanking your chain. Very Happy
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Blue Flower



Joined: 23 Feb 2003
Location: The realisation that I only have to endure two more weeks in this filthy, perverted, nasty place!

PostPosted: Wed Mar 12, 2003 1:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

william beckerson wrote:
Now that I read that, I think you're confusing it with a PC Room. Wink


Well I look forward to going and seeing one Twisted Evil
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Sincinnatislink



Joined: 30 Jan 2007
Location: Top secret.

PostPosted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 9:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

gang ah jee wrote:
a decent selection of MREs for the andanoiacs who need to stock up.


http://www.totse.com/en/bad_ideas/ka_fucking_boom/164620.html
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