Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sojourner1]

These are where many street vendors set up shop once every 5 days beginning on the 1st of each month. Tomorrow is the second one of the month on the 6th and I am going during lunch break as it's only a 5 minute walk away. I must say this has been a good thing about being where I am, besides the mountain with spring water being only 10 minutes walk away as well.

I live in a tiny neighborhood that does such a thing as you get good bargains on things like bell peppers (paprika), onions, potatoes, fish, and many other sorts of veggies.

How common are these old style 5 day street markets? Are they more commonly found in rural areas and small towns? Are 5 day markets common in Gangwon-do country?

The only one I know of is in my neighborhood in Changwon down in Gyeongsangnam-do. I have never seen it anywhere else other than in Seoul where they have street vendors selling on a daily basis.

[VanIslander]

[schwa]

Yes the 5-day markets continue in the smaller towns of Gangwondo. Nice tradition but theyre under pressure from more modern shopping options.

[Smee]

There are 5-day markets in every single eup and myeon (town and township) in Jeollanam-do. There're 60+ markets in this province, not counting the little clusters of fruit- and clothes-vendors that set up outside of apartment buildings each afternoon. In some of the larger towns---and of course in the cities---these markets are held every day, regardless of whether they're considered 5-day or not. And if you look at the markets throughout Jeollanam-do, they're staggered, so that there's a bunch on each day. I'm not a big fan of markets, though, although the novelty factor was there the first few times.

[indytrucks]

There's one roving band of marketeers that set up shop every Thursday morning in the car park outside my apartment building. Bit annoying when I have a class at 9 and have to get my car out.

[butlerian]

Popular in some towns in Chungcheongnam-do.

[Major Kong]

Most smaller, countryside towns will have established open markets in the vicinity of their train stations. I'm not sure if they are "5 day markets" though.

[GoldMember]

There is a very good reason why these markets are called "Street Markets". The food, fish, meat, vegetables, literally sits on the streets, fish cut up in the gutter on some disgusting bacteria infested chopping board, flies buzzing around the meat, no refrigeration.
No thanks, Salmonella poisoning is not a lot of fun.

[Jellypah]

My little town doesn't have a market every 5 days, but it has a Market on days with a FIVE in them every month! (The 5th, 15th and 25th!)

[peppermint]

Cheong ju had massive ones- both throughout the week and the five day sort, and there were little ones in Hannam( a suburb of Seoul) when I lived there too

[just because]

Sojourner..I am not sure this is the same one but there is a big(but is getting smaller - it was huge when i first got here) 5-day market in Changwon near Homeplus near the bus station car park.

[sojourner1]

No, it's not the same one. They call it Jiggisanga.

[MissT]

I love the markets here. Whenever possible I try to buy all of my fruits and veggetables there. The markets can be 50% cheaper than stores like E-mart and Homever, and often fresher. Though I will never buy fish or meat from a market ... that just doesn't seem like a good idea.
I went to one yesterday on the way home and bought a bag of onions, lettuce, tomatoes, green peppers, cucumbers, and broccoli.
It's also so fun to talk to the old market ladies. They are always so nice and give me "service" (free) veggies.

[just because]