Hidden Gem in Gyeonggi: Discovering Korea's Traditional Moran Market

Moran Market is located in Seongnam City, 

and it's easily accessible from Moran Station on the subway. 

Moran Station is on the Suin–Bundang Line

if you're traveling around Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, taking the subway is definitely the way to go.

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Exit from Moran Station through Exit 5, then turn right at the intersection — the market is just around the corner. It’s open from 9 AM to 7 PM, so be sure to visit during the day!

Moran Folk 5-Day Market (Moran Market) is a traditional Korean open-air market that takes place on days ending in 4 and 9 each month — for example, the 4th, 9th, 14th, 19th, 24th, and 29th.

This kind of market is called a “5-day market” in Korea, and it’s a great place to experience local culture, street food, and unique goods you won’t find in regular supermarkets.

Moran Market is one of the most well-known traditional markets in Korea.

Since it's a market day, you'll find a wide variety of vendors, and just browsing around is part of the fun.

They sell everything from cosmetics and shampoo to body wash and more.

You might wonder, “Are these really popular?”

Well… yes, they are! 😄

I'm not sure how the prices compare to online shopping, but for many older visitors, Moran Market is a great place to shop for a wide range of products in person.

The most popular tents are definitely the snack stalls!

People line up for the freshly made rice cakes. 😄
They sell handmade ssuk-injeolmi (mugwort rice cakes), and you can watch them prepare it right in front of you. If you’re in Korea, you must try this traditional Korean snack. Even locals queue up to buy it at the market!

The most popular stall is definitely the hotteok stand!

This place is quite famous. When people talk about Moran Market, some even say, "Moran Market = Hotteok."

You can easily spot it because there’s usually a long line. Unlike other stalls, they even have a separate seating area for you to enjoy your hotteok. I tried it last time, and it was delicious! 😄

However, be prepared to wait. You’ll likely need to wait about 15 to 20 minutes.

They also have gangjeong, a traditional Korean snack. You can try different varieties and buy them as well. It’s much cheaper and tastier than buying it at a supermarket!

 

They also sell chapssaltteok donuts (sweet rice donuts), and you definitely have to try them when you’re at the market. These donuts are made from glutinous rice, fried to perfection, and they’re chewy and delicious!

The fruits sold here are both fresh and affordable. Compared to prices in nearby areas, they are definitely cheaper, and the quality is great. 

If you’re visiting Korea, make sure to try some of the fresh Korean fruits!

Be sure to bring cash, as credit cards are not accepted.

At Moran Market, there’s a tent area where many restaurants are gathered. Once you enter the tent, you'll find an amazing number of kalguksu (hand-cut noodle) stalls.

It seems like about 80% of the stalls sell kalguksu and other dishes like patjuk (red bean porridge).

To be honest, I’m not sure which one is the best. You just sit wherever there's an open spot! 😄

But keep in mind, the chairs are lined up in a row, so even if you come with three people, you’ll have to sit next to each other!

There are also plenty of drinking snacks like soyang heopa (beef lung), pig skin, and steamed ray fish.

As for the basic side dish here, it's kimchi.

I’ve just ordered two bowls of pat kalguksu (red bean noodle soup)!

Each bowl costs 7,000 KRW. When you order, they cook the noodles fresh and serve them with the red bean porridge that’s been simmering in the rice pot.

It seems like the dish isn’t seasoned at all, so they have salt and sugar available for you to add to your taste.

I added a little bit of salt and mixed it.

I didn’t add sugar, just enjoying the natural taste of the red beans. Even with just salt, it tasted great!

If you're taking the subway to Moran Station, make sure to visit Moran Market. After exploring the market, exit through Exit 2 of Moran Station and head to the Meokjagolmok (Food Alley), where you can enjoy some delicious food and drinks!

When traveling from Seoul to Gyeonggi-do, make sure to take the subway instead of a taxi. The taxi fare can be quite expensive!

Moran Market isn’t open every day, so make sure to check the dates before you visit!

I hope you have a wonderful trip to Korea and enjoy lots of delicious food!

If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to drop a comment below!

If you want to learn more about Korea, 

click on the 'South Korea Seoul Trip' label on this blog.