21 Geumseong-ro, where goods from beyond Daegwallyeong converged: the three-level circulation of Gangneung Jungang Market
Gangneung Jungang Market is a permanent market that connected Yeongdong in Gangwon Province with the inland areas beyond Daegwallyeong from before the Japanese colonial period, and it was registered as a traditional market on January 18, 1980. Rather than quickly packing only dakgangjeong, dividing your route among the underground seafood section, the first-floor food and general goods shops, and the upper-floor stores offers a better understanding of the market’s original function.
Traces of Logistics Extending Beyond Daegwallyeong to Pyeongchang and Jinbu from the Registered Market of January 18, 1980
Gangneung Jungang Market functioned as a permanent market even before the Japanese colonial period, serving as a hub that gathered products from eastern Gangwon and distributed them beyond Daegwallyeong to Pyeongchang and Jinbu. The current registration date as a traditional market is January 18, 1980, and Gangneung City lists its location as 21 Geumseong-ro, Gangneung-si, Gangwon State (Seongnam-dong).
The market's reputation today as a space centered on takeaway food is also linked to its combination with nearby Seongnam Market. Gangneung City explains that visitors to the Jungang Market and Seongnam Market area increased after the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics and the opening of the KTX Gangneung Line. Transactions involving spring wild greens, summer corn and potatoes, and autumn matsutake mushrooms also show the flow of seasonal local ingredients.
- Traditional market registration date: January 18, 1980
- Market size: 8,539㎡ total building floor area, 7,449㎡ store area
- Stores: Approximately 321, according to Gangneung City information
How to Choose More Than Just Takeaway Food in a 3,848㎡ Building with One Underground and Three Aboveground Floors
According to Gangneung City materials, Jungang Market has one basement floor and three aboveground floors, on a site measuring 3,848㎡. Its merchandise ranges from food, clothing, and miscellaneous goods to seafood and agricultural specialties, so the route for a visit to buy a single item such as dakgangjeong differs from the route for exploring it as a neighborhood market.
If you are stopping briefly, first check whether the takeaway food you want can be ordered and when it can be collected. While waiting, it is better to explore the alleys of nearby Seongnam Market or seafood and dried-seafood stores. No uniform closing time for the entire market has been confirmed, and business hours and days off vary by store. If you have a particular shop in mind, contact it directly before setting out.
- Official market information phone: 033-648-2285
- Gangneung City market contact: 033-640-5408
- Admission: Free
- Reservations: Not required to enter the market; ordering methods vary by individual store
Geumseong-ro 9 Jungang Market Parking Tower and Seongnam-dong 5 Second Parking Lot: Check These Two First
Visitors arriving by car should set a public parking lot as their destination rather than briefly stopping on the road in front of the market. Gangneung City's Urban Information Center lists the “Gangneung Jungang Market Parking Tower” at 9 Geumseong-ro and states that its slow electric-vehicle chargers are available 24 hours a day.
Near Namdaecheon is the “Namdaecheon Jungang Market Second Parking Lot,” installed in 2022 at Seongnam-dong 5, with an area of 9,000㎡ and 311 spaces. The public riverside parking lot in Jungang-dong at Seongnam-dong 85-2 has 608 spaces. Because parking fees and same-day congestion cannot be confirmed in this article, check on-site signs and payment instructions before leaving.
- Jungang Market Parking Tower: 9 Geumseong-ro, Gangneung-si
- Namdaecheon Jungang Market Second Parking Lot: Seongnam-dong 5, 311 spaces
- Jungang-dong Riverside Public Parking Lot: Seongnam-dong 85-2, 608 spaces
About 2 km from Gangneung Station: When to Calculate a Taxi-and-Walking Combination Before Taking the Bus
Gangneung Jungang Market is in the downtown Seongnam-dong area, approximately 2 km from Gangneung Station. If you have no luggage and the weather is stable, walking from Gangneung Station toward downtown is possible. However, if you plan to buy bulky items such as takeaway food or seafood, it is better to decide how you will return before deciding how to get there.
Because stop names and routes may change frequently, no specific bus number is given here. For real-time bus arrival information, search for “Jungang Market” together with the stop at your destination using Gangneung City's Urban Information Center or a map app. As illegal parking enforcement zones are marked near the market, choose an authorized pickup and drop-off area rather than the edge of the road.
- Address: 21 Geumseong-ro, Gangneung-si, Gangwon State (Seongnam-dong)
- Coordinates provided by the user: 37.754232, 128.899144
- Recommended time: 30–45 minutes for takeaway purchases; 1–2 hours including Seongnam Market and the seafood area
Continue to Seongnam Market While Waiting for Dakgangjeong: Why You Should Decide How Much to Eat at Once
Recent travel reviews and market introductions repeatedly mention dakgangjeong, ojingeo sundae, takeaway sashimi, and dried seafood. However, even for the same item, whether it can be collected immediately after ordering, whether there is a cooking wait, and whether card payment is accepted vary by store. If you order several foods at once, their texture may change before you return to your accommodation, so staggering collection times is practical.
Information indicates that food stalls can be crowded on weekend evenings. To avoid the rush just before mealtime, consider looking around the market in the early afternoon and scheduling your takeaway time then. In particular, if you buy sashimi, fried food, and hot cooked items together, first check whether you have an insulated bag and whether your accommodation has a refrigerator.
- Popular items: Dakgangjeong, ojingeo sundae, packaged seafood, dried seafood
- Potentially busy period: Food area on weekend evenings
- What to bring: Reusable shopping bag, insulated bag, and confirmation that refrigerated storage is available at your accommodation
Jungang Market Next to Seongnam Market: 90 Minutes of Reading Both the Tourist and Neighborhood Markets
Seongnam Market next to Jungang Market was classified as a recognized market in 2008. Gangneung City materials record a store area of 3,507㎡ and 128 stores. Because the two markets are close together, travelers may easily seek out only famous food shops, but looking at everyday purchases such as vegetables, side dishes, fish, and dried seafood makes it clearer that this area serves as a neighborhood market for the local community.
Gangneung City local news records also state that the wooden Jungang Market building was demolished in 1982 and replaced with a four-story mixed-use commercial building. Rather than expecting only the “alleys” of an old market, it is more accurate to understand the actual space as a mixture of rebuilt, building-style shops and the alleys of the adjacent market.
- Seongnam Market recognition registration: 2008
- Seongnam Market store area: 3,507㎡
- Seongnam Market stores: 128
Visitors with Wheelchairs or Strollers Should Check Entrances and Store Widths Before the Jungang Market Parking Tower
Food, clothing, miscellaneous-goods, and seafood stores at Jungang Market are distributed throughout one building and the surrounding alleys, so the width and thresholds of every route cannot be assumed to be the same. Visitors using wheelchairs or strollers should call the market's main number, 033-648-2285, before visiting to ask about the entrance they plan to use, accessible parking spaces, and elevator access.
Because it has not been confirmed whether foreign-language assistance is routinely available throughout the market, it is better to prepare a simple translation app and information about desired foods and allergies in Korean. For seafood and cooked foods, checking the price, weight, packaging availability, and card-payment availability before ordering can reduce the language barrier.
- Market main contact: 033-648-2285
- Official website: https://gncntmarket.cafe24.com/gnmarket/index.php
- Accessibility and foreign-language assistance: Individual confirmation before visiting is recommended
Before You Go
- Address
- 21 Geumseong-ro, Gangneung-si, Gangwon State (Seongnam-dong)
- Hours
- Varies by store
- Closed
- Varies by store
- Admission
- Free
- Phone
- 033-648-2285
- Official site
- https://gncntmarket.cafe24.com/gnmarket/index.php
- Transport
- Approximately 2 km from Gangneung Station. Checking real-time bus routes and stops through Gangneung City's Urban Information Center or a map app is recommended.
- Parking
- Jungang Market Parking Tower (9 Geumseong-ro, Gangneung-si), Namdaecheon Jungang Market Second Parking Lot (Seongnam-dong 5, 311 spaces), Jungang-dong Riverside Public Parking Lot (Seongnam-dong 85-2, 608 spaces)
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes for takeaway purchases; 1–2 hours including Seongnam Market and the seafood area
- Accessibility
- Calling in advance to confirm entrances, passage widths by store, accessible parking, elevators, and foreign-language assistance is recommended.
The information above is accurate as of the time of writing. Check official information again before visiting.
Places
Nearby Attractions 4
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1
Wolhwa StreetA street park where you can stroll through urban scenery along a former railway line. -
2
Gangneung Daedohobu Government OfficeA historic site where you can explore the former Gangneung government office buildings and the Sammun Gate of Imyeonggwan. -
3
Gangneung Ojukheon HouseA cultural heritage site where visitors can explore the birthplace and artifacts of Sin Saimdang and Yulgok Yi I. -
4
Anmok BeachA popular beach destination where you can enjoy the East Sea and Coffee Street together.
Food & Dining 1
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5
Gwangdeok Sikdang (Jungang Market Branch)A traditional restaurant serving beef-head gukbap and other varieties of gukbap.
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