Gwangju’s Everyday Market: Meet Malbau Market on Days 2, 4, 7, and 9

Why the Seobang Market street stalls of the 1960s moved to Usan-dong

Malbawoo Market is a traditional market located in Usan-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City. Around the 1960s, street vendors from Seobang Market in Pung-hyang-dong, Buk-gu—then Seobang-myeon, Gwangsan-gun—moved to Usan-dong because they could no longer afford steadily rising rents, forming the market.

The market was registered as a recognized market by the Buk-gu Office of Gwangju in 2005. Market data records 511 stores, while an introduction by the Korea Tourism Organization describes it as a market with approximately 500 stores, indicating its scale.

Does the name Malbawoo mean a horseshoe or a horse-shaped rock?

Two origins are said to explain the name “Malbawoo.” One story says that the horse ridden by General Kim Deok-ryeong forcefully stamped its hoof, leaving a horseshoe-shaped mark on a rock.

Another theory explains that before urban development expanded Usan-dong, a large rock resembling a horse stood at the present market site. Whatever its origin, the current market name preserves a place name recalling the former terrain around Usan-dong.

Market days fall on dates ending in 2, 4, 7, or 9; opening hours vary by source

Malbawoo Market is classified as a five-day market, with regular market days falling on dates ending in 2, 4, 7, or 9 each month. The official Gwangju tourism page lists market days as the 2nd, 4th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 14th, 17th, 19th, 22nd, 24th, 27th, and 29th, and gives operating hours of 07:00–19:00.

Another tourism information page lists market-day hours as 06:00–21:00 and regular hours as 07:00–20:00. Visitors hoping to see agricultural products early in the day should therefore plan around the official 07:00–19:00 schedule, while contacting the Malbawoo Market Merchants’ Association at 062-262-4082 to confirm same-day operations is advisable. No separate closing day was found in the available information.

From U-Square and Gwangju Station to the Malbawoo Market stop

Visitors arriving in Gwangju for the first time and departing from U-Square Gwangju Bus Terminal can take the Nong-eochon 2-1, Nong-eochon 2-2, Songam 47, Ilgok 38, Munheung 39, or 518 bus and get off at the Malbawoo Market stop. The market is about a four-minute walk from the stop.

From Gwangju Station, walk about four minutes to either the Gwangju Station stop or the Gwangju Station Pedestrian Overpass stop, then take the Nong-eochon 2-1, Nong-eochon 2-2, Nong-eochon 322, Nong-eochon 322-1, Songam 47, Duam 81, Geumnam 55, or 518 bus. After getting off at a stop serving the market, it is another approximately four-minute walk to the market.

Bus numbers to check at Malbawoo Market (West)

The Malbawoo Market (West) stop is served by Yongbong 83, Geumnam 55, Ilgok 38, Songjeong 19, Ilgok 28, 518, Munheung 80, and Bongseon 27. Duam 81 is shown in both directions: toward Mudeung Park and toward Gakhwa Elementary School.

The Pyeonghwa Mansion stop also lists Songjeong 19, Ilgok 28, Bongseon 27, Duam 81, Ilgok 38, 518, Munheung 80, Yongbong 83, and Geumnam 55. International visitors should check the stop name and direction as well as the bus number, since route information may change.

A market for vegetables from Damyang, Sunchang, and Gokseong, plus spring seedlings

Malbawoo Market sells agricultural products, livestock products, seafood, and prepared food. Gwangju Tourism introduces the market’s vegetables as produce grown by farmers in nearby Damyang, Sunchang, and Gokseong. Visitors can also find agricultural and livestock products from Damyang, Gokseong, and Hwasun, along with marine and seafood products from Jangheung, Shinan, and Mokpo.

In spring, sellers offer pepper, eggplant, cucumber, lettuce, and onion seedlings. Rather than being simply a souvenir market for tourists, it is a neighborhood market where ingredients from Gwangju and various parts of Jeonnam come together. It is therefore best explored on a market morning, focusing on the displays of fresh ingredients.

Five minutes outside the market: three red-bean porridge shops operating since 2004

Jeolla-style gukbap and red-bean porridge are introduced as signature foods of Malbawoo Market. Three red-bean porridge specialty shops near the market have each been operating for more than 20 years, and all are within a five-minute walk, making it easy to combine shopping and a meal.

Miseong Patjuk is introduced as a shop started by Kim Chun-i in 2004, selling red-bean porridge, winter-solstice porridge, clam kalguksu, and sujebi. The red-bean porridge contains kalguksu noodles, while the winter-solstice porridge contains glutinous rice balls. A Korea Tourism Organization article lists one serving of red-bean porridge at 5,000 won.

• Maeil Patjuk: red-bean porridge and winter-solstice porridge, 49 Dongmun-daero 85beon-gil, Buk-gu, 062)269-9665
• Yennal Patjuk: red-bean porridge and winter-solstice porridge, 93 Dongmun-daero, Buk-gu, Gwangju, 062)267-9005
• Miseong Patjuk: red-bean porridge, winter-solstice porridge, clam kalguksu, and sujebi, 83-1 Dongmun-daero, Buk-gu, 062)266-8187

Practical differences involving parking, restrooms, and card payments

Market data indicates that both public restrooms and parking are available. Another information page describes the parking facility as paid, listing 400 won for 30 minutes and a 50% discount coupon with a purchase. One visitor review says that entering the parking lot can be somewhat difficult, so visitors who are not comfortable driving or who want to avoid market-day congestion may find the bus simpler.

Some reviews say that an arcade has been installed, allowing visitors to shop regardless of the weather. However, an information page states that there is no stroller rental, pets are not allowed, and credit cards are not accepted. Since payment methods may vary by shop, prepare cash. The actual routes for wheelchairs and strollers, as well as the availability of English information or an audio guide, could not be confirmed from the publicly available information.

Malbawoo Market listed with two different addresses

The official Gwangju Tourism page gives the market address as 62 Dongmun-daero 85beon-gil, Buk-gu, Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City (Usan-dong). Market data records 55 Dongmun-daero 97beon-gil, Buk-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, lot address 190-1 Usan-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, and postal code 61194.

Because the location provided by a visitor, 81 Dongmun-daero 97beon-gil, Buk-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, differs from these addresses, it is best to use “Malbawoo Market” together with the Merchants’ Association phone number, 062-262-4082, when using a taxi or map app. The official website is http://malbawoomarket.modoo.at/.

A Buk-gu itinerary to combine with Malbawoo Market

Duamgol Seolleongtang is approximately 0.61 km from the market, and the Maekmundong Forest Trail is approximately 1.13 km away. A little farther away are Solomon Law Park, about 2.10 km away, and Gwangju Daein Market, about 2.12 km away.

Visitors who want to explore the significance of the May 18 Democratization Movement further can include the National May 18th Cemetery, established in May 1997, as a separate itinerary. Since the recommended total visiting time for Malbawoo Market was not available in the public information, it is more realistic to plan around shopping and a red-bean porridge meal, adding nearby places according to traffic conditions.