North Gyeongsang Province

Gyeongju Jungang Market: A Place to Experience the 1983 Market Building and the 2nd-and-7th-Day Traditional Market

Gyeongju Jungang Market is a local market in Gyeongju that began as a five-day market more than 100 years ago and was officially established at its current location in 1983. Visitors can explore shops open every day, market days held on the 2nd and 7th of each month, and a night market operating from Wednesday to Sunday, each at different times.

By the KOTourLive Editorial Team Updated: Sep 2, 2026 18 min 96

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How the Gajang Five-Day Market, established over 100 years ago, became Jungang Market in 1983

Gyeongju Jungang Market began to take shape when a five-day market was established at Gajang over 100 years ago. In 1983, a building was constructed and the market was officially opened at its current address, 295 Geumseong-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Therefore, today's Jungang Market is not merely a tourist food destination; it is also a traditional neighborhood market used by Gyeongju residents.

After 2005, a facility modernization project led to the installation of an arcade and improvements to the roads and various facilities. The present appearance, in which the 1983 commercial buildings coexist with modernized arcades, resulted from the expansion of a five-day-market-centered venue into a permanent market operating every day.

1983년 개설된 경주 중앙시장 외부 모습입니다. — Exterior view of Gyeongju Jungang Market, opened in 1983. — Photo source: nculture.org

How to find textiles, seafood, and restaurants across 11 buildings

Gyeongju Jungang Market consists of 11 commercial buildings. Building 1 specializes in textiles; Buildings 2 and 8 sell clothing and miscellaneous goods; Buildings 3, 4, 9, and 11 are food sections; Building 5 is for garments; and Buildings 6 and 7 are designated as seafood areas.

If you are visiting for a meal, it is most efficient to look first for the restaurant area in Building 10 and the food alley inside the market. The market has nine entrances, from Gate 1 through Gate 9, and Gate 5 connects directly to the food alley. Across the market are approximately 700 shops and 2,000 merchants selling clothing, sesame oil, rice cakes, vegetables, miscellaneous goods, and meat.

경주 중앙시장 상가 구역으로 들어가는 입구입니다. — An entrance leading into the commercial area of Gyeongju Jungang Market. — Photo source: gyeongju.go.kr

Should you try dombe-gi or ox-head gukbap first?

One of Gyeongju Jungang Market's representative regional foods is dombe-gi, a traditional Gyeongsang-do dish made from salted shark meat cut into pieces. Foreign visitors seeing it for the first time may mistake it for a fish dish, but knowing that it is salted shark meat makes it easier to understand what they are ordering.

The market also has an ox-head gukbap village, where restaurants serving gukbap with rich broth are concentrated. There are also alleys specializing in jokbal, fried chicken, and bunsik, making it possible to choose from a variety of traditional-market meals in one place. There is no separate admission fee to enter the market.

경주 중앙시장에서 판매되는 먹거리와 상점 풍경입니다. — Food sold and shop scenery at Gyeongju Jungang Market. — Photo source: visitkorea.or.kr

The night market, opened in 2016, starts after 18:00

After being selected for a night-market competition organized by the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs, the Gyeongju Jungang Market Night Market officially opened in April 2016 following more than two years of preparation. It consists of approximately 20 hanok-style stalls installed in the arcade space along the north side of Jungang Market, so the regular commercial buildings and the night-market area should not be considered the same space.

The night market sells kebabs, rice noodles, fried shrimp, octopus skewers, dakgangjeong, and other foods; the menu may vary by season. In front of the stalls are raised-platform seating areas and tables, and restrooms and parking facilities are also indicated, allowing visitors to eat their purchases on-site.

경주 중앙시장 야시장의 음식 매대와 테이블 좌석입니다. — Food stalls and table seating at Gyeongju Jungang Market Night Market. — Photo source: gyeongju.go.kr

The daily commercial market and the five-day market days on the 2nd and 7th are different

Regular market hours vary by shop but are listed as 05:00–22:30. Shops inside the commercial buildings operate every day, while the five-day market spreads into the surrounding area on dates ending in 2 or 7. Specific market days are the 2nd, 7th, 12th, 17th, 22nd, and 27th of each month.

The 1st and 15th of each month are listed as regular market closing days, and the market is livelier than usual when the five-day market is held. The official website lists the night market as operating from Wednesday through Sunday, 18:00–23:00, every week. However, the Gyeongju tourism page lists winter hours from late December through the end of February as Friday and Saturday, 18:00–23:00.

Summer night-market hours and how to use the “10,000-Won Happiness BIG4”

The summer schedule on the Gyeongju tourism page is daily from 18:00–23:00, from March through mid-December, with the 1st and 15th of each month closed. Because the operating-day information differs between the official website and the tourism page, visitors whose main purpose is the night market should safely confirm whether it is operating by calling the Gyeongju Jungang Market main number, 054-743-3696, before setting out.

The “10,000-Won Happiness BIG4” at the night market involves purchasing a coupon, receiving a lunchbox divided into four compartments, and choosing four desired menu items from participating shops. Because the night-market hours are described as flexible depending on circumstances, it is easier to secure a good selection by looking around the stalls early after 18:00 rather than arriving late at night.

경주 중앙시장 야시장에서 음식을 먹는 공간입니다. — An area for eating food at Gyeongju Jungang Market Night Market. — Photo source: gyeongju.go.kr

Routes from the Intercity Bus Terminal to the Jungang Market bus stop

Foreign visitors coming to Gyeongju for the first time can use the Intercity Bus Terminal as their starting point. The official Gyeongju Jungang Market website advises taking a bus from the Intercity Bus Terminal and getting off at the Jungang Market bus stop, listing routes such as 10, 11, 15, 16, 18, 31, 40, 41, 50, and 51.

It also lists routes 260, 270, 271, 272, 273, 275, 276, 277, 300, 301, 303, 304, 306, 330, 332, 333, 334, 335, 337, 338, and 350, as well as 500, 502, 505, 506, 507, 508, 600, 601, 602, 603, 604, 605, 607, 609, 700, 100-1, 150-1, 300-1, and 300-2. Since there are many routes, do not board based only on the bus number; also check the vehicle's destination and confirm that you should get off at the Jungang Market bus stop.

295 Geumseong-ro address and paid parking at 44-12 Hwarang-ro

Enter 295 Geumseong-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do into your navigation system. The administrative address is 295 Geumseong-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Jungang Market (Seonggeon-dong). For drivers, the official website gives a route from Gyeongju IC via Namgyeong Seorabeol-daero, a left turn at Geumseong Samgeori, a left turn at Hwangnam Community Center Intersection, and a right turn at Yeongmaeul Samgeori.

Parking is available at the Jungang Market public parking lot at 44-12 Hwarang-ro, which is listed as paid parking. Since the available information does not specify the basic fee, additional fee, or daily maximum fee, travelers who need to calculate parking costs in advance should check the fee table on-site. The market has public restrooms, a ramp at the main entrance, and an arcade that provides shelter from rain and strong sunlight.

Operating information to check before your first visit and the market's limitations

The main telephone number is 054-743-3696, and the official website is http://www.gjcentermarket.com. Regular market hours vary by shop and are generally 05:00–22:30, while the night market is primarily listed as operating from 18:00–23:00. Visiting the commercial shops and five-day-market scenery during the day, followed by the north-side night market in the evening, helps distinguish the site's two functions.

The market also operates a delivery service, providing the option of having purchased goods shipped instead of carrying them throughout your trip. However, the available information does not confirm whether shops are cash-only, whether card or QR payments are accepted, which areas prohibit photography, or whether English information and audio guides are available. It also does not state the recommended viewing time. Travelers who need this information should contact 054-743-3696 before visiting rather than relying solely on the market itself.

Before You Go

Address: 295 Geumseong-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Jungang Market (Seonggeon-dong)
Hours: Regular market: 05:00–22:30, varying by shop. Night market: the official website lists Wednesday–Sunday, 18:00–23:00; the Gyeongju tourism page lists winter hours, from late December to the end of February, Friday–Saturday, 18:00–23:00, and summer hours, from March through mid-December, daily, 18:00–23:00.
Closed: The regular market is listed as closed on the 1st and 15th of each month. Five-day market days are the 2nd, 7th, 12th, 17th, 22nd, and 27th of each month. The night market is listed as closed on the 1st and 15th of each month during summer.
Admission: A traditional market that can be used without a separate admission fee.
Phone: 054-743-3696
Official site: http://www.gjcentermarket.com
Transport: When taking a bus from the Intercity Bus Terminal, get off at the Jungang Market bus stop. Officially listed routes: 10, 11, 15, 16, 18, 31, 40, 41, 50, 51, 60, 61, 70, 100, 150, 153, 200, 201, 202, 203, 205, 206, 207, 208, 210, 212, 216, 217, 222, 230, 231, 232, 234, 260, 270, 271, 272, 273, 275, 276, 277, 300, 301, 303, 304, 306, 330, 332, 333, 334, 335, 337, 338, 350, 500, 502, 505, 506, 507, 508, 600, 601, 602, 603, 604, 605, 607, 609, 700, 100-1, 150-1, 300-1, and 300-2. By car, travel from Gyeongju IC via Namgyeong Seorabeol-daero, Geumseong Samgeori, Hwangnam Community Center Intersection, and Yeongmaeul Samgeori.
Parking: The Jungang Market public parking lot is available. It is located at 44-12 Hwarang-ro and is listed as paid parking. Specific fees could not be confirmed.
Accessibility: Public restrooms, a ramp at the main entrance, and an arcade are available.

The information above is current as of the time of writing. Check the official information again before visiting.

Gyeongju Jungang Market traditional market 2nd-and-7th-day five-day market Jungang Market Night Market dombegi ox-head soup with rice

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