Pohang Jukdo Market’s Early-Morning Seafood Alley, Continuing from the 1954 Nambu Permanent Market

Why the Southern Permanent Market, established in 1954, became Jukdo Market in 1971

Jukdo, where Jukdo Market is located, was originally an island thick with reeds. As the streams around Chilseongcheon and Yanghakcheon were covered and the area became connected to the mainland, street vendors gathered there, and the Southern Permanent Market opened in 1954. The market was renamed Jukdo Market in 1971, and it grew substantially as the city’s population and consumption increased from the early 1970s, when Pohang Integrated Steel Mill was established.

Today, Jukdo Market is a permanent market combining Jukdo Market, Jukdo Fish Market, and Jukdo Agricultural Products Market. According to Korea Tourism Organization materials, approximately 2,500 stores sell not only seafood but also agricultural products, clothing, dishes, and various other items. Although it is close to the sea, planning your visit as a “fish market where you only eat sashimi and leave” can mean missing half of the market.

How to divide 90 minutes to 2 hours among the live-fish, fresh-fish, dried-seafood, and restaurant areas

If this is your first visit, it is easiest to begin from the Haedong-ro side, first heading toward the live-fish and fresh-fish markets, then moving on to the dried-seafood, agricultural-products, and food alleys. In the live-fish market, after selecting fish and seafood, be sure to ask the vendor first about the conditions for using a sashimi center or a nearby restaurant. Preparation fees, table-setting charges, and dining options may differ from shop to shop.

The recommended visit duration is 90 minutes if you are only shopping without eating, or 2–3 hours if you are buying live seafood and having a meal. Gwamegi is a representative winter delicacy of Pohang. The Korea Tourism Organization describes a process in which saury is stored at −10°C, cleaned when the weather turns cold, and dried for about three days on seaside drying racks. If gwamegi is your main goal, the selection is widest from late autumn through midwinter.

• Quick route: Live-fish and fresh-fish areas → snacks or dried seafood → parking lot
• Dining route: Check restaurant-use conditions before buying live seafood → sashimi or mulhoe meal → purchase dried seafood and side dishes
• Check before purchasing: Country of origin, weight unit, preparation fee, and whether packaging is available

The 5 a.m. wholesale auction market and daytime shopping are in the same market, but serve different purposes

Because business hours differ by shop, it is difficult to apply a single opening schedule to all of Jukdo Market. Past public consumer information stated that wholesale auction transactions began around 5:30 a.m., and a Korea Tourism Organization travel article also recorded that seafood merchants’ day begins early in the morning. If you want to see the auction and wholesale atmosphere, arrive early in the morning; if your goal is dining and retail shopping, after 9 a.m. is more practical.

The market’s official shopping mall telephone number is 054-275-0000, and the shopping mall address is listed as 13-13 Jukdo sijang 7-gil. The address used for visits is 37 Jukdo sijang-gil, Buk-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Entry to the market itself is free, and because closing days also vary by shop, it is not possible to designate a specific day as a market-wide closing day. Before visiting, it is safest to check individually with the sashimi restaurant, restaurant, or shop you plan to use.

Using the 173-space public parking lot at 193 Haedong-ro, Jukdo Market

If you are driving, use the Jukdo Market public parking lot at 193 Haedong-ro, Buk-gu, Pohang-si, as your reference point. Built in August 2022, the facility has two floors and three levels, with 173 spaces. Materials quoting guidance from the Pohang Facilities Management Corporation in 2024 describe operating hours of 07:00–22:00, a fee of 500 won for the first 20 minutes, 200 won for each additional 10 minutes, and a daily maximum of 7,000 won. Departure within five minutes was listed as free.

The parking lot connects directly to the center of the market, but if you are carrying a large amount of shopping, it is convenient to photograph your vehicle’s location and the direction of the exit. A 2025 visitor review mentioned that regular vehicles can use the parking lot from the second floor upward. Subcompact cars, eco-friendly vehicles, people with disabilities, and national merit recipients may qualify for a 50% discount with proof of eligibility, so confirm whether it applies before paying on site.

• Jukdo Market public parking lot: 193 Haedong-ro, 173 spaces
• Operating hours: 07:00–22:00
• Basic fee: 500 won for 20 minutes, then 200 won per additional 10 minutes
• Inquiry range: Pohang Facilities Management Corporation 054-280-9420–9425

Getting to Jukdo Market from KTX Pohang Station on buses 107, 175, and 500

If you are taking a city bus from KTX Pohang Station, market guidance from the Small Business Market Promotion Corporation recommends using buses 107, 175, or 500 from the stop in front of the station to reach the market area. Routes and intervals may change frequently, so check Pohang’s bus information immediately before departure. Getting off at the Jukdo Market stop or a stop near Haedong-ro provides relatively easy access to the live-fish market.

For wheelchair and stroller users, the market paths are generally flat, but as the Korea Tourism Organization’s accessible-tourism information points out, sidewalks are not continuous and the parking-lot entrances and alleys are complicated. Assistance from a companion is helpful, especially when seafood delivery vehicles and handcarts are moving through the area. Even on a day spent only touring the market, slip-resistant shoes and a hands-free bag are advantageous.

Adding a 1.3 km walk along Pohang Canal organizes your route after a sashimi meal

After eating at the market, it works well to move toward Pohang Canal for a walk. The walking section from Pohang Canal Hall to Tallanggyo and Mallanggyo is approximately 1.3 km, while walking only from Pohang Canal Hall to Tallanggyo is about 500 m. Ujallanggyo is a pedestrian bridge connecting Songdo and Jukdo Market, serving as a link where you can enjoy the sea breeze after a meal at the market.

Unlike the canal walking path, however, sidewalk widths and pedestrian flow inside Jukdo Market are inconsistent. If you plan to take a long walk carrying sashimi or dried seafood purchased at the market, consider insulated packaging and the weight first. It is better to buy refrigerated and frozen products last, after completing the rest of your route.

Weekend parking and seafood-shopping tips repeated in summer 2025 reviews

Summer 2025 visitor reviews noted that the choice of public parking lot depends on whether the goal is to access the market’s central food area or Rodeo Street. Another travel article from 2026 advised that on weekends and during peak season, parking at the Ogeori public parking lot and walking 200–500 m may actually be faster. This is not real-time congestion information but experience-based advice from visitor reviews and travel content, so on Saturdays and Sundays you should first check whether the parking lot is full immediately before arriving.

If price comparisons feel burdensome or you are uncomfortable with live seafood, fishy smells, and complicated alleyways, it may be better to treat Jukdo Market solely as a short meal destination. Conversely, if your goal is to experience Pohang’s seafood distribution scene and buy dried seafood, it is worth allowing at least two hours in the morning. An insulated bag instead of a plastic bag, both cash and a card, and slip-resistant shoes for wet floors will make your shopping route much easier.