Seoul’s Meat Distribution Alley Created by a 1963 Slaughterhouse and 2,500 Shops: Majang Meat Market

How the 1963 Slaughterhouse Relocation Created Majang-dong’s Meat Alley

Majang Livestock Products Market began as the Majang-dong cattle market, which formed after a slaughterhouse opened in the area in 1963. After the slaughterhouse moved to another area during surrounding development in 1998, the market developed into its present livestock-products wholesale and retail market. Seongdong-gu lists the market’s location as the area around 40 Majang-ro 31-gil and records 2,500 shops.

Seoul Metropolitan Government records an even longer history. It began as a livestock market in Sungin-dong in 1922, opened along Cheonggyecheon in 1958 on a site of approximately 8,000 pyeong, and remained a market focused on deboning, trimming, and sales after the livestock market disappeared in 1974 and the slaughterhouse relocated in 1988. In 2013, it was designated a Seoul Future Heritage in recognition of its historical significance as a single-product meat market.

How to Navigate the Market’s 110,000-plus-square-meter Alleyways on Your First Visit

According to Seoul Metropolitan Government, the market district covers more than 110,000 square meters and contains over 3,000 shops. Because many butcher shops have similar signs and the alleys run diagonally, first-time visitors can easily lose their bearings. If you are meeting at a particular shop, it is best to obtain not only the shop name but also the meeting entrance, such as the North Gate or South Gate, and the shop number before setting out.

In addition to butcher shops, the market includes shops selling by-products such as jokbal, sundae, seonji, and cheonyeop, as well as meat restaurants. If you plan to choose meat first and then go to a restaurant, ask the shop where you purchase the meat whether restaurant use is available and what packaging sizes are offered. At the restaurant, check the table-setting fee, available alcoholic beverages, and whether there is a wait before entering. This will help reduce confusion caused by differences in operations among shops.

10 Minutes from Exit 4 of Yongdu Station and Exit 1 of Majang Station

According to official guidance from Seongdong-gu, it takes approximately 10 minutes from Exit 4 of Yongdu Station on Subway Line 2 and Exit 1 of Majang Station on Line 5. Byeolbyeol Market’s guide gives approximately 6 minutes from Exit 4 of Yongdu Station and approximately 7 minutes from Exit 2 of Majang Station. Therefore, it is safest to assume that walking time varies depending on which entrance and shop you are heading for.

For buses, use trunk routes 1110B, 141, 145, 148, and 421, or branch routes 2015 and 2222, at the “Majang Livestock Products Market” stop. If you plan to purchase a large amount of meat and carry it with you, it is better to first match the market entrance closest to the shop you will visit on a map rather than choosing based on the subway exit.

• Market Merchants’ Association Office: 02-2281-4446
• Main location: 53 Majang-ro 33-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
• Seongdong-gu listed location: Area around 40 Majang-ro 31-gil, Seongdong-gu

A Permanent Market with No Admission Fee; Check Each Shop’s Hours Separately

Majang Livestock Products Market is a permanent market that can be entered without an admission fee. However, no official business hours or regular closing days applicable to the entire market have been confirmed. You should therefore call the individual butcher shop or restaurant you plan to visit to confirm its hours and closing days. In particular, meat retailers and restaurants may close at different times.

The market’s official information page is the Majang Livestock Products Market page on Seongdong-gu’s “Traditional Markets in Our District” site, and the Merchants’ Association can be contacted at 02-2281-4446. A past Seoul Metropolitan Government article introduced mjmm.co.kr as a separate market website, but for current visits it is appropriate to use Seongdong-gu’s official information page as the reference and reconfirm whether the actual shop is open.

How to Use South Gate Public Parking Lot and Avoid Weekend Traffic

It is possible to visit by car, but the market’s alleys are shared by delivery vehicles and pedestrians. Byeolbyeol Market’s guide indicates that parking is available, and South Gate Public Parking Lot is listed at 18 Salgoji-gil, Seongdong-gu. A 2019 Seoul Metropolitan Government article stated that parking in the food alley cost 500 won per 10 minutes, with one hour free when using the food alley. However, this is old information, so be sure to confirm the current on-site rates and free-parking conditions before leaving.

Seoul Metropolitan Government’s environmental-improvement plan announced in 2020 included road cleaning, the application of eco-friendly EM, and improvements to the collection of animal by-products. Because this is a meat-processing market, visitors who may find odors and work vehicles uncomfortable should note that it may not suit a meal-focused itinerary or a quiet stroll. Unless you are making a large purchase, public transportation is simpler.

Three Steps for Buying Meat at a Butcher Shop and Taking It to a Restaurant

First, state the number of people you are buying for and the cut you want, then confirm the weight, grade, and price before the meat is placed on the scale. Second, if you have chosen a restaurant to take the packaged meat to, first ask whether outside-purchased meat is allowed and what the table-setting fee is. Third, explain whether it is for grilling, soup, or jangjorim so that the cutting method and thickness can be adjusted. Because the market contains both wholesale and retail shops and meat restaurants, following this order clearly will help you stay focused on your purpose.

A case introduced by Seoul Metropolitan Government includes a comparison of prices per 100 grams, but livestock-product prices vary according to grade, cut, weight, and date, so those figures should not be used as current prices. On the day of your visit, it is better to compare the price per 100 grams for the same cut and the post-trimming weight at at least two or three shops, then confirm the total and packaging size before paying.

Planning a 90-Minute to 2-Hour Itinerary in the Market District Along Cheonggyecheon

If you are only buying meat, allow approximately 40–60 minutes for comparing shops and packaging. If you choose meat at the market and then eat at a meat restaurant, allowing approximately 90 minutes to 2 hours is realistic. The market is close to Cheonggyecheon, and Seongdong-gu introduces it as a place where visitors can combine sightseeing and shopping. Byeolbyeol Market’s guide lists Yongdu Park and Beodeul Wetland as nearby attractions.

Wheelchair and stroller users are advised to have a companion, as the width of the market alleys, delivery vehicles, and loading conditions in front of shops may vary by time of day. Byeolbyeol Market lists a children’s playroom, customer information center, customer lounge, and restroom as amenities, but it has not been confirmed whether foreign-language assistance is available or what the operating hours of each facility are. It is best to contact the Merchants’ Association in advance.

From the North Gate Landmark to By-Product Shops: The Market’s Character in Photos

At the market entrance are landmarks shaped like a cow and a pig, and the North Gate area helps visitors identify the market’s access point. In addition to the main alley lined with butcher shops, there are many by-product shops. It is more efficient to divide your route depending on whether you are looking only for regular grilling cuts of Korean beef or for ingredients such as offal, jokbal, and sundae.

We attempted to search for related YouTube videos, but no results were received because the search service’s daily quota had been exceeded, so the video list was left empty. The photos consist only of images whose connection to the location can be confirmed from the original descriptions, such as the market entrance, North Gate, meat trimming, food alley, and public parking lot.