The Jungbu or Chungbu Dried Seafood Market is a traditional Korean market that sells a variety of dried seafood, including seaweed, anchovies, squid, pollack, and other things. You can also find the occasional fruits and vegetables stand, as well as shops selling grain. Prices are approximately 20-30% lower than prices at other markets.
It is an interesting place to visit. I came with my mother-in-law, who wanted to purchase dried anchovies to bring home with her. She also bought us a large bag of dried kelp, which we use as a soup base for miso soup, seaweed soup, and other dishes. Kelp is great for adding an umami flavor to food. The smaller dried anchovies (myulchi or 멸치) are my absolute favorite Korean side dish. I can just eat them as a snack, straight up. Slightly larger anchovies are used as soup stock.
Jungbu Market was designated as a market site in 1955, and established in 1957. Initially, the market served to divide the business district in Namdaemun from Dongdaemun Market. But vendors soon began to gather here to sell dried seafood in the mid-1960s, and Jungbu became a specialty market for dried seafood.
The market opens at 4am and most stores close around 5pm. It is located in Ojang-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, between Namdaemun and Dongdaemun. It is not really close to a particular subway station, but the closest stations are Euljiro 4ga (Lines 2 and 5) and Dongdaemun History and Culture Park (Line 4)
Address: 35, Eulji-ro 36-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
서울특별시 중구 을지로36길 35 (오장동)