Are you planning to travel to Seoul sometime soon? You shouldn’t miss these foods! Today, we’re going to introduce the top ten must-try street foods in Seoul, South Korea. Also, we’ll introduce essential phrases to use when you order food in Korea.

1. List of 10 Must-Eat Korean Street Foods

There are many delicious and exotic Korean traditional foods that you can—and should—try. However, many travelers struggle to find what to eat in Seoul. Don’t worry; in this article, we’re going to introduce ten Korean street food names, along with their description and many pictures and information about each food so that you’ll know exactly what you’re ordering next time you go to the market in Korea. We’re sure you’ll find a food you love here, maybe even some tteokbokki street food!

Let’s have a look at the list of Korean street foods:

1- 해물파전 (haemulpajeon) — Seafood Pajeon

해물파전 (haemulpajeon) is a seafood scallion pancake which is a traditional Korean-style pancake. You can eat this versatile Korean street food as a main dish, or a side dish, or even as an appetizer or snack. The most famous Korean-style pancake is the seafood pancake, and if you’re going to cook this by yourself, you can put any ingredients in it such as Kimchi or vegetables.

해물파전 (haemulpajeon) can be found in any markets in Seoul and each store may have a variety of Korean-style pancakes such as 김치전 (gimchijeon) meaning “Kimchi pancake,” 야채전 (yachaejeon) meaning “vegetable pancake,” and so on. So have a look and enjoy the variety!

• If you’re not familiar with Korean-style pancakes, here are some food images.

2- 김밥 (gimbap) — Korean Traditional Seaweed Rice Rolls

김밥 (Gimbap) is a Korean dish of steamed white rice and other ingredients such as ham, egg, and various vegetables, rolled in sheets of dried laver seaweed and served in bite-size slices. Koreans prepare 도시락 (dosirak) or a “lunch box,” which is filled with gimbap when they go on a picnic. Or sometimes they eat it with 떡볶이 (tteokbokki), 순대 (sundae), or 튀김 (twigim) at a 분식집 (bunsikjip) or “snack stand.”

In addition, there’s a variety of Gimbap, including:

• 참치 김밥 (chamchi gimbap) or “Tuna Gimbap”
• 야채 김밥 (yachae gimbap) or “Vegetable Gimbap”
• 김치 김밥 or “Kimchi Gimbap”
• 불고기 김밥 or “Bulgogi Gimbap”

The price varies depending on which Gimbap you buy, but do read through the long list of gimbap because there are so many! 김밥 can be found easily at markets in Seoul, so don’t miss out on this.

• If you’re not familiar with Gimbap, here are some food images.

3- 순대 (sundae) — Black Pudding

순대 (sundae) is a pork sausage, filled with a mix of sweet rice and sweet potato vermicelli noodles. This is normally called “black pudding” in Korea, and many food stands sell this with 떡볶이 (tteokbokki) and 튀김 (twigim) as a set meal.

The sauce offered contains a mixture of salt, ground pepper, and 고춧가루 (gochugaru) or “red chili pepper flakes” to add more flavor.

순대 (sundae) can be found in any markets in Seoul, and also comes in various meals such as:

• 순댓국 (sundaetguk) which is black pudding soup served in ttukbaegi
• 순대볶음 (Sundaebokkeum) which is stir-fried black pudding with vegetables and gochujang

These are specialized dishes, so try to find a few famous restaurants in Seoul that make various 순대 (sundae) meals.

• If you’re not familiar with Sundae, here are some images.

4- 떡볶이 (tteokbokki) — Stir-fried Rice Cake in Gochujang Sauce

Your trip isn’t complete if you don’t try this delicious Korean food. 떡볶이 (tteokbokki) is a popular South Korean spicy food that’s made from rice cakes called 떡면 or “rice cake noodles.”

Many ingredients are added when making this meal, such as boiled eggs, fish cakes, scallions, carrots, onions, and more. This meal comes in two different flavors: the original 떡볶이 (tteokbokki) that’s seasoned with spicy gochujang, and 궁중떡볶이 (gungjungtteokbokki) which is a soy sauce-based Tteokbokki.

If you want to add more flavor, simply order extra ingredients (it will cost a little extra). Some popular ingredients are melted cheese or 라면 (ramyeon) meaning “Korean noodle.” You’ll easily find tteokbokki in any Seoul market.

• If you’re not familiar with Tteokbokki, here are some images.
• If you’re not familiar with Soy Sauce Tteokbokki, here are some images.

5- 튀김 (twigim)

튀김 (twigim), direct translation being “fried” in English, is Korean-style fried vegetables that taste great with 떡볶이 (tteokbokki) and 순대 (sundae). You can even order 순대튀김 (sundaetwigim) or “fried black pudding” which is one of the most famous dishes that Koreans order at food stands. If you’re looking for some very tasty Korean exotic food, this might just be for you. If you want something more adventurous, we suggest eating it with Ttokbokki sauce to add spiciness.

• If you’re not familiar with 튀김 (twigim) here are some images.

6- 한과 (hangwa)

한과 (hangwa) are traditional Korean confections and they have a variety of sweets. These Korean confections appear in traditional Korean ceremonies such as weddings and ancestral rites.

In addition, if you go to a touristic area such as 인사동 (insadong), there are a number of Korean traditional tea cafes that sell 한과 (hangwa). There are several varieties of hangwa you can try while traveling in South Korea:

• 유과 (Yugwa) — a sweet, crispy hangwa [Image]
• 다식 (Dasik) — a bite-size hangwa [Image]
• 과편 (Gwapyeon) — a jelly-like hangwa [Image]
• 정과 (Jeonggwa) — a chewy hangwa [Image]
• 엿강정 (Yeot-gangjeong) — a candy bar-like hangwa [Image]

Ingredients in these confections are very healthy, so you can’t miss out on these delicious Korean confections!

• If you’re not familiar with original 한과 (hangwa), here are some images.

Do you want to try some more sweets? Try some Korean rice snacks such as:

• 증편 (Jeungpyeon) — “Yeast rice cakes” [Food images]
• 경단 (Gyeongdan) — “Rice ball cake” [Food images]
• 약식 (Yaksik) — “Medicinal food” [Food images]
• 백설기 (Baekseolgi) — “White snow rice cake” [Food images]

7- 만두 (mandu)

If you’re a big fan of dumplings, you can’t miss out on 만두 (mandu) in Korea. You can easily find frozen dumplings at any supermarket in South Korea, and of course you can eat them at a restaurant too. There are many kinds of dumplings, including:

• 물만두 (mulmandu) — “boiled dumplings” [Image]
• 군만두 (gunmandu) — “fried dumplings” [Image]
• 찐만두 (jinmandu) — “steamed dumplings” [Image]
• 굴린만두 (gullinmandu) — “ball-shaped dumplings” [Image]
• 왕만두 (wangmandu) — “oversized dumplings” [Image]
• 김치만두 (kimchimandu) — “dumplings stuffed with Kimchi” [Image]

8- 회오리 감자 (hoeori gamja)

회오리 감자 (hoeori gamja) or “spiral potatos,” also known as 트위스트 감자 (teuwiseuteu gamja) meaning “twist potatoes” or ‘토네이도 감자 (toneido gamja) meaning “tornado potatoes,” are a popular street food in South Korea. They’re deep fried spiral-cut whole potatos on a skewer. You can enjoy this food with different kinds of spices.

• Here are some images, if you’re not familiar with this food.

9- 뽑기 (ppopgi)

뽑기 (ppopgi) or 달고나 (dalgona) is a Korean candy made with melted sugar and baking soda. This was a popular Korean street food back in the 70s and 80s, but it’s become difficult to find these days. Koreans aged between thirty and forty may feel nostalgic when they see this on the street since it was the most popular street food during their childhood.

• Here are some images, if you’re not familiar with this food.

10- 호떡 (hotteok)

호떡 (hotteok) is a Korean pancake and a popular street food in Korea, especially during the winter. The original is filled with brown sugar, honey, chopped peanuts, and cinnamon. It also comes in different flavors, including:

• 녹차 호떡 (nokcha hotteok) — “green tea hotteok” [Image]
• 복분자 호떡 (bokbunja hotteok) — bokbunja rubus coreanus hotteok [Image]
• 옥수수 호떡 (oksusu hotteok) — “corn hotteok” [Image]
• 피자 호떡 (pija hotteok) — “pizza hotteok” [Image]

If you like it, you can buy a DIY 호떡 (hotteok) package at a local supermarket. This is perhaps one of the easiest Korean street food recipes that you can find in South Korea.They are easy to make, so give it a try.

• If you’re not familiar with the original 호떡 (hotteok), here are food images.

2. Phrases to Use When Ordering Korean Street Food

When someone asks “What’s the most popular food in South Korea?” you’re now confident enough to talk about our local Korean street food. You’ve also learned about must-have Korean street foods. So now, let’s try to learn some Korean phrases that’ll come in handy when you order food in South Korea. These are basic phrases, so if you want to learn more, feel free to visit KoreanClass101. We have many free lessons on how to order at a restaurant.

1- What to Say when You Enter a Cafe or Restaurant

• 안녕하세요. (annyeonghaseyo.) — “Hello.”
• 메뉴판 좀 주실래요? (menyupan jom jusillaeyo?) — “Could we have the menu, please?”
• 차가운 물 주세요. (chagaun mul juseyo.) — “Please give me some cold water.”
• 따뜻한 물 주세요. (ttatteuthan mul juseyo.) — “Please give me some warm water.”

2- What to Say When You Order Some Food

• ~ 주세요 (~juseyo) — “Please give me ~”
• 추천해 주시겠어요? (chucheonhae jusigesseoyo?) — “Do you have any recommendations?”
• 이거 많이 매워요? (igeo mani maewoyo?) — “Is this spicy?”

3- What to Say When You Leave a Cafe or Restaurant

• 화장실은 어디에 있나요? (hwajangsireun eodie innayo?) — “Where is the bathroom?”
• 계산서 주세요. (gyesanseo juseyo.) — “Could I have the check?”
• 안녕히 계세요. (annyeonghi gyeseyo.) — “Goodbye.”
• 감사합니다. (gamsahamnida.) — “Thank you.”

3. How Can KoreanClass101 Help You with Korean?

We hope you enjoyed reading our Seoul food guide and hope you have a great time trying different kinds of traditional Korean food in Seoul.

Do you want to learn more about essential phrases in Korean? KoreanClass101 has many lessons to teach you what to say when you enter a cafeteria or a restaurant in South Korea, so feel free to check out these pages as well:

• Vocabulary list — restaurant
• Vocabulary and phrases for the restaurant
• Ordering at a restaurant — part 1
• Ordering at a restaurant — part 2

Got some questions about grammar or Korean culture? We have a forum page where you can ask a question to Korean natives. We hope you enjoyed reading this article and good luck with your Korean studies! If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below.

How much do you express gratitude to your parents? Usually, people seldom express how thankful they are to their parents. That’s why there’s a day in South Korea for exactly this. It’s Parents’ Day, or 어버이 날 (Eobeoi Nal). Eobeoi means “parents,” both mother and father.

Parents’ Day largely reflects South Korea’s culture, particularly the concept of filial piety so prevalent here (though it is weakening). Thus, taking the time to learn about it will greatly increase your working knowledge of Korean culture. This, in turn, will improve your language skills and give you a greater respect for the country of your target language.

At KoreanClass101.com, we hope to make your learning experience both fun and insightful as you discover all about Korean Parents’ Day!

1. What is National Parents’ Day in Korea?

At its core, National Parents’ Day is meant to a time to both celebrate and show respect for one’s parents. It’s also a day of gratitude of thanksgiving for all that one’s parents have done for them—parents do make a lot of sacrifices that we sometimes take for granted, don’t they?

Do you remember which national holiday is held on May 5th? It’s Children’s Day, right? Children’s Day and Parents’ Day both take place in May, so this month is called “the Month of Family.”

2. When is it?

In Korea, Parents’ Day is celebrated each year on May 8.

3. Reading Practice: How is it Celebrated?

On Parents Day, Koreans seek to honor their parents. So how do they do this? How is Parents’ Day celebrated in South Korea? Read the Korean text below to find out, and find the English translation directly below it.

—

어버이날 하면 한국에서는 ‘카네이션’을 가장 먼저 떠올립니다.

한국에서는 5월 8일이 다가오면 학생들이 미술 시간에 색종이로 빨간 카네이션을 만드는데요. 아이들은 어버이날이 되기 전 직접 만든 카네이션 모형을 감사편지와 함께 준비합니다.

그리고 어버이날이 되면 이 카네이션을 부모님 가슴에 달아드리고 감사편지를 전달해드린다고 하네요.

어른이 되면 어렸을 때보다 부모님과 함께하는 시간이 적어지기 마련입니다. 그래서 어버이날이 되면 부모님을 찾아뵙고 함께 식사를 하는데요. 오랜만에 부모님과 식사를 하고 평소 부모님께서 갖고 싶었던 선물이나 상품권을 드리며 감사의 마음을 전하곤 합니다.

한국에서는 어버이날을 위한 특별한 노래가 있습니다. 초중고등학교에서는 어버이날이 되면 어머니와 아버지를 초청해서 어버이날 기념식을 여는데요. 이때에는 학생들이 다 함께 모여서 부모님께 ‘어버이날 노래’를 불러드립니다. 어버이날 노래 가사 중에는 ‘하늘 아래 그 무엇이 넓다 하리오. 어머님의 희생은 가이없어라’라는 내용이 있는데요. 하늘만큼 넓은 것이 바로 부모님의 사랑이라는 의미입니다.

—

In South Korea, usually the first thing that comes to mind about Parents’ Day is carnation flowers.

As May 8th approaches in South Korea, students make red carnations in art class. Before Parents’ Day, kids usually write a letter of thanks to go with the carnations they made.

And, on the day, they put the carnations on their parents’ chests and give them a letter of gratitude.

It’s natural to spend less time with your parents as you’re getting older. That’s why people visit their parents and have a meal with them on Parents’ Day. Usually, they have dinner with their parents, who they haven’t had a meal with for a long time, give them a gift or the gift certificates they wanted, and express their thanks.

There’s a special song for Parents’ Day in South Korea. In elementary, middle, and high schools, they invite their parents and hold a Parents’ Day Ceremony. During this event, the students gather together and sing the Parents’ Day song to their parents. One of the lyrics is “What else can be called as big under the sky. Mother’s sacrifices are endless.” It means that parents’ love is as big as the sky.

4. Additional Information: Origins

Do you know what country first started Parents’ Day?

The Korean Parents’ Day has roots in Mothers’ Day from the United States. In the U.S, it started out as a lady giving white carnations to people in remembrance of her mother. Later, when it came to South Korea, it changed to the day when people give red carnations to both parents as a Parents’ Day gift and show their gratitude to both mother and father.

5. Must-know Vocab

Here’s some vocabulary you should know for Parents’ Day in Korea!

• 편지 (pyeonji) — “letter”
• 가족 (gajok) — “family”
• 어버이 날 (Eobeoi nal) — “Parents’ Day”
• 아이 (ai) — “child”
• 카네이션 (kaneisyeon) — “carnation”
• 효도여행 (hyodoyeohaeng) — “tour for parents”
• 공경 (gonggyeong) — “respect”
• 어버이날 선물 (eobeoinal seonmul) — “Parents’ Day gift”
• 부모님 (bumonim) — “parent”
• 5월 8일 (owol paril) — “May 8th”
• 호의 (houi) — “favor”
• 어르신 (eoreusin) — “elderly”
• 효자 (hyoja) — “devoted son”
• 효녀 (hyonyeo) — “devoted daughter”

To hear each of these vocabulary words pronounced, check out our Korean Parents’ Day vocabulary list. Here, you’ll find each word accompanied by an audio file of its pronunciation.

Conclusion

What do you think of Korea’s celebration of Parents’ Day? Does your country have a similar holiday? Let us know in the comments!

To learn more about Korean culture and the language, visit us at KoreanClass101.com. Here, you’ll find all the study tools you need to master Korean, from free vocabulary lists to insightful blog posts on an array of topics. You can also use our online forum to discuss lessons with fellow students, or even upgrade to a Premium Plus account and take advantage of our MyTeacher program to learn Korean one-on-one with your own personal teacher!

You’ve put a lot of effort into learning Korean, and you’ll be so glad you did once you begin the reaping the seeds you sowed! You’ll be speaking Korean like a native before you know it, and KoreanClass101.com will be here with you for every step of your journey there.

Be sure to wish your parents a Happy Parents’ Day in Korean and start brainstorming Parents’ Day gift ideas! Best wishes.

When it comes to learning a language, everyone wants to know what the best way to learn that language quickly is. It’s the same for our Korean learners; they want to know how to study the Korean language effectively. Here, we’re going to give you some tips on how to do this—namely through watching the best Korean variety shows.

Watching Korean TV shows can be a very useful supplement for Korean learners because some of the TV shows are very entertaining, and will give you opportunity to learn phrases that are commonly used in Korea. Moreover, watching TV shows with subtitles in Korean will certainly help you improve your vocabulary and your ability to understand the language. Today, KoreanClass101 will introduce ten famous Korean TV shows to help you learn Korean effectively.

Table of Contents

1. Benefits of Watching Korean TV Shows
2. How to Practice Korean While Watching Korean TV Shows
3. 10 Korean Variety Show Recommendations
4. How to Study the Korean Language with KoreanClass101

1. Benefits of Watching Korean TV Shows

So, what are the benefits of watching Korean TV shows? If you’re a Korean language learner, it may be challenging for you to learn Korean by watching Korean variety shows, therefore it’s strongly recommended to learn from basic Hangul and learn how combinations of different consonants and vowels make the sounds. Start off by studying basic Hangul and slowly move onto learning other basic expressions such as self-introductions. If you’re an intermediate learner, you’ll find that Korean TV shows are a great source to use to practice speaking, reading, and listening. Also:

• It’s entertaining and is one of the best ways to learn Korean.

Each South Korean TV show has its unique style. Therefore, depending on your interests, you can improve your vocabularies and expressions from TV shows. For example, if you want to understand how Koreans tease each other and want to learn more about Korean humor, watching Radio Star may help you meet your goals.

Also, the expressions that you learn in school may not be used in daily life in Korea, so if you want to learn “Real Korean Language” including slang words (e.g.일욜 or “shorten words for Sunday”), then the Korean reality show called 나 혼자 산다 (na honja sanda) or “I Live Alone” may help you understand how Koreans express themselves in daily life.

• You’ll stay in touch with the trends in Korea.

South Korean TV shows always invite various celebrities, from singers, actors/actresses, comedians, and even Hollywood celebrities! For example, when a new film is released, you’ll most likely see celebrities from that film in these popular Korean variety shows. If you watch Korean TV shows, you’ll definitely be in touch with the most current trends.

2. How to Practice Korean While Watching Korean TV Shows

Everyone has their own techniques for studying Korean. Here are some of the most popular methods:

1. Write down words or expressions that you don’t understand.
2. Practice speaking and pronunciation repetitively.
3. Replay the show, but focus on mimicking the words and annotations.

And so on. There are more techniques that you can help you learn Korean effectively and efficiently. If you have your own Language Learning Strategies, they’ll certainly help you study smarter and faster than others.

Let’s take a look at our list of famous South Korean TV shows. We’ve prepared a brief explanation of each TV show; if you’re interested to know even more details, click on the title of the show, and it will direct you to the Wikipedia page.

3. 10 Korean Variety Show Recommendations

So what are the most famous variety shows in Korea? We looked at Korean variety show ratings and now we’re going to introduce ten famous Korean TV series to help you learn Korean!

1- 라디오 스타 (radio seuta) — “Radio Star”

Korean TV show information:
Period: 5/30/2007 ~ present (as of 2019)
Channel: MBC

Why should you watch this Korean series?
Radio Star is a South Korean talk show hosted by Kim Gook-Jin, Yoon Jong-Shin, Kim Gura, and Cha Tae-hyun. The first episode aired on the 30th of May, 2007. Radio Star invites four to six guests every week for the talk show, and most of the time the hosts ask difficult questions that cause panic in the guests. Guests are aware of this, so they usually answer the questions in a humorous way, which is the whole point of this talk show.

Due to the nature of the talk show, top celebrities aren’t fond of being featured here. However, some less-famous celebrities became extremely popular after showing up on this Korean TV show because of their sense of humor, as well as their interesting and personal stories.

Korean TV show website: https://www.imbc.com/broad/tv/ent/goldfish/
YouTube video: Do you want to watch just a little bit of the show? You can watch some videos here.

Korean phrases and quotes:

• 알아서 좋은 인연이 들어와요. (araseo joeun inyeoni deureowayo.)
• “A good relationship will naturally come to you.”
• 내가 번 돈 내가 안 쓰면 누가 꼭 쓴다. (naega beon don naega an sseumyeon nuga kkok sseunda.)
• “If I don’t spend my own money, someone else will spend it all.”
• 큰 일보다는 사소한 일에 신경을 많이 써라. (keunil bodaneun sasohan ire singyeongeul mani sseora.)
• “Pay attention to small things not only to big things.”

Must-know Korean vocabularies:

• 좋은 인연 (joeun inyeon) : “a good relationship”
• 들어오다 (deureooda): “to come in”
• 안 쓰다 (an sseuda) : opposite meaning of 쓰다 (sseuda) meaning “to use”
• 번 돈 (beon don): “money earned by hard working”
• …보다는 (…bodaneun): “…rather than”
• 사소한 일 (sasohan il): “a mere trifle”
• 신경 쓰다 (singyeong sseuda): “to show concern”
• 많이 (mani): “much; lots; plenty”

2- 나 혼자 산다 (na honja sanda) — “I Live Alone”

Korean TV show information:
Period: 3/22/2013 ~ present (as of 2019)
Channel: MBC

Why should you watch this Korean series?
It’s a South Korean television entertainment program aired every Friday from 11:10 pm to 12:50 am. I Live Alone broadcasts famous celebrities’ everyday lives, such as what they do and eat at home and their daily schedule including who they meet and so on. You’ll be surprised to see how transparent they are, and eventually you’ll come to realize that even the lives of famous celebrities are somewhat similar to our own. What makes this TV show popular in South Korea is that we can really relate to some of the personal troubles that these famous celebrities go through (e.g. dealing with debts, the death of a beloved pet, etc.).

Korean TV show website: https://www.imbc.com/broad/tv/ent/singlelife/index.html
YouTube video: Do you want to watch just a little bit of the show? You can watch some videos here.

Korean phrases and quotes:

• 클락션은 싸움만 만들 뿐. (keullaksyeoneun ssaumman mandeul ppun.)
• “You will most likely end up in a fight when you honk too much.”
• 욕심이 많아지면 행복하자는 소원을 빈다. (yoksimi manajimyeon haengbokajaneun sowoneul binda.)
• “When you become greedy, you end up making a wish to be happy.”
• 초심을 잃지 말자. (chosimeul ilchi malja.)
• “Let’s not forget our humble beginnings.”

Must-know Korean vocabularies:

• 클락션 (keullaksyeon): “Honk; Klaxon”
• 싸움 (ssaum): “fight”
• 만들다 (mandeulda): “to make”
• 욕심 (yoksim): “greed”
• 많아지면 (manajimyeon): “to pile up”
• 소원을 빌다 (sowoneul bilda): “make a wish”
• 초심 (chosim): “one’s first intention”
• 잃다 (ilta): “to lose”

3- 런닝맨 (reonningmaen) — “Running Man”

Korean TV show information:
Period: 7/11/2010 ~ present (as of 2019)
Channel: SBS

Why should you watch this Korean series?
Running Man is an SBS Korean variety show, and is one of the longest-running Korean game shows in South Korea. The rule of the game is that Running Man contestants wear a nametag on their back while playing the game. Their main goal is to take off all the contestants’ nametags until one person is left. It may sound easy, but it’s not, because contestants also need to perform various tasks in order to win the game and sometimes you have no choice but to betray your own team. This survival game is very addictive and entertaining! Also, it’s a Korean variety show that invites and features a lot of idols from all over the world.

Korean TV show website: https://programs.sbs.co.kr/enter/runningman/
YouTube video: Do you want to watch just a little bit of the show? You can watch some videos here.

Korean phrases and quotes:

• 포기하는 거야, 지금? 뭐가 그렇게 무섭다고 도전을 안해 (pogihaneun geoya, jigeum? mwoga geureoke museopdago dojeoneul anhae)
• “Are you giving up, now? Why are you not even challenging yourself.”
• 카메라 앞에서는 무엇을 해도 용서가 되지만 카메라가 꺼졌을 때에도 똑같이 행동하면 안된다 (kamera apeseoneun mueoseul haedo yongseoga doejiman kameraga kkeojyeosseul ttaeedo ttokgachi haengdonghamyeon andoenda)
• “Whatever you do in front of the camera, you will be forgiven, but you should not act the same when the camera is turned off.”

Must-know Korean vocabularies:

• 포기 (pogi): “give up”
• 무섭다 (museopda): “scared”
• 도전 (dojeon): “challenge”
• 용서 (yongseo): “forgiveness”
• 행동 (haengdong): “behavior”

4- 대국민 토크쇼 안녕하세요 (daegungmin tokeusyo annyeonghaseyo) — “Hello Counselor”

Korean TV show information:
Period: 11/20/2010 ~ present (as of 2019)
Channel: KBS2

Why should you watch this Korean series?
대국민 토크쇼 안녕하세요 (“Hello Counselor”) aims to help people take down communication barriers by sharing their personal life stories. The hosts try to evaluate the situation that a person’s going through and give advice. The hosts and guests try to do this is the most humorous way possible. At the end of the show, people on the stage vote on whether the problem which was addressed is severe and needs some “real” help or not. This Korean TV show invites many idols and famous celebrities, too.

Korean TV show website: https://program.kbs.co.kr/2tv/enter/hello/pc/
YouTube video: Do you want to watch just a little bit of the show? You can watch some videos here.

Korean phrases and quotes:

• 여러분의 말 못할 고민을 응원해 드립니다. (yeoreobunui mal mothal gomineul eungwonhae deurimnida.)
• “We will support your worries.”
• 육아는 도와주는 게 아니라 같이 하는 것. (yuganeun dowajuneun ge anira gachi haneun geot.)
• “Parenting is not helping, it is doing together.”

Must-know Korean vocabularies:

• 여러분 (yeoreobun): “everybody”
• 말 못할 (mal mothal): “something that you cannot say to people”
• 고민 (gomin): “worries”
• 응원 (eungwon): “cheering”
• 육아 (yuga): “infant care”
• 도와주다 (dowajuda): “to support”
• 같이 하는 것 (gachi haneun geot): “to do things together”

5- 언프리티 랩스타 (Eonpeuriti Raepseuta) — “Unpretty Rapstar”

Korean TV show information:
Period:1/29/2015 ~ present (as of 2019)
Channel: Mnet

What is it about?: 언프리티 랩스타 (Eonpeuriti Raepseuta) or “Unpretty Rapstar” is a rap competition reality show in South Korea, featuring only female rappers. One thing about this show that’s interesting is that in the first few episodes, show contestants introduce themselves through the same beat. Contestants need to win missions such as stage performance or “do diss” battle, in which contestants battle one-on-one with another rapper. This Korean competition TV show was famous already, but it became even more popular after the appearance of Jessi.

Korean TV show website: https://mnettv.interest.me/unprettyrapstar3/main
YouTube video: Do you want to watch just a little bit of the show? You can watch some videos here.

Korean phrases and quotes:

• 너희가 뭔데 날 판단해? (neohuiga mwonde nal pandanhae?)
• “Who are you to judge me?”
• 각오 단단히 하고 나와라 아님 나 못이길테니까. (gago dandanhi hago nawara anim na mosigiltenikka.)
• “Brace yourselves, everybody or you will not win me.”
• 우린 팀이 아니야 이건 경쟁이야 (urin timi aniya igeon gyeongjaengiya)
• “We are not a team. This is a competition.”

Must-know Korean vocabularies:

• 우린 (urin): “we are”
• 판단하다 (pandanhada): “judge”
• 각오 (gago): “determination”
• 아님 (anim): short for 아니다 (anida) or “not”
• 팀 (tim): “team”
• 이건 (igeon): “this is”
• 경쟁 (gyeongjaeng): “competition”

6- 냉장고를 부탁해 (Naengjanggo-reul Butakhae) — “Please Take Care of My Refrigerator”

Korean TV show information:
Period: 11/17/2014 ~ present (as of 2019)
Channel: JTBC

Why should you watch this Korean series?
Are you into cooking shows? Do you want to enjoy watching top chefs in Korea competing against each other by using limited resources from the fridge of a famous celebrity? 나의 냉장고를 부탁해 (Naengjanggo-reul Butakhae) or “Please Take Care of My Refrigerator” is a Korean cooking show starring various chefs and celebrity guests.

The really fun part of this show is that you’ll get to see a celebrity’s fridge—INSIDE. What better way to get a glimpse of the lifestyle of a celebrity? In this Korean reality show, two hosts open the fridge and investigate inside. The guests will come up with a theme for the cooking competition and the chefs have to cook the desired dishes within a limited amount of time with the ingredients available from the fridge. The host will taste the dishes and will decide who wins that cooking competition.

Korean TV show website: https://tv.jtbc.joins.com/replay/pr10010331/pm10026684
YouTube video: Do you want to watch just a little bit of the show? You can watch some videos here.

Korean phrases and quotes:

• 가끔 음식 먹다 보면 엄마가 생각나나 봐요? (gakkeum eumsik meokda bomyeon eommaga saenggangnana bwayo?)
• “Sometimes when you eat food, does this remind you of your mom?”

Must-know Korean vocabularies:

• 가끔 (gakkeum): “sometimes”
• 엄마 (eomma): “mother”
• 생각나다 (saenggangnada): “to think”

7- 비정상회담 (Bijeongsanghoedam) — “Abnormal Summit”

Korean TV show information:
Period: 7/07/2014 ~ 12/04/2017
Channel: JTBC

Why should you watch this Korean series?
비정상회담 (Bijeongsanghoedam) or “Abnormal Summit” is a South Korean TV show on JTBC which was aired on the 7th of July in 2014. It’s a debate show where people from different countries gather to discuss a topic in Korea. You’ll be surprised to see how fluent their Korean is; this TV show is a great source to learn many expressions in Korean.

Also, since it’s a debate show, it’s fascinating to see contestants with completely different views about a topic and debate passionately. A new guest is invited (usually a famous Korean celebrity or politician) every episode to introduce the debate topic. This TV show ended in 2017, and there is no set date for a new season. You can watch this Korean TV show on Netflix.

Korean TV show website: https://tv.jtbc.joins.com/nonsummit
YouTube video: Do you want to watch just a little bit of the show? You can watch some videos here.

Korean phrases and quotes:

• 자기가 좋아하는 일을 하세요. (jagiga joahaneun ireul haseyo.)
• “Do what you love.”
• 성공이 무엇인지 한 가지로 정의 된 것은 없습니다. (seonggongi mueosinji han gajiro jeongui doen geoseun eopseumnida.)
• “There is no universal definition of ‘success.’”

Must-know Korean vocabularies:

• 좋아하는 일 (joahaneun il): “self-imposed work”
• 성공 (seonggong): “success”
• 무엇 (mueot): “what”
• 정의 (jeongui): “definition”
• 없다 (eopda): “there is no…”

8- 미스터리 음악쇼 복면가왕 (Miseuteori Eumaksyo Bokmyeon-gawang) — “King of Mask Singer”

Korean TV show information:
Time: Sundays @ 4:50 pm
Period: 4/05/2015 ~ present (as of 2019)
Channel: MBC

What is this Korean reality show about?
미스터리 음악쇼 복면가왕 (Miseuteori Eumaksyo Bokmyeon-gawang) or “King of Mask Singer” is a
Korean singing show. Contestants wear a mask in order to hide their identity from the audience and the judges of the show. Since the singers cannot be identified, you’re better able to really enjoy the pure talent of the contestants.

Each round, two contestants compete against each other in three elimination rounds. Losing contestants will reveal their identity by taking off their masks while singing their last song, and this is one of the most exciting parts of the show! If you’re into K-pop singers and would like to listen to some extreme talent, this show is for you! Also, they use many adjectives to describe their feelings and to give feedback about the singing, so you’ll learn many vocabularies while you enjoy listening to some of the most beautiful voices in Korean culture.

Korean TV show website: https://www.imbc.com/broad/tv/ent/sundaynight/

YouTube video: Do you want to watch just a little bit of the show? Here’s the video of BTS Jungkook in the show.

Korean phrases and quotes:

• 엄청 떨려요. (eomcheong tteollyeoyo.)
• “I am tremble.” (Or “I’m really nervous.”)
• 반전을 거듭하는 무대 (banjeoneul geodeupaneun mudae)
• “repeated twists in the stage”

Vocabularies:

• 엄청 (eomcheong): “very”
• 떨리다 (tteollida): “tremble”
• 반전 (banjeon): “twist”
• 거듭하다 (geodeupada): “repeat”
• 무대 (mudae): “stage”

9- 프로듀스 48 (peurodyuseu 48) — “Produce 48”

Korean TV show information:
Period: 6/15/2018 ~ 8/31/2018
Channel: Mnet

What is this Korean competition TV show about?
If you’re interested in competition TV shows that introduce you to the journey of how a Korean idol is made, this TV show is for you. This show is a Korean music show and is an ongoing competition where contestants ultimately aim to be in a girl group in the end.

Contestants need to be able to dance and sing very well, and also need to receive many votes from the audience in order to continue in this competition. The newest season has 96 contestants from South Korea and Japan, and the contestants from Japan are from a famous J-Pop idol group called AKB48.

Korean TV show website: https://produce48.mnet.com/pc/main
YouTube video: Do you want to watch just a little bit of the show? You can watch the videos here:

Korean phrases and quotes:

• 그때의 나는 작은 왕관의 무게도 너무 버거워서 도망치고 싶었다.
• “At that time, I wanted to flee because the weight of the small crown was too heavy.”
• 하기 싫으면 안 할 거예요? 수업받기 싫으면 나가요.
• “Are you not going to do it if you don’t want to? If you do not want to take classes, get out.”

Vocabularies:

• 그때 (geuttae): “that time”
• 왕관 (wanggwan): “crown”
• 버겁다 (beogeopda): “be beyond one’s capacity”
• 도망가다 (domanggada): “run away”
• 수업 (sueop): “course”

10- 세상에 나쁜 개는 없다. (Sesange nappeun gaeneun eopda.) — “There are No Bad Dogs in this World.”

Korean TV show information:
Period: 4/09/2015 ~ present (as of 2019)
Channel: EBS

What is this Korean TV series about?
You’ve probably seen many dog training-related TV shows in your own country; there are many dog training TV shows such as It’s Me or the Dog by a trainer named Victoria Stilwell or Dog Whisperer with Ceasar Milliam. If you’re a big fan of these TV shows, this one’s for you.

This Korean TV show is the latest Korean shoㅈ. 세상에는 나쁜 개는 없다 (sesangeneun nappeun gaeneun eopda) is a dog training Korean reality TV series run by a Korean dog trainer, 강형욱 (ganghyeonguk). Every episode he introduces cases and how to solve the problems presented. You can learn training tips as well as Korean!

Korean TV show website: https://home.ebs.co.kr/baddog/main
YouTube video: Do you want to learn how to train your dog while learning Korean? You can watch a video of this Korean TV reality show from here.

Korean phrases and quotes:

• 최선을 다해 반려견을 사랑해주세요. (Choeseoneul dahae ballyeogyeoneul saranghaejuseyo.)
• “Please do your best to love the dog.”
• 강아지가 제일 좋아하는 사람은 백수다. (Gangajiga jeil joahaneun sarameun baeksuda.)
• “Dogs love unemployed owner the most (since they stay at home all the time).”

Vocabularies:

• 최선 (choeseon): “the best way”
• 반려견 (ballyeogyeon): “a pet”
• 사랑하다 (saranghada): “to love something or someone”
• 강아지 (gangaji): “a dog”
• 백수 (baeksu): “unemployed”

4. How to Study the Korean Language with KoreanClass101

Apart from watching TV shows in Korean, there are many other ways that you can improve your Korean. Here, you can learn the top ways to practice your Korean reading skills. We understand that learning a new language isn’t easy and it can be frustrating when you have a difficult time memorizing words. People have different techniques for memorizing vocabulary words and KoreanClass101 has prepared a number of techniques for remembering words. You can access all of these materials mentioned above for free.

KoreanClass101 offers the world’s largest study materials available online for you to study whenever you want, at your own pace. Learn Korean lessons with KoreanClass101 today.

What’s your favorite South Korean TV show? Leave a comment below and share why you like the TV show.

Do you know what political events happened in Korea after the Korean War ended? Although there was a lot of economic development, there was also a period of dictatorship. There were also various democratic groups that resisted the dictatorship.
In this lesson, you’ll learn about the civil Korea Revolution on April 19th that rose against the corrupt political power in the 1960s. As you’ll see, for Korea, 1960 was a year of great significance.

One of Korea’s most significant events, the Korean 1960 Revolution on April 19 is a vital piece of knowledge in your Korean learning journey. It will both open your eyes to Korea’s vast history and allow you to better understand its modern culture. So let’s get started!

1. Reading Practice: What is April 19th Revolution Day in Korea?

So, what is April 19 Revolution Day in Korea? Read the Korean text below to find out (and you can find the English translation directly below it).

—

한국전쟁이 일어난 다음 한국에서는 이승만 대통령 정권이 시작됩니다. 하지만 한국전쟁 이후 이승만 대통령은 12년간 장기집권을 하게 되고, 독재 정권 아래서 여러가지 부정부패 문제가 일어나게 되었는데요. 결국 1960년 3월에 있었던 재선을 위한 선거과정에서 선거개표를 조작하였고, 이 사실이 세상에 알려지게 됩니다.

그 전부터 독재정치에 불만을 가졌던 사람들이 이 부정선거를 계기로 여기저기서 시위를 하기 시작합니다.

1960년 4월 초, 부정선거 사실이 알려진 뒤 가장 먼저 마산에서 시위가 일어났습니다. 하지만 당시 정부는 경찰과 폭력배를 시켜서 시위대를 무자비하게 진압하게 됩니다. 이러한 폭력적인 대처에 화가 난 시민들은 결국 전국 각지에서 시위를 하게 되는데요. 서울에서는 고려대학교 학생들을 중심으로 4천여명의 학생들이 모여서 국회의사당까지 걸어가며 시위를 하게 됩니다. 하지만 평화적으로 이루어졌던 시위를 끝내고 학교로 돌아던 학생들이 폭력배들에게 맞아서 큰 부상을 당하게 되면서 국민들의 불만은 최고조에 달합니다.

시민들과 학생들은 결국 ‘이승만 하야와 독재정권 타도’라는 구호를 외치며 더욱 큰 시위를 열게 됩니다. 이 시위를 진압하는 과정에서 또 다시 수많은 사람들이 다쳤음에도 시민들은 끝까지 자신들의 뜻을 굽히지 않았습니다. 그리고 4월 19일에 대규모 시위가 일어나게 됩니다.

이날 이후 결국 이승만대통령은 한국을 떠나 하와이로 망명을 가게 되었습니다. 시민들의 힘으로 독재정치를 내보낸 419 혁명은 한국 현대역사의 첫 민주주의 혁명으로 기록되고 있습니다.

—

After the Korean War broke out, Ri Seungman began his rule as president. After the war, he was in power for twelve years, and there was a lot of corruption under his dictatorship.

Finally, in the reelection of March 1960, the fact that the votes were being controlled became known to the world.

People who had complaints about the dictatorship prior to that started holding demonstrations here and there.

After the election fraud became known at the beginning of April 1960, the first demonstration occurred in Masan city. But the government ordered police and organized crime groups to mercilessly suppress the demonstrations. Citizens, angered by this rather violent way of handling the demonstrations, started demonstrating all over the country. In Seoul, a group of about 4,000 students, mostly from Korea University, began protesting in front of the National Assembly Building. The students finished the protest peacefully and returned to school, where they were beaten by organized crime groups. This was the peak of the citizens’ dissatisfaction. Students and citizens began protesting more while yelling, “Resign Ri Seungman and Overthrow the Dictatorship!” College professor groups and scholars alike gathered and demanded Ri Seungman’s resignation. Despite the method of suppressing the protests and how many people were injured, their will didn’t falter. And so, on April 19th, they had a large-scale protest.

After that day, Ri Seungman left Korea and was exiled to Hawaii. 419 Revolution Day, when the dictatorship was overthrown by the people’s power, was the first democratic revolution recorded in recent Korean history.

2. When is the April Revolution of Korea Celebrated?

Each year, Koreans celebrate April 19th Revolution Day on—you guessed it—April 19 on the solar calendar, in commemoration of April 19, 1960.

3. How is the Korea 1960 Revolution Celebrated?

On April 19th, many people visit the 419 National Cemetery to honor the people who struggled for democracy.

There’s a 419 revolution memorial tower inside the cemetery. On 419 Revolution Day, people visit that tower and remember the people who were hurt and gave their lives for democracy leading up to the April 19, 1960 Korean Revolution.

4. Additional Information: More Special Days

419 Revolution Day is on April 19th of the solar calendar. In addition to 419 Revolution Day, there are a few other special days with their date in the name. Do you know which days those are?

Like 419 Revolution Day, there are a few other days with their date in the name. There’s the day marking the start of the Korean War on June 25th, which is called “625.” There’s also the pro-democratic resistance day on May 18th, called 518 Revolution Day.

5. Must-know Vocab

Here’s some vocabulary you should know for April 19th Revolution Day in Korea!

• 학생 (haksaeng) — “student”
• 교수 (gyosu) — “professor”
• 피해자 (pihaeja) — “victim”
• 민주주의 (minjujuui) — “democracy”
• 시위 (siwi) — “demonstration”
• 시민 (simin) — “citizen”
• 분노 (bunno) — “anger”
• 이승만 정권 (iseungman jeonggwon) — “Syngman Rhee government”
• 혁명 (hyeongmyeong) — “revolution”
• 하야 (haya) — “resignation”
• 대통령 (daetongnyeong) — “president”
• 국가 유공자 (gukga yugongja) — “men of national merit”
• 독재정권 (dokjaejeonggwon) — “dictatorial government“
• 4.19 혁명 (sailgu hyeongmyeong) — “19th April of Bastille Day”
• 불법 (bulbeop) — “illegality”

To hear each of these words pronounced, visit our 419 Revolution vocabulary list. Here, you’ll find each word accompanied by an audio of its pronunciation.

Conclusion

As you can see, April 19 Revolution Day in Korea is a significant holiday that commemorates a pivotal time frame in Korea’s history. We hope you enjoyed learning about the 1960 Korean student revolution and its commemoration with us!

Is there a Revolution Day in your own country? How is it celebrated? Let us know in the comments!

For even more information on Korean culture and the Korean language, visit us at KoreanClass101.com and set up your account today! We offer an array of insightful blog posts, free vocabulary lists, and an online community to discuss lessons with fellow Korean learners. With a Premium Plus account, you can also take advantage of our MyTeacher program, and learn Korean one-on-one with your own personal Korean teacher.

Learning a new language can be a staggering task, but it’s completely worthwhile. Know that your hard work and determination will pay off, and one day you’ll speaking, reading, and writing Korean like a native! We wish you the best in your language-learning journey!

Are you looking for the best Seoul markets to visit? Then continue reading this article, because we’re going to introduce the top ten famous Seoul street markets so that you can enjoy trying our local Korean food right away! You’ll also find some must-eat restaurants in Seoul on this list!

1. 서울 광장시장 (Seoul Gwangjang Market) — (map)

When Koreans think of the famous Korean street market in Seoul, 광장시장 (Gwangjang market) is the first thing that comes to mind. This place is well-known by locals, and of course by tourists. The market has been open for more than 100 years, and you’ll instantly love the place because of the atmosphere and the vibe from the people in the market. Further, this place gives off a very vintage feeling.

Just go around the market and feel free to take a seat if you find a spot for dining. The price is affordable as well and only cash is accepted, so prepare some cash before heading to this market.

Popular Food at Gwangjang Market

※ Click the links below for more information about the food.

• 빈대떡 (Bindae-tteok) — Korean-style pancake from Pyongan province [Image]
• 마약김밥 (mayakgimbap) — bite-size Gimbap [Image]
• 곱창 (gopchang) — grilled intestines of cattle [Image]
• 수수부꾸미 (susubukkumi) — pan-fried tteok made with glutinous rice flour [Image]

Touristic Areas Near Gwangjang Market:

※ Click the names below to check the locations.

• 인사동 (Insa-dong) — Location
• 창덕궁 (Changdeokgung) — Location
• 창경궁 (Changgyeonggung) — Location
• 청계천 (Cheonggyecheon) — Location

2. 서울 망원시장 (seoul mangwonsijang) — (map)

This place was introduced in a very famous TV show called “I Live Alone” and since then this market has become a lot more popular. This is a very local place (perhaps not known to tourists) so if you want to blend in with the locals, this place is a must-go.

Popular Food:

• 칼국수 (kalguksu) — “seafood noodle soup” [Image]
• 곰탕 (gomtang) — “oxtail soup” [Image]
• 김밥 (gimbap) — “rice and different ingredients wrapped in dried seaweed” [Image]
• 오징어튀김 (ojingeotwigim) — “fried squid” [Image]
• 족발 (jokbal) — “pig’s trotters cooked with soy sauce and spice” [Image]
• 크로켓 (keuroket) — “croquette” [Image]
• 닭강정 (dalgangjeong) — “sweet crispy fried chicken” [Image]

Touristic Areas:

• 선유도한강공원 (Seonyudo Hangang Park) — Location
• 하늘공원 (Haneul Park) — Location

3. 서울 구로시장 (seoul gurosijang) — (map)

If you’re into vintage style, then 서울 구로시장 (seoul gurosijang) is a must-go spot in Seoul. It has a mixture of past and modern style and is famous for selling clothes, foods, tools, and ingredients that you can hardly find in any other supermarkets in Seoul. Want to go treasure hunting? Then you must go to 서울 구로시장 (seoul gurosijang)!

Popular Food:

• 떡볶이 (tteokbokki) — “rice cake with gochujang sauce and vegetables” [Image]
• 크레페 (keurepe) — “Korean-style crepe” [Image]
• 못난이 찹쌀 꽈배기 (monnani chapssal kkwabaegi) — “twisted donuts covered in sugar” [Image]
• 순댓국 (sundaetguk) — “black pudding soup served in ttukbaegi” [Image]

Touristic Areas:

마리오아울렛 (marioaullet) — Location
현대아울렛 (hyeondaeaullet) — Location
W Mall Outlet — Location

4. 서울 세종마을음식문화거리 (seoul sejongmaeureumsingmunhwageori) — (map)

This place isn’t listed on Google Maps, but it’s very easy to find. The place is located between exit 3 and 4 from 경복궁역 (gyeongbokgungyeok) or “Gyeongbok station.” In addition, there are signs in different languages explaining where to go so you won’t get lost. This place is great for trying different kinds of traditional Korean foods and drinks at an affordable price.

Do you want to experience a glimpse of what young local people have for dinner with their colleagues or friends? Then try this place.

Popular Food:

• 곱창 (gopchang) — “grilled intestines of cattle” [Image]
• 칼국수 (kalguksu) — “seafood noodle soup” [Image]
• 수제비 (sujebi) — “hand-pulled dough soup” [Image]
• 쪽갈비 (jjokgalbi) — “Korean grilled ribs” [Image]
• 쭈꾸미 (jjukkumi) — Amphioctopus fangsiao [Image]
• 막걸리 (makgeolli) — a Korean alcoholic beverage [Image]

Touristic Areas:

• 광화문 (gwanghwamun) — Location
• 사직공원 (sajikgongwon) — Location
• 세종로공원 (sejongnogongwon) — Location
• 경희궁 (gyeonghuigung) — Location
• 창덕궁 (changdeokgung) — Location

5. 서울 수유재래시장 (seoul suyujaeraesijang) — (map)

Three different markets are congregated in this market, so you can buy souvenirs for your friends, buy clothing for yourself and others, and most importantly, eat traditional Korean foods. Also, since this place is well-known by many tourists, information is available in four different languages so you won’t have any problem getting around this market.

Popular Food:

• 꽈배기 (kkwabaegi) — “twisted donuts covered in sugar” [Image]
• 찹쌀도넛 (chapssal doughnut) — “Korean doughnuts made with glutinous rice flour” [Image]
• 족발 (jokbal) — “pig’s trotters cooked with soy sauce and spice” [Image]
• 김 (gim) — “dried seaweed” [Image]

Touristic Areas:

• 북한산 둘레길 (bukansan dullegil) — Location
• 성북예술창작센터 (seongbungnyesulchangjaksenteo) — Location
• 화계사 템플스테이 (hwagyesa tempeulseutei) — Location

6. 서울 동대문시장 (seoul dongdaemunsijang) — (map)

동대문시장 (dongdaemunsijang) is the must-go place if you love going shopping. You can negotiate prices and even enjoy shopping in the late evening. There are many street foods around the shopping mall and many shops are located in this area. In addition, you’ll see many free events such as dance competitions for entertainment, so don’t miss out on this.

Popular Food:

• 생선구이 (saengseongui) — “grilled fish” [Image]
• 엘에이 김밥 (LA Gimbap) — “LA Gimbap” [Image]
• 떡볶이 (tteokbokki) — “rice cake with gochujang sauce and vegetables” [Image]
• 불닭 (buldal) — “spicy barbecued chicken dish” [Image]

Touristic Areas:

• 남산타워 (namsantawo) — Location
• 청계천 (cheonggyecheon) — Location
• 덕수궁 (deoksugung) — Location
• 창경궁 (changgyeonggung) — Location
• 종묘 (jongmyo) — Location

7. 서울 경동시장 (seoul gyeongdongsijang) — (map)

If you’re into health, then this place is a must-go. It was built in 1960 and is specialized in selling all sorts of ingredients for oriental medicine. It’s the biggest ginseng market in South Korea. If you’re interested in oriental medicines, then you can try to visit 한의약박물관 (hanuiyakbangmulgwan) or the “Herb Medicine Museum” to learn about herbs in detail. Also keep in mind that 오미요리연구소 (omiyoriyeongu) or “OME Korean Cooking Class” organizes cooking classes, using different herbs.

Popular Food:

• 울금 (ulgeum) — “Turmeric” [Image]
• 산수유 (sansuyu) — “Cornus officinalis” [Image]
• 구기자 (gugija) — “goji” [Image]

Touristic Areas:

• 한의약박물관 (hanuiyakbangmulgwan) — “Herb Medicine Museum” [Location]
• 오미요리연구소 (omiyoriyeongu) — “OME Korean Cooking Class” [Location]

8. 방산시장 (bangsansijang) — (map)

At 방산시장 (bangsansijang), you can buy many DIY materials such as wrapping paper, baking tools, and candles. If you’re into buying tools or any ingredients to make candles or soaps with, this place is the best market to go to, since the price is more affordable than other places.

There’s a very famous restaurant here which has been open for more than sixty years that makes ox bone soup. Also, there’s another famous restaurant which has been open for more than fifty years and this restaurant makes noodles in cold soybean soup. So try them out too.

Popular Food:

• 삼겹살 (samgyeopsal) — “grilled pork belly” [Image]
• 김치찌개 (gimchijjigae) — “Kimchi stew” [Image]
• 설렁탕 (seolleongtang) — “ox bone soup” [Image]
• 콩국수 (kongguksu) — “noodles in cold soybean soup” [Image]

Touristic Areas:

• 종묘정전 (jongmyojeongjeon) — Location
• 훈련원공원 (hullyeonwongongwon) — Location
• 동대문역사문화공원 (dongdaemunyeoksamunhwagongwon) — Location

9. 남대문시장 (namdaemunsijang) — (map)

This market has been open for more than 600 years and therefore many tourists from around the world visit this historical market in Seoul. The great thing about this place is that you can compare different products and prices freely and you’re able to buy stuff at a reasonable price. Since the Seoul Olympics in 1988, 갈치조림 (galchijorim) or “simmered largehead hairtail” has been the most popular dish at this market, so try it out when you can.

Popular Food:

• 갈치조림 (galchijorim) — “simmered largehead hairtail” [Image]
• 칼국수 (kalguksu) — “seafood noodle soup” [Image]
• 꼬리곰탕 (kkorigomtang) — “ox tail soup” [Image]

Touristic Areas:

• 덕수궁 (deoksugung) — Location
• 남산타워 (namsantawo) — Location
• 청계천 (Cheonggyecheon) — Location
• 인사동 (Insa-dong) — Location

10. 돈암시장 (donamsijang) — (map)

돈암시장 (donamsijang) was established in the 1970s and is only five minutes from 성신여대역 (seongsinyeodaeyeok) or “Sungshin Women’s University Station.” Since the market is located very close to the Sungshin Women’s University, you’ll see many students from there as well as tourists in this area. This place is famous for selling 감자탕 (gamjatang) or “pork back-bone stew” and 족발 (jokbal) or “pig’s trotters cooked with soy sauce and spice.”

Popular Food:

• 감자탕 (gamjatang) — “pork back-bone stew” [Image]
• 족발 (jokbal) — “pig’s trotters cooked with soy sauce and spice” [Image]
• 보쌈 (bossam) — “belly pork that is boiled in spices and thinly sliced” [Image]
• 김밥 (gimbap) — “rice and different ingredients wrapped in dried seaweed” [Image]

Touristic Areas:

• 인사동 (Insa-dong) — Location
• 창덕궁 (Changdeokgung) — Location
• 광화문 (Gwanghwamun) — Location

Korean Phrases to Use in the Market

You’ve also learned about must-have Korean street foods and Seoul market locations. So now, let’s try to learn some useful Korean phrasesyou can use in a market in South Korea. These are basic phrases, so if you want to learn more, feel free to visit KoreanClass101. We have many free lessons on how to order at a restaurant.

• 안녕하세요. (annyeonghaseyo.) — “Hello.”
• 메뉴판 좀 주실래요? (menyupan jom jusillaeyo?) — “Could we have the menu, please?”
• 이거 얼마예요? (igeo eolmayeyo?) — “How much is it?”
• 차가운 물 주세요. (chagaun mul juseyo.) — “Please give me some cold water.”
• 따뜻한 물 주세요. (ttatteuthan mul juseyo.) — “Please give me some warm water.”
• ~ 주세요. (~juseyo) — “Please give me ~.”
• 추천해 주시겠어요? (chucheonhae jusigesseoyo?) — “Do you have any recommendations?”
• 이거 많이 매워요? (igeo mani maewoyo?) — “Is this spicy?”
• 계산할게요. (gyesanseo juseyo.) — “I would like to pay the bill.”
• 안녕히 계세요. (annyeonghi gyeseyo.) — “Goodbye.”
• 감사합니다. (gamsahamnida.) — “Thank you.”

How Can KoreanClass101 Help You with Korean?

We hope you enjoyed reading our Seoul Market Guide and hope you have a great time trying different kinds of traditional Korean food in Seoul.

Do you want to learn more about essential phrases in Korean? KoreanClass101 has many lessons to teach you what to say when you enter a cafeteria or a restaurant in South Korea, so feel free to check out these pages as well:

• Vocabulary list — restaurant
• Vocabulary and phrases for the restaurant
• Ordering at a restaurant — part 1
• Ordering at a restaurant — part 2

Got some questions about grammar or Korean culture? We have a forum page where you can ask a question to Korean natives. We hope you enjoyed reading this article and good luck with your Korean studies! If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below.