Haeundae Traditional Market — Attraction in Busan

Haeundae Traditional Market is located near Haeundae Beach in Busan and is a popular spot for both locals and tourists to experience authentic Korean street food and shop for local products. The market has a long history and provides a bustling, lively atmosphere with a wide variety of goods on offer.

Here are some things to know before going:

The market is well-known for its street food. You can find a wide selection of Korean snacks and dishes, such as tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), hoddeok (sweet pancakes), gimbap (seaweed rice rolls), and fresh seafood. Many vendors prepare food right in front of you, so it’s a great place to try freshly made dishes.

In addition to food, the market sells various goods like clothing, accessories, and household items, but the main draw is usually the food stalls and fresh seafood markets.

Haeundae Market is located close to Haeundae Beach, making it a convenient stop either before or after your time at the beach. It’s also near the subway station, making it easy to access.

Prices at the market are generally reasonable, and it’s common for people to sample a variety of small dishes from different stalls while walking around.

The market can get crowded, especially during peak tourist seasons or weekends, so it’s best to visit during off-peak hours if you want a more relaxed experience.

Most vendors only accept cash, so it’s a good idea to have Korean won on hand. ATMs are available nearby if you need to withdraw cash.

Even though some vendors might not speak English, many of the food items are displayed, and you can often point to what you want to order. Some stalls may have basic English signs.

The market is open year-round and typically operates from the morning until late evening, although individual vendor hours may vary.

Haeundae Traditional Market offers a chance to experience local Busan culture and cuisine in a casual, friendly setting, making it a must-visit spot for...

Located just a short walk from our stay in Haeundae, this night market was a lively spot filled with both tourists and locals. The best way to find great food here is to follow the local queues — that’s where the real gems are.

Stalls line both sides of the street, with small snacks near the entrance, seafood stalls in the middle, and more snacks toward the end. One seafood pancake shop in particular had a long line every night. We made a special trip back the next evening just to try it. They only serve one type of pancake, freshly pan-fried by elderly staff. Though the service is minimal — no small talk or eye contact — the steady stream of locals speaks for itself.

At the far end, there’s a popular Korean street food shop where you can either dine in or take away. Again, long lines, but worth trying.

The market itself isn’t very big and not the cleanest, but as a tourist, it’s definitely worth a stroll after dinner for a taste of local flavor and...

Too traditional for me. Barbaric place. Beyond gross. Several fish places were skinning live eels. They prodded a skewer between the eel eyes, and then peeled the live eels. The still live (skinned) eels were wriggling and writhing all over the tables. Really sickening as I walked down the market three stalls were doing the same thing. All the sea creatures piled into tiny tanks which were fully overloaded. Prawns, lobsters, crabs, molluscs, flatfish, eels, etc. They were slowing dying from being jam packed and crushed to death. Just like Seoul markets. Just like Vietnam, China etc. Fortunately, I did not see live dogs and other animals being boiled alive like I did in China. Dogs barking and crying as they were repeatedly submerged into boiling pots of water. But this country is the same. Not seen the cages of furry animals being killed to order. The blood pouring down the alleys like throughout China, but the tanks of seacreatures...