Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market 2026 Guide: Seafood, Street Food & Parking Tips

An absolute must-visit for any Sokcho trip!

I visited the Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market

(formerly Sokcho Jungang Market).

I used to think Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market and Sokcho Jungang Market were

two different places, but it turns out they're

the same!

The old name, Sokcho Jungang Market,

feels more familiar to me.

Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market

(formerly Sokcho Jungang Market)

Address

12, Jungang-ro 147beon-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province

Size

Approximately 250 stores

It's an arcade-style market, which is great because you can visit

no matter the weather.

However, during the hot summer months, the indoor temperature

can get quite high.

Parking Location & Discount Tips

Operating Hours

08:00 ~21:00 (Free parking outside these hours)

First 30 minutes: ~$0 - ~$0

After that, approximately ~$0 per 10 minutes

Free Parking Voucher

Upon purchase of ~$7 or more at a market store,

a free parking voucher is provided.

The market has a large public parking lot that can accommodate about 350 cars,

but during peak times, you might have to wait for quite a while.

Operating Hours & Recommended Visiting Times

Popular Food Alley

Generally operates from around 10:00 to 20:00

Underground Seafood Sashimi Center

Generally operates around 10:00 to 21:00

Dried Seafood & Fishery Stores

Gradually open from around 09:00 AM

Popular spots like Manseok Dakgangjeong (Sweet & Spicy Fried Chicken), Makgeolli Sulppang (Rice Wine Steamed Bread), and fried food stalls

that have long queues might close early due to ingredients running out if you go too late.

I stopped by here to try the Chodang Corn Latte,

but they closed early, so

I had to revisit and buy it the next month.

If you want to shop leisurely, it's best to visit between 2 PM and 5 PM,

or arrive no later than 6:30 PM to have enough time to look around.

Parking Lot Location & Parking Discount Tips

There's a large public parking lot across from Gate 5 of the market.

I've visited three times, and I've never managed to park in the public lot (because of the congestion).

Parking Discount Benefits

Upon purchase of ~$7 or more at a market store, you get 30 minutes of

free parking.

You can use up to 2 vouchers.

During weekends and peak seasons, the main public parking lot

entrance road experiences severe traffic jams.

If the line is too long, consider the Sokcho City Hall Parking Lot (a 5-10 minute walk away,

free on weekends and public holidays).

Please note that it is paid on weekdays.

Recommended Signature Foods by Zone

Dakjeon Alley (Chicken Alley), Fried Food, and Bunsik (Snack) Alley

Dakgangjeong (Sweet & Spicy Fried Chicken)

Manseok Dakgangjeong and Jungang Dakgangjeong are famous.

They're crispy and delicious even when cold.

Sundae (Korean Sausage) Varieties

Slightly pan-fried until golden with an egg coating,

Squid Sundae and Abai Sundae

Jeon (Korean Pancakes) & Fried Delights

Buckwheat Crepes (Memil-jeonbyeong), Sorghum Griddlecakes (Susu-bukumi), Snow Crab Meat Fritters, Shrimp Tempura

I actually picked up a few items from Tikak Taegak here as gifts, and everyone absolutely loved them! They make perfect souvenirs.

Snack Delights

Gangwon-do style Makgeolli Steamed Bread, Chewy Seed Hotteok (Sweet Pancakes)

Honeycomb Ice Cream

Underground Fresh Seafood & Sashimi Center

This is a beloved spot, even by locals, where you can grab incredibly fresh sashimi, succulent snow crab and red snow crab, or various seafood sets – all at amazing value! Enjoy them packed to go or right on the spot.

Dried Seafood Alley

Discover neatly packaged East Coast specialties like dried squid, shredded seasoned squid, dried filefish, and shredded dried pollack. They make fantastic, unique gifts!

Prices That Will Pleasantly Surprise You!

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Mellow Trip's Final Take

The Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market (formerly Sokcho Central Market) has varying operating hours for different shops, so it’s always a good idea to check the opening times of the specific places you plan to visit beforehand.

It's a bit smaller than Gangneung Central Market, and the pathways can be narrow. With even a small crowd, it can feel a little tight, so I wouldn't recommend visiting with very young children.

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