Where can I park when visiting Tongyeong Jungang Traditional Market, and are there any discounts?

Tongyeong Jungang Traditional Market has a separate public parking lot. While you can also park near the market entrance, using the public parking lot is more convenient. You can receive discount coupons when you use the market.

If I visit Tongyeong Jungang Traditional Market late on a Sunday, will many shops be open?

According to the article, many places were closed when visited late on a Sunday. However, there were some shops open here and there, and you could find places selling fresh seafood.

How much does it cost to package 4 fish (flatfish, rockfish, mullet, gizzard shad) at Tongyeong Jungang Traditional Market?

The article mentioned that 4 fish (flatfish, rockfish, mullet, gizzard shad) were packaged for ~$21. An additional ~$1 was added for chojang (spicy dipping sauce) and soy sauce, making the total cost ~$22.

Is there a place selling kkulppang (honey bread) near Tongyeong Jungang Traditional Market?

There is a handmade kkulppang shop called "Meongge House" (Sea Squirt House) directly to the right of the traditional market. They generously offered samples, and the staff were very kind.

Tongyeong Central Market: Fresh Seafood & Ggulppang Review

Tongyeong Central Market: Fresh Seafood & Ggulppang Review | TRVLOGUE

Arriving in Tongyeong on a Sunday afternoon, my first mission after dinner was to explore the vibrant Tongyeong Central Traditional Market. I was on the hunt for some fresh sashimi to take back for a late-night snack or appetizer. Knowing it was a Sunday and already getting late, I expected many stalls to be closed, but I was hopeful I'd still find some lively spots, so off to the market we went!

📍 Tongyeong Central Traditional Market
233 Jungang-dong, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea

Since it was evening, I parked my car near the market entrance. Later, I discovered that the Tongyeong Central Traditional Market actually has its own dedicated public parking lot! If you're driving, just search for it on your GPS. Plus, if you use the market, you often get a discount coupon for parking, which is a nice bonus.

Stepping into the market, my initial guess was right – many stalls had already closed for the day.

But thankfully, there were still plenty of open shops bustling with activity.

As I wandered through the market, the open stalls were brimming with incredibly fresh seafood. I learned that it's currently prime season for Grey Mullet (Bori-sung-eo), a local favorite.

I even spotted lively Mackerel from Yokji Island, swimming vigorously in their tanks.

And, of course, the Spring Flounder (Bom-dodari) was plentiful, often used in the popular seasonal dish, Spring Flounder Mugwort Soup.

Beyond fish, there was an abundance of fresh shellfish and other aquatic delights. If I hadn't already had dinner, I would have been tempted to buy a little bit of everything right then and there!

As I explored, I snapped photos of various stalls. You'll notice many 'Chojangjip' restaurants here, which are fantastic for fresh sashimi. The concept is simple: you buy your fresh fish from a market stall, then take it to a Chojangjip. For a small 'setting fee' of around ~$3 per person, they'll provide the sauces, side dishes, and a comfortable spot to enjoy your meal. Most restaurants within the market operate this way. While there's a setting fee for sashimi, you won't pay it for other general dishes.

About halfway through, I found a special section dedicated to live seafood. There were also several stalls selling various types of jeotgal, or fermented seafood, a staple in Korean cuisine.

Even with many places closed, the open stalls offered so much to see and capture in photos.

Check out this incredible basket of fish: Flounder, Rockfish, Grey Mullet, and even a hidden Gizzard Shad behind the Mullet! As I mentioned, Grey Mullet is in season, and these were truly massive specimens. Now for a fun little quiz: How much do you think this entire basket cost? I was genuinely shocked when I heard the price! I ended up taking it all to go. (I'll reveal the answer at the very end of this post, so keep reading!)

The skilled vendor swiftly prepared the sashimi with expert hands, a true master at work.

#HighlightChallenge #TongyeongTravel #TongyeongCentralMarketm.blog.naver.com

Just to the right of the traditional market entrance, I stumbled upon Munggae House, a delightful artisanal Ggulppang (honey bread) shop.

They were having a tasting party, and the staff selling the Ggulppang were incredibly friendly and welcoming.

Even with many kids asking questions and eagerly trying samples, the staff generously offered plenty of Ggulppang without hesitation.

Their kindness towards the children truly left an impression, and I wanted to share my appreciation in this post.

The Ggulppang is neatly packaged and sold, making it a perfect souvenir or snack.

Between Munggae House Ggulppang and the main entrance of Tongyeong Central Traditional Market, there was this interesting sculpture. It looked like a great photo spot, so I had to capture it! Turns out, there's a cool photo opportunity right at the market's doorstep.

There's a cool photo opportunity right at the market's doorstep.

So, about that basket of four fresh fish I took home...

The price was....

an unbelievable ~$21!

And the cost for the dipping sauces (gochujang and soy sauce) was just ~$1.

That brings the grand total to a mere ~$22 for a feast of fresh sashimi!

On my last day in Tongyeong, I actually returned to the same seafood stall for another meal. We enjoyed refreshing Mulhoe (spicy cold raw fish soup), Hoe-deopbap (sashimi rice bowl), Spring Flounder Mugwort Soup, another generous basket of sashimi, and even some complimentary spicy fish stew! I'll be sure to share that experience in a separate post soon.

The sashimi vendor also recommended another Ggulppang shop on my last day, which turned out to be absolutely phenomenal – I'll dedicate a separate review to that one too!

Just so you know, everything I've shared in this post was personally funded.

I'm also excited to share my travel stories from the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival and more of my Tongyeong adventures soon.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful evening!