A Trip To The Noryangjin Fish Market in Seoul Korea

Today my family and I decided it was time we go and check out the Noryangjin Fish Market. It's an easy ride from Yongsan Post on the subway and a great way to spend the day. Catch line 4 to the Seoul Station. Once you arrive at the Seoul station transfer to line 1, which you can do from the platform that you get off of on the line 4 train. Once you find the line 1 entrance, ensure you are headed towards the Noryangjin Station (Subway Line 1) Once you arrive there is only one exit from the station and you will see a bridge that goes to the right. It's a short walk across and then you are there.

 As you cross the bridge there are vendors who line the stairs and the span of the bridge. They are selling everything from candy, vegetables, and leather goods. Be careful not to wake the ones sleeping. That's the job I need....

 Now you have arrived and can peer down on the 830 plus stalls of fish vendors. Main items include clams, shrimp, abalone, king crabs, snow crabs, blue crabs, octopuses, sea cucumbers, halibuts, salmon, and snappers. The market has been around since 1927 and the vendors stalls are passed down from generation to generation. It's a family business and business is good. It is open all year round.

Operating Hours
High Class Fish Market: 24 Hours General Fish Market: 01:30 – 22:00 Frozen Fish Market: 03:30 – 22:00 Shellfish Market: 01:00 – 22:00

 Cooper and I were on the look out for some Octopus, snails, and fish roe. We found it all quickly, but we were nervous about asking prices, and there are so many like stalls that surely some must be better than others in price and service.

 The day quickly turned into a biology class with both kids asking questions about everything they were seeing. I am glad I had been a commercial diver and spear fisherman because now was the opportunity to teach my kids everything I had learned about the ocean and it's inhabitants.

  Cooper took quickly to the live Octopus. Squealing with delight as they grab his fingers with their slippery and grasping tentacles.                                                                               

I felt like a contestant on Jeopardy in an instant.

Dad....What happens if it bites you? Will you die?.... What do they eat? Where is it's mouth? How do they spray ink? Where is the ink sac? What happens if it's legs get cut off? How big can it get?

Errrrr....I'll take Cephalopod Mollusc for a $1000......

 Claire was pretty much grossed out at the fact that she was "walking in fish pee". Well....the floor was wet, and she was in flip flops..... One word of caution.....ensure you wear a pair of shoes when you go. The floor is very slippery in spots, and after about an hour in flip flops.....well you know what your feet are going to smell like until you get a bath back home.

 The picture above is of cuttle fish. I am not an avid conservationist, but these cuttle fish were still too small to be harvested. They can grow to around 20 lbs and 40cm in length. Selling fish like this is like putting a noose around your own neck and slowly tightening it. It's not sustainable and prevents future generations from having a profitable fishing opportunity. 

 
Stingrays were quite a common sight too. Some with scary faces such as the one above. The kids actually spent quite a bit of time looking at these.

King crab was plentiful and cheap. $10 a pound and fresh...... Fresh seafood has a taste that frozen seafood never has It is sweeter and much easier to remove from the shell. If you are ever eating crab and it is difficult to remove from the shell....well....it was frozen. Same thing for lobster...

 Clawed lobster which are a relative of the Maine lobster too. Cheap!!!!!

                                                 Shrimp were abundant and very cheap too.

 The cat above was on a leash.....can't imagine why.....

We had a great time at the fish market together. If you are looking for a great way to spend the morning or afternoon take the time to visit. It's a catch for sure.