Posted on 11/09/2018 9:26:51 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
The sun sets on a cool autumn Sunday afternoon but the action is just getting started at one of Seoul's oldest establishments - the Gwangjang Market.
The century-old market began its life as the Joseon dynasty was coming to an end with merchants looking to counteract the increasing influence of their Japanese counterparts. It survived the Japanese colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula from 1910-1945, but part of the market was destroyed in the 1950-1953 Korean War.
What survives today is a bustling market that offers traditional clothes and persimmon-dyed fabrics. Fresh fish, local meats, rice cakes, and huge vats of kimchi are prepared along the covered streets, but the real drawcard these days are the food stalls.
The relatively calm fabric section of the market gives way to a hotbed of steam, thronging crowds, and all manner of traditional street foods. Mungbean pancakes (Bindetteok), spicy rice rolls (Mayak Gimbab), glass noodles (Japchae), pig feet, pig intestines and noodles (sundae), fish gut soups, sashimi and spicy rice cakes (tteokpokki) are just some of the traditional Korean delights on offer.
The rich atmosphere and foods that match are served by hardworking older women (Ajumas). They are the formidable force that keeps business people well fed and topped up with rice wine (Maegeolli) and beer. Often dealing with demanding customers, the women work hard to serve old locals, young students, and foreigners, mostly, with friendly smiles, sometimes through overworked gritted teeth.
Food connection
Mrs Yoon has been working at the market for the last two years, but her stall has been open for more than 20 years. Preparations for the stall start at 4am and run all day until late at night.
She serves chicken feet, bowls of mixed rice with vegetables (Bibimbap), and pork - among other side dishes....
(Excerpt) Read more at aljazeera.com ...
Korean food has a spicy reputation or just the foods at this market?
If the women aren’t spicy, no pictures please.
A lot of it is somewhat spicy but a lot of it isn’t. And it’s a different spicy than Mexican. Much of it is savory, though. Those rice cakes in the red sauce are spicy.
These are mostly middle-aged and older mothers and grandmothers.
Makes me almost want to go back.
All you need is some good Soju to wash it down with.
Any woman that can cook well is beautiful in my eyes. Any woman that can make those spicy rice cakes and glass noodles pretty much has me wrapped around her spatula. ;)
LASSIE!
There’s a place I would NEVER enter——I hate crowds.
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I’ve only spent a few short days in Korea. Is their rice wine (Maegeolli) more like Japanese sake or more like Chinese Baijou?
I Love Soju!!
Drink enough of it and you become a great talker, a great comedian, dancer, fighter and eventually you gain the super powers of being invisible and able to fly!.
Fan of Soju here too.
Similar to clear spirits like vodka, but a lot smoother, although some of that might be attributed to the lower alcohol content, I’m sure.
I do know it can get you “lit” very easily you don’t pay attention to the ease of imbibing.
There is very little crime in Korea.
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