Jagalchi Fish Market

Full transcript

Annyeong, yeoreobun! Yul here, and wow, can you smell that? That's the smell of the sea! Welcome to Jagalchi Market, often called Korea's biggest fish market, right on the edge of Busan's Nampo Port.

So where does the funny name come from? Jagal means gravel, because this spot was once a gravel beach before it became a port. Gravel market! Not very glamorous, but very honest.

Now meet the real stars: the Jagalchi ajumma. After the Korean War, refugees filled Busan, and many women came down to this shore to sell fish on the street to feed their families. With their white rubber boots, loud voices and strong Busan dialect, they became the symbol of the market, and of Busan's never-give-up spirit. Their famous call? Oiso, boiso, saiso! Come, see, buy!

And here's the twist. Look up at the big main building. Its roof is shaped like seagulls spreading their wings. A shiny modern landmark, opened in 2006, for a market that started on gravel and street stalls.

Here's how it works. On the first floor, you pick live fish, crab or shellfish from the tanks. Then you take it upstairs, where a restaurant prepares it for a small fee: raw fish called hoe, grilled shellfish, and a spicy fish soup called maeuntang, made from the bones. Super fresh!

Yul's tip! Ask the price before you buy, and don't be shy. A big smile and a cheerful annyeonghaseyo always help. And in autumn, the market throws the Jagalchi Festival.

Next, Busan's most famous beach, named after a Silla genius. Kaja!