Jagalchi Market

Fish pulled from the sea before dawn end up on the stalls the very same day — this is Jagalchi Market.

The name 'Jagalchi' is said to come from the pebbles ('jagal') that once covered this stretch of shoreline. The area was already a seafood trading hub under Japanese colonial rule, and after Korea's 1945 liberation, refugees and merchants flocked here, turning it into the full-scale market that is now Korea's best-known seafood market.

The current building dates to 2006. The classic way to experience it: pick out your fish or seafood on the ground floor, then head upstairs where a restaurant will slice it fresh and serve it as sashimi. Climb to the rooftop skywalk for a view over the harbor and toward Yeongdo Bridge.

The vendors' loud calls to passing customers and the fish flopping in every stall give Jagalchi some of the rawest, most authentic energy in Busan.

Honestly, though, haggling isn't always intuitive for visitors, and prices can get confusing — some stalls charge separately for side dishes or dipping sauce once your fish is sliced, so it's worth checking the total before you order.

Stalls near the building's main entrance tend to be more used to dealing with tourists than the alleys deeper inside, so if it's your first visit, start there.

Most stalls open around 7am and close around 9-10pm, and it's about a 5-minute walk from Jagalchi Station (Line 1), Exit 10.