부산 구포시장~ Gupo Sijang, Busan

October 2015. We are here again in Busan for short summer break. Ever since Airasia flying direct to Busan, we came back to visit in laws frequently since it is just 6 hours and 25 mins flight duration from KL to Busan. After landed at Gimhae International Airport, uncle in law picked us up and we stop by Gupo Sijang before head home.

 

Gupo Sijang is a five-days large-scale traditional market, extending from Gupo train station through Deokcheon Junction. Just like the other large-scale traditional market in Korea, the market is divided into wet market section, dry market section and food hall session. You can find almost everything of everyday needs stuff over here. Their food street is one of the famous food street in Busan where we can find different kinds of Southern province cuisine.

Southern province Korean cuisine such as hwei (sashimi), dweji-gukbap (pork stew with rice), Jokbal (pig's trotters), Odeng guksu (fish cake soup with noodles) etc are selling here. There are also some bizarre Korean cuisine that I never heard of such as 소머리국밥 SoMori Gukbap (hard-boiled beef head meat soup and rice), 홍어 Hong-uh (Fermented skate), 과메기 Gwamegi (semi-dried pacific herring) etc. Common street food such as Gimbap, Pajeon, Tteok (sticky rice cake), fried chicken etc can be found too.

However, we encounter some horrifying scene when we accidentally walk into the back street where the country's largest dog meat market is. Same thing happened actually 2 years back when we visited Gupo Sijang for the first time. Dont get me wrong for writing this in my blog. I am not promoting this place. Just to warm you not to be here as you could be horrified by the scene of carcasses of butchered dogs hanging and displaying in front of the shops, and the disturbing smells that coming from the animal or the carcasses. Even uncle in law and husband who are the locals feels uncomfortable too when they see it. I did not know husband took a quick snap of the street while we walk pass in hurry, as I was told by uncle in law we might be in trouble if the shop owners and workers seeing someone taking photos. Sadly, despite numerous efforts from many organizations even the local Koreans submitted their petition to the local authority to ban or shut down the dog meat market over the years, the market still existed  End of our visit at Gupo Sijang after finally walk passed this street and reach the carpark where uncle in law parked his car.