When I ask foreigners where they have visited in Seoul
I feel a little sorry, after I hear the name of some place.
“I’m sorry I should have told you not to go.”
I will introduce a few such places, so if this place is on your travel list,
I hope you will boldly cross it off.
1. Noryangjin Fish Market
As Korea is compared to Japan, you may be thinking of Japan’s fish market.
But Korea’s Noryangjin Fish Market is a place that even local Koreans must come to their senses to visit. Because, you can get a “black eye” there. (get black eye ; 눈탱이 맞다 : Korean expression for being ripped off)
One of the representative tricks is “scale cheating”(저울치기; jeoul chigi)
The term “Jeoul Chigi” refers to a method of weighing seafood on a scale without all the water drained, so that the actual weight is greater. You can get 500g or even 1kg more, but if you buy king crab, you can imagine how big a difference 500g makes (at least 50usd rip-off).
This kind of “Jeoul Chigi” has been covered a lot in Korean news and YouTube, and as a result, trust in the Noryangjin Fish Market has long fallen to the ground.
Just be patient and go eat in your country. It’s not worth it.
If you absolutely have to go to Noryangjin Fish Market to eat there, or if you have no choice but to go,
be sure to check out the following.
- Check whether the vendor measures the water in the seafood basket.
- Check whether the vendor has his/her hand on the scale
- Check if there are cable ties on the electronic scale pole.
2. Dongdaemun Market
“Dongdaemun Market” has already lost popularity for millions of years.
(It was only about 20 years ago that there were some things worth buying.)
Why do you want to go there? There are clothes only made in China (99% are made in China clothes, nothing special), and they are not cheap. The quality is really bad.
In my opinion, there is no advantage at all.
Just go to DDP, take a commemorative photo, and quietly move on to another course.
The only thing worth seeing in Dongdaemun is the nighttime counterfeit market, which seems to be okay, but in fact, it is astounding to see illegal activities running so proudly.
3. Jjimjilbang(Sauna)
I know that many people think of saunas as the reason Koreans have good skin next to cosmetics.
But, is that really true?
The reason Koreans have good skin is because of genetic factors.
Rather, if you stay in a sauna for a long time, all the moisture in your skin disappears, which is a major cause of skin wrinkles and aging.
Jjimjilbang has long since disappeared from popularity in Korea, still local Koreans go to saunas.
However, they only go near where they live. Never go downtown.
The biggest reason is that sanitary conditions are poor. Moreover, people from all over the world are flocking there, After Corona, I sometimes have anxious thoughts.
4. Premium Outlet
This is also one of those places that I really can’t understand.
When it comes to outlets, people usually visit department stores with the expectation that they will sell products at low prices.
However, in Korean outlets, outlet-specific products are made separately.
So, it is not that cheap and the quality is not that good. If you want to buy something you like, there are no sizes available.
Rather go to the discount section of the department store.
However, many Koreans go to premium outlets during weekend outings in the countryside, so please use your own judgment.
