Seoul is a modern, global city with mega malls and supermarkets but we are lucky enough to live around the corner from a “jae rae si jang,” a traditional market.
At Mangwon market, you can buy any of the following and more: fresh seafood, socks, cereal, Korean rice cakes (dduk), many varieties of meat displayed under red lights, dried fruit, vegetables, fruit, side dishes galore. There are also innumerable stands where you can pick up (or eat in) kim bap, cold noodles (neng myun), blood sausage (soondae) and on and on.
The market makes my parents feel nostalgic and if we’re home for lunch or dinner, they enjoy strolling through and deciding what they want to eat.
Our favorite stand and dismayingly irresistible discovery has been a stand that serves up fried pastries made from chap ssal (rice flour). Basically, it’s a stand full of mochi doughnuts.
The ajussi who runs the place has started to recognize us, which isn’t hard when you’re a biracial family and you come by once or twice a day!