Gukje Market
국제시장
Store hours and weekly closures vary, so use the published market hours as guidance rather than assuming every shop is open.
Language
Place information
- Korean name
- 국제시장
- Address
- 32 Junggu-ro, Jung-gu, Busan
- Nearest station
- Jagalchi Station (자갈치역, Busan Metro Line 1) (Exit 7) · 7-min walk
- Opening hours
- 09:00–20:00 varies by shop
- Closed
- Every Sun
- Admission
- No entry fee — you pay each vendor
History
Gukje Market was once called Dottaegi Market. In Busan dialect, saying a place is ‘like Dottaegi Market’ means it is loud and bustling. The market formed after the Korean War, as goods including US military supplies flowed into Busan, then the wartime refugee capital.
Together with Bupyeong Kkangtong Market, Jagalchi Market and Bosu-dong Book Street, it forms a large shopping area. The success of the film Ode to My Father brought the market a second period of growth.
What to see
Skybridges
Skybridges connect the market buildings, and the numbers marked on them help visitors find their location. Facing shops and the overhead arcade frame the bridges.
Kkotbunine
Kkotbunine is a shop featured in the film Ode to My Father.
Piles of toys and goods
Toys, princess bags and ugly dolls are piled high. Browsing the stacks may turn up something that catches the eye.
Alley food stalls
Stalls in the market alleys serve Chungmu gimbap, bibim dangmyeon, fish cakes, tteokbokki, fried snacks and sundae. Eating standing up or squeezed round a stall is part of the alley scene.
Skybridges selected
Nearby
Frequently asked questions
What is sold there?
Clothing, household goods, accessories and food, spread across many lanes that each specialise. Navigate by product rather than by street.
Can I combine it with Jagalchi Market?
Yes — they are about five minutes apart. Gukje for shopping, Jagalchi for eating, and Jagalchi opens at 05:00 if you want the market before the shops.
What is there to do after it closes?
Bupyeong Kkangtong's night market opens at 19:30 a few minutes away, and Busan Tower takes its last admission at 21:30.
Stories about this place
- Five Places to Visit in Nampo-dong, Busan: Jagalchi, Gukje Market, BIFF Square, Yongdusan Park and Bupyeong Night Market
Five stops within a fifteen-minute walk, set out by what each is for, whether it opens on a Sunday and what it costs. Their hours run straight through the day, from a fish market before dawn to a night market at midnight, so the question is the order rather than the choice.
