Each city must have one or two markets to offer. So, when you travel to each city, you can't miss the fun of going around the traditional market. Another market is waiting for Chungju. Free market, Muhak market, public market, Chungui market, and Pungmul market are gathered in one place along Chungju stream. The fact that several markets are gathered in one place is one of the biggest characteristics of Chungju traditional markets. It's like a huge market, but five different markets work together to bring you special fun.

Let's go to the free market first. The free market is a market formed on the streets of Bukmun where the North Gate was, when Chungju-eupseong existed. Existing on the 5th day As the city was formed, it established itself as the current free market.

The free market tends to have more shops dealing with clothing, sandals, and fabrics than other places. In the past, there were many shops selling peppers, garlic, and rice, but it moved to the agricultural and fishery wholesale market in Chungju, opened in 1995, making it difficult to see the lively appearance as before.

However, as the arcade was installed and registered as a recognized market in 2005, it is seeking change. The market has been cleaned up and new buildings such as customer support centers have been built.

The Free Market Customer Support Center building has a free cafe and a jjimjilbang. The free cafe was decorated with pictures showing the history of the market and a well-equipped resting area. There is also a DJ booth where you can subscribe and listen to music. Various drinks are also available, but the price is low, ranging from 500 won to 1,500 won. You can enjoy coffee at half price if you bring a receipt issued in the free market.

As you look around the market, you can see a unique building called Freedom Theater. Opened in 2012, it recreates the theater atmosphere of the 1970s and 1980s.

It is a special space in the market where you can watch old movies for free, but it is currently suspended due to management problems. Instead, movies are shown twice a day at the Free Cafe.

If you want to enjoy eating, go to Sundae Dumpling Alley. Located in the alley between Muhak Market and Public Market leading from the free market, Sundae Mandu Alley is a must-see for visitors to Chungju Market.

There are entrances to both Muhak Market and Public Market. The main character of this alley is Sundae and Mandu. Shops selling sundae and dumplings are lined up on either side of the street.

When entering the Sundae Alley, the hand dumplings made by the grandmothers and aunts and the ripening Sundae stimulate the taste, smell, and vision. If you sit down at a favorite store and sit down, it will make food on the fly.

In particular, Sundaeguk in Soondae Alley has a different taste of broth with siraegi. On one side, pour the boiling broth of Siraegi in a pot, and then cut the warm sundae sliced into pieces. Since it is Siraegi broth, it has a lighter and deeper taste.

If the market is not as good as the market, it is often served with plenty of broth and tasted while waiting. The spaciousness, which is hard to find in ordinary restaurants, warms not only the stomach but also the heart.

Some houses share sundae and dumplings, but most specialize in sundae or dumplings. You can also order dumplings at Sundaejip. Usually, there is a dumpling shop next to the sundae shop, so if you talk, the owner's mother will take care of the dumplings.

Delicious hand dumplings are also cheap. Meat dumplings are 5 1,000 won and kimchi dumplings are 7 1,000 won, so if you have a few thousand won, you can eat them abundantly.

Even around the alley, there are many shops selling dumplings, sundae, potato cakes, and snacks, so you can choose from a variety of menus to suit your taste.

Let's fully appreciate the attractiveness of the market at a reasonable price.

The history of Muhak Market, which is always visited by many people, such as Sundae Alley, has been around since 1978. When protests broke out in the process of cracking down on street vendors who had been in the position of the old gardening cooperative in Chung-in-dong, they settled in the current Muhak market by moving shopping malls in Munhwa-dong and Bongbang-dong. The Chungju Public Market leading to the Muhak Market was opened in 1964 in accordance with the government's market policy for small merchants.

The Sundae Alley connected with the Muhak Market is famous, and there have been several restaurants. Many stores sell foods such as vegetables, fish, and chicken.

On the other hand, the small and quiet Chungui Market is a traditional market naturally formed in the place where 5 days of market continued from the free market.

The fruit and vegetable market and the alley alley were formed, and in the 1970s, there was a Chungju court market, so it was a commercial district. However, as the agricultural and fisheries wholesale market opened and the fruits and vegetables stores relocated, commercial districts are not the same now. Stores dealing with souvenir goods, pottery shops, and mills are mainly gathered, so people's feet are not frequent.

Let's meet Chungju Poongmul Market along with Free Market, Muhak Market, Public Market, and Chungui Market. The Pungmul Market along Gyohyeoncheon is open on the 5th, 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, and 30th each month.

Originally, it was a naturally formed 5-day market around Yeseong Park, but moved to its current location in 2001. You can find a variety of products and food.

There is another spot you should not miss while looking around the market in Chungju. It is the Samhwa Forge in Nuri Market, not far from Muhak Market and Free Market. This is a meaningful place with the history of Mayor Chungin-dong. You can feel the past scenery of Chungil-dong scattered by blacksmiths.

The building itself is modern, but the traditional blacksmithing remains when you step inside. Kim Myung-il, designated as the 13th Intangible Cultural Property in Chungbuk, is still making iron tools by hand quenching and hammering.

You can purchase high-quality and solid objects created by the intangible cultural property, and you can also experience forge. The well-established Samhwa Blacksmith owner Nobubu always welcomes guests who come to watch.

Free market
Address: 30 Free Market Road, Chungju City, Chungbuk
Contact: 043-848-3414

Muhak Market
Address: 15, Muhak 1-gil, Chungju-si, Chungbuk
Contact: 043-848-2292

Public market
Address: 4-2, Chungin 8-gil, Chungju-si, Chungbuk
Contact: 043-843-6138

1.Access

* Self-driving

Free Market: Jungbu Inland Expressway Chungju IC → Jungwon-daero → Turn left at the 1st roundabout → Yeseong-ro → Free Market
Muhak Market: Jungbu Inland Expressway Chungju IC → Jungwon-daero → Turn left at Munhwa Intersection → Gukwon-daero → Turn right at Samwon Rotary → Tangeum-daero → Muhak Market
Public market: Jungbu Inland Expressway Chungju IC → Jungwon-daero → Public Market

* public transport

[train] Operated once a day from Seoul Station to Mugunghwa Lake to Chungju, takes 2 hours 33 minutes
[Bus] From Central City Terminal to Chungju 35 times a day (06: 00-23: 00), takes 1 hour 50 minutes

2. Restaurants around

Unjeong Restaurant: Allgang Haejangguk / 3432-1 Jungwon-daero, Chungju-si / 043-847-2820

Boxer Haejangguk: Haejangguk / 249-1 Seongnae-dong, Chungju-si / 043-842-0135

Movie restaurant: Sanchaejeongsik / 282-1 Oncheon-ri, Suanbo-myeon, Chungju-si / 043-846-2530, 043-846-4500

Daejanggun Restaurant: Traditional pheasant course dish / 105 Mireuksonggye-ro, Suanbo-myeon, Chungju-si / 043-846-1757, 043-846-6076

Evergreen Restaurant: Mushroom hotpot / 19, Jujeongsan-ro, Suanbo-myeon, Chungju-si / 043-846-0433

3.Accommodation

Chungju Grand Tourist Hotel: 3496 Jungwon-daero, Chungju-si / 043-848-5554

http://cjgrand.co.kr/

Film 37.2 Hotel: 17 Yeonwon-ro, Chungju-si / 043-842-0515

Hanwha Resort Suanbo: 321-36 Suanbo-ro, Suanbo-myeon, Chungju-si / 043-846-8211

http://www.hanwharesort.co.kr/irsweb/resort3/resort/rs_room.asp?bp_cd=0600

Suanbo Xianglu Hotel: 22, Jujeongsan-ro, Suanbo-myeon, Chungju-si / 043-845-3500

http://www.sangnokhotel.co.kr/

※ The above information was created in December 2013, and may change later, so be sure to check it before you travel.
※ Information, such as text, photos, and videos used in this article, is copyrighted by the Korea Tourism Organization, and unauthorized use of the article is prohibited.