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While Noryangjin Fish Market is often regarded as Seoul's representative seafood market, the largest seafood market in the city is Garak Market in Songpa-gu, boasting over 40 years of history. As king crab and seafood reach their peak season in October, why not experience the vibrant atmosphere of Garak Market? Buy fresh crab, take it to a nearby restaurant for immediate cooking, and add a plate of assorted sashimi to savor the finest seasonal flavors. Then, stroll through the cosmos flower fields at Olympic Park, a 144-hectare park in Songpa-gu, enjoy a leisurely cup of tea, and fully immerse yourself in the autumn ambiance.

A Treasure Trove of Seafood for Seoul Citizens

Upon arriving at the market, instead of heading straight to the wholesale area, it is worth exploring Garak Mall first, which opened in 2016. Comprising five buildings, Garak Mall is a large agricultural and marine products complex that caters to both professional suppliers and general consumers. It houses a 24-hour supermarket, livestock sections, a seafood market, a produce market, and kitchenware stores.

Garak Mall’s strengths lie in its transparent pricing and clean environment. Even just browsing allows visitors to experience the market’s distinctive energy and the excitement of bargaining. The shop owners here are confident in their products.

The seafood market on the first floor is the liveliest section, with about 100 shops displaying the freshest catches of the day. Shop owners and staff enthusiastically greet customers and negotiate prices. When you visit, take the opportunity to chat with them. It is a great way to learn about seasonal seafood. One shop owner, noticing the editor was a foreigner, enthusiastically introduced various autumn specialties and shared, “For seafood you absolutely must eat in autumn, I recommend flower crabs caught in Korean waters. Russian king crab is popular year-round.”

King crab has firm, succulent meat, while flower crab is sweet and delicate. Prices vary, but as of October, king crab costs approximately 80,000 KRW per kilogram (about USD 58). A single king crab typically weighs around 2 to 4 kilograms. Some shops classify king crab into Grade A and Grade B, pricing them accordingly.

Flower crabs are much more affordable than king crab; I bought four for 29,000 KRW (about USD 21). However, seafood prices fluctuate daily, so it is best to browse several shops and compare before buying.

If you purchase crabs here, you can take them to the restaurants upstairs to have them cooked in various ways such as steaming, braising, or frying. If flower crabs are not your preference, visit <Yonggi Susan> to enjoy Korean-style seasonal sashimi.

Garak Mall

 55-2 Jungdaero, Songpa-gu, Seoul

Large Mart 24 hours, General Stores 08:00–20:00, Restaurants 11:00–23:00
 Subway Lines 3/8, Garak Market Station, Exit 2, 147 m

Tips for Enjoying Seasonal Seafood

Located inside Garak Market, Yonggi susan is famous for its sashimi. Many Koreans line up to take sashimi home, and the kitchen preparing the fish is always bustling. The variety and prices of the assorted sashimi are clearly displayed, categorized into large, medium, and small portions, allowing customers to choose the right amount based on their group size.

Must-try autumn sashimi includes flounder, yellowtail, and mackerel. For groups of four or fewer, the small mixed sashimi set priced at approximately 75,000 KRW (about USD 54) is sufficient. The process is convenient: customers order and pay at the shop, and the restaurant staff load the seafood onto a cart and escort them to the third-floor dining area.

Cooking fees are charged separately. Steaming costs 7,000 KRW per kilogram (about USD 5), and grilling costs 10,000 KRW per kilogram (about USD 7). When purchasing sashimi, the shop also provides the fish heads and bones for making spicy stew. The cooking fee for spicy stew starts at 10,000 KRW (about USD 7) for two people.

Each shop sells not only raw fish and crab but also shrimp, squid, and shellfish. Browsing the seafood section allows you to experience an even wider variety of marine products. Note that weekends and holidays during meal times can be crowded, so it is best to avoid peak hours to minimize waiting.

The upper floor of Garak Mall features several rest areas offering views of the Garak Wholesale Market. Established in 1955, this massive wholesale market operates nearly 24 hours a day as the fruit and vegetable hub for southeastern Seoul. With different auction times for fruits, vegetables, meats, and fish, you can experience a lively and dynamic atmosphere.

Yonggi Susan

 1F, Unit C-28, Sales Building, Garak Mall, 932 Yangjae-daero, Songpa-gu, Seoul

Daily 09:00–23:30
 Subway Lines 3/8, Garak Market Station, Exit 1, 30 m

A Sea of Yellow Cosmos Only Enjoyable in Autumn

Autumn is the best season for a stroll through Olympic Park in Songpa-gu. Within this vast park, there is one spot you absolutely must visit: Wildflower Terrace, one of the Eight Scenic Views of Olympic Park. At the top of this hill stands a traditional pavilion, beside which lies a vibrant cosmos garden. On the opposite side, a pink muhly grass field turns from green to a soft pink, adding to the beauty of the season. These two spots paint the quintessential autumn hues that can only be seen in Korea. Centered around the hill with the hanok pavilion, layers of orange cosmos bloom, creating a spectacular scene.

Centered around the hill with the hanok pavilion, layers of orange cosmos bloom, creating a spectacular scene.

Another highlight is the Rose Garden. Inspired by the myths of the Olympian Twelve Gods, this garden features twelve distinct zones. More than 18,500 roses of 165 varieties are planted here, filling the air with an intoxicating fragrance. An art installation shaped like the Korean flag also stands within the garden, drawing visitors who come to experience the romance of the roses.

Olympic Park Wildflower Meadow

 424 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul

05:00–22:00
 Subway Lines 5/9, Olympic Park Station, Exit 3, 805 m

A Nostalgic Evening Date

There is a perfect place to end the day’s journey. Near Olympic Park, there is a small and cozy LP bar called Romantic LP Bar. Here, you can sip whiskey, request songs from the owner, and enjoy a nostalgic evening listening to your favorite tunes with other guests.

The owner, who owns hundreds of LPs, previously worked at a food company. Driven by his passion for LPs and wine, he left his job earlier this year to open the bar. He runs the place alone, mixing cocktails, serving customers, and changing LPs himself. His truffle fries are exceptional, and the space is filled with a collection of whiskeys from around the world.

Guests write their song requests on slips of paper and hand them to the owner. He mixes these with other requests and plays them in order, creating a music request service that brings back a sense of nostalgia and romance.

End your day in Songpa on this perfect note, connecting Garak Market and Olympic Park, right here where the warm analog sound of LPs blends with the aroma of whiskey.

Romantic LP Bar

 46 Olympic-ro 32-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 1st Floor

Tue–Sun 6:30 PM–1:00 AM, Mon 6:30 PM–12:00 AM, Closed Tue and Wed
 Subway Line 9, Songpanaru Station, Exit 2, 344 m