On March 28, the last weekend of the month, Gangneung in Gangwon Province drew spring day-trippers despite the chilly air, and its traditional markets were buzzing.
Around noon, the food alleys at Gangneung Central and Seongnam markets were packed with visitors who’d arrived from across the country on the KTX Gangneung and Donghae lines. The narrow lanes were so crowded it was hard to move.
People clutched the market’s signature dakgangjeong (sweet, sticky fried chicken) as they weaved through stalls hunting for hotteok (sweet-filled pancakes), ongshimi (potato dumplings), and ojingeo sundae (squid stuffed with seasoned fillings). A hand-cut fries stand that blew up on social media drew a long, attention-grabbing line.
Choi, 43, who came from Seoul, said, “There’s such a variety of food and the market vibe is great. I’m really satisfied and want to come back.”
The nearby restaurant strip saw similar scenes. Lines stretching tens of meters formed in front of local favorites serving jjamppong sundubu (spicy seafood soft-tofu stew) and jangkalguksu (spicy knife-cut noodle soup). Popular spots like Ojukheon, Jumunjin Fish Market, and Hyangho Beach—known to many as “BTS Beach”—were also crowded with tourists.
As day-trippers increased, major highways experienced slowdowns. As of 12:30 p.m., traffic was moving slowly on the Seoul–Yangyang Expressway toward Yangyang between Gangil IC and Hwado IC, and on sections of the Yeongdong Expressway toward Gangneung between Seochang IC, Maseong IC, and parts of Yeoju IC.
