The Korean government has selected Haeundae Traditional Market as part of a nationwide initiative aimed at transforming traditional markets into destinations for international visitors.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization will begin supporting markets chosen for the second phase of the “K-Tourism Market” program.

The initiative seeks to promote traditional markets as tourism attractions while encouraging greater international awareness of Korea’s local food and shopping culture.

Following a nationwide selection process that evaluated factors such as market appeal and global growth potential, 11 markets across 10 regions were chosen.

In addition to Haeundae Traditional Market, the list includes Gyeongdong and Mangwon markets in Seoul, Seomun Market in Daegu, Sinpo International Market in Incheon, Suwon Nammun Market in Gyeonggi Province, Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market in Gangwon Province, Danyang Gugyeong Market in North Chungcheong Province, Jeonju Nambu Market in North Jeolla Province, Andong Old Market in North Gyeongsang Province, and Dongmun Traditional Market in Jeju.

Located near Haeundae Beach, one of Busan’s most popular tourist areas, Haeundae Traditional Market has long been known for its street food offerings, particularly its tteokbokki.

The market was renovated in 2008 and is also situated close to major attractions such as Dongbaekseom Island, Nurimaru APEC House, and Dalmaji Hill.

Under the program, the selected markets will receive tailored support including brand development strategies, overseas marketing campaigns, and new visitor experiences designed to encourage longer stays.

Improvements are also planned in areas such as multilingual information services, pricing transparency, and payment infrastructure.

Fleet Chinhae

USAG Daegu