Ulsan’s Traditional Market Buzz: How to Save Up to 30% on Your Lunar New Year Shopping!

This is 20,000 KRW (about 15 USD), that’s 30,000 KRW (about 22.50 USD)!

As the Lunar New Year (February 17) approaches, traditional markets and large supermarkets in Ulsan are buzzing with festive energy.

On February 10, a week before the holiday, Taehwa Market in Jung-gu, Ulsan, was packed to the brim with early-bird shoppers.

The air was electric with merchants’ enthusiastic calls and shoppers haggling over prices. Long lines snaked around butcher shops, fish markets, and produce stalls, as people filled their carts and bags with holiday essentials.

One abalone shop was particularly swamped. The owner’s voice rang out, “Eight abalones for 20,000 KRW (about 15 USD), or ten smaller ones for the same price!” as he tossed extra shellfish into customers’ bags.

Lee Yang-chun, 77, shopping for her sons’ upcoming visit, beamed, “Eight abalones for 20,000 KRW (about 15 USD) is already a steal, but the extra ones? That’s the cherry on top! I can’t wait to whip up some abalone dishes for the family.”

Near Taehwa Market, the line for the Onnuri gift certificate refund event stretched from the second floor, down to the street. Staff scrambled to keep the queue orderly, while curious onlookers wondered what the fuss was about.

Yoo, 50, who came for veggies, explained, “I rushed here as soon as I heard about the refund event. With the cost of the ritual table, every bit helps!”

This citywide event, spanning 16 traditional markets in Ulsan, offers up to 30% back in Onnuri gift certificates for domestic produce and proteins, maxing out at 20,000 KRW (about 15 USD) per category.

Meanwhile, Ulsan’s supermarkets and department stores were equally packed with gift-set hunters. At 10 a.m., Hanaro Mart in Jinjang-dong lured shoppers with promises of “amazing perks with gift set purchases.”

Customers meticulously compared fruit sets, some even cracking open boxes with staff to inspect the goods.

Jeong Kyung-hee, 52, eyeing some juicy pears, shared, “I’m after the big, luscious ones for our ritual table.”

Others wavered between displays. Choi Young-hyun, 48, shopping for employee gifts, mused, “I’m aiming for the 30,000 KRW (about 22.50 USD) sweet spot. It’s all about getting the most bang for your buck.”

The unanimous verdict from shoppers? Convenience is king. Moon Ok-kyung, 65, summed it up: “With all the discounts, supermarkets are giving traditional markets a run for their money. Plus, you can’t beat the carts for heavy lifting and easy parking!”