Seoul Fish Market – Eat Live Octopus

The Seoul fish market is one of the most memorable things in the city, especially if you haven’t been to other large-scale fish markets like the one in Busan or Tokyo. At Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market you can peruse seafood still swimming in tanks, pick out whatever looks good or interesting, and take it to one of the many on-sight restaurants to prepare it for eating. It’s well known for excellent, fresh, raw seafood and the infamous live octopus eating experience. Bizarre Foods even filmed here in 2008.

How to Get There

The Seoul fish market is on the westside, just south of the Han River. Take Line 1 to Noryangin station, take exit 1 and walk under the bridge.

Inside the Market

The first floor of the Seoul fish market has vendors and an auction area; the 2nd floor has vendors and restaurants. Peruse around the first floor and ogle at the strange creatures, then head upstairs to eat some live octopus and other fresh seafood.

*Note: don’t be rude. It is not acceptable to touch the seafood without asking and without buying. The vendors might seem a little pushy, but they’re just trying to sell their goods. But don’t worry much about being ripped off, seafood prices are updated on the market website for reference. Like most places in Korea, they’re usually very kind to tourists.

Once you pick out your fresh market catch, someone will lead you to the associated restaurant. If you want to watch them chop up and prepare your food, do it. They’ll know which fish are meant for sashimi, and if they ask you something you don’t understand, just nod and agree, because they’ll know what to do!

Live Octopus

A staple of the Seoul fish market is the live octopus eating. If you want to try the squirming, live octopus, head to the 2nd floor to the octopus stalls. Sometimes vendors can set up an impromptu table with chopsticks and dipping sauce after the octopus is purchased or they’ll lead you to the attached restaurant where they’ll chop up the octopus, throw it on a plate and give you some garlic and sauces. Then you just pop the squirming octopus legs in your mouth.

Be aware, you’ll feel it squirming in your mouth, but it isn’t still alive. They have to be chopped up because it is actually dangerous to try to eat a whole octopus because their legs will suction cup and suffocate you. But the restaurants won’t serve it in a way that’s dangerous.

I know if sounds insane, but try it, maybe after a few shots of Soju, like I did, at 3am.

Beside the actual seafood, at the top of the escalator you’ll find Knife Vendors that sell incredibly sharp sashimi knives that are great souvenirs.

Be sure to take some fish home with you!