Originally named Soe-Jung (West Street), this area in central Busan began as a residential neighborhood for Japanese after international trade opened in 1876 and during the Japanese occupation until 1945. Things changed significantly after 1953. Post the Korean War, refugees fled North Korean Communists to Busan and converted the network of alleys into one of Korea’s largest markets. The word Gukje means international. It has continued to flourish into a covered maze of stalls, vendors and bargain-conscious shoppers. The ambiance is crowded but exciting to explore.
