Written and Photographed by: Cho Min-gyeong, 6th Batch of GoBoogi Creators

Busan’s charm goes far beyond its beaches and vibrant cityscape. I also discovered a different side of Busan while walking through the alleys of an old market, exchanging greetings with local vendors, and cooking with ingredients I had picked out myself. The “Good for You Tour” lets you experience Gupo’s history, food, and people all in one tour. Ready to discover what makes this tour so special?

A Local Busan Tour Starting at Gupo Station

To start things off, the guide hands each participant a parasol and a bottle of cold water. Each person also receives a KRW 5,000 Onnuri Gift Certificate to buy snacks at Gupo Market. These thoughtful touches showed how carefully the tour had been planned with both the hot weather and market shopping in mind.

Stories from the Past Along Gupo Manse Street

After leaving Gupo Station, the group heads toward the market along Gupo Manse Street. Along the street are sculptures and signs commemorating the 1919 Gupo Market Independence Movement.

Even on the short walk from the train station to the market, Gupo’s past and present come together naturally. Unlike sightseeing tours that travel by bus from one famous attraction to another, this tour lets you experience the neighborhood’s character and learn about its local history up close.

Step into a Market That’s Part of Everyday Life

As you enter Gupo Market, you pass rows of shops filled with colorful fruits and vegetables, seafood, tteok (rice cakes), eomuk (fish cakes), and banchan (side dishes). The market tour takes about an hour.
Along the way, the guide explains the ingredients on sale and introduces participants to Korean market culture. It was especially memorable to see international visitors asking plenty of questions about unfamiliar fish and dishes.
Even when they did not share a common language, the vendors responded warmly with gestures and friendly expressions. It made me realize that Gupo Market is more than simply a place to shop—it is a lively part of the community where people connect with one another.

Shopping at the Market with Onnuri Gift Certificates

Participants can use the Onnuri Gift Certificates they receive to choose whatever snacks they would like to try. They can take the snacks back to their accommodations or enjoy them during the trip.
The guide purchases the ingredients for the tteokbokki cooking class separately and brings them to the venue.

Make Your Own Oil Tteokbokki and Bibim Guksu

After finishing their shopping at the market, participants head to the shared kitchen at Gupo Youth Center Gamdong. The Korean cooking class takes place in a clean, spacious kitchen equipped with large countertops and cooking utensils.
The dishes we made were oil tteokbokki and bibim guksu. We stir-fried tteok and green onions, then added seasoning to make spicy oil tteokbokki. We also made bibim guksu by mixing boiled noodles with vegetables and a seasoned sauce. Because participants handle the ingredients and cook the dishes themselves, the class offers a deeper understanding of how Korean food is prepared than simply tasting it.

Coming Together Over a Meal

Once the dishes were ready, we gathered around the table and enjoyed them together. As the market experience naturally flowed into cooking and sharing a meal, participants who had only just met quickly became more comfortable with one another.
One family from Poland said they found Koreans very kind and felt so safe in Korea that they could even leave their phones on a restaurant table unattended. Seeing Busan and Korea through the eyes of international travelers offered a fresh perspective on places and experiences that might otherwise feel familiar.

A Mother-of-Pearl Keychain to Remember the Trip

After the meal, we moved on to making personalized keychains with our names in Hangeul using traditional mother-of-pearl. We attached small pieces of mother-of-pearl to a black background to form our Hangeul names and decorative patterns. The handmade keychains became one-of-a-kind souvenirs of our trip to Busan.
Participants who complete the survey and submit a review can also receive a locally brewed craft beer featuring Busan-inspired imagery.

The Good for You Tour goes far beyond simply exploring Gupo Market. Participants walk through the neighborhood while learning about its history, shop at the market using Onnuri Gift Certificates, cook Korean food, and even try their hand at traditional mother-of-pearl craftwork. It was an experience that showed how everyday life in Busan can become something truly special for travelers.

Q&A

Q1. What activities are included in the “Good for You Tour,” a unique local tour in Busan?
A1. The tour offers a range of local experiences, including a visit to Gupo Manse Street, a tour of Gupo Market, a Korean cooking class, and a mother-of-pearl keychain-making activity.

Q2. How can I book the “Good for You Tour”?
A2. You can make a reservation through the Green Trip website, Google Forms, BAND, or Smart Store. After booking, you will receive a text message confirming your reservation and providing payment instructions. A text message with final meeting details is sent 1–2 days before departure. For reservations and inquiries, call 051-701-5006.