[Enjoy Food] Gwangcheon Cave Salted Shrimps & Dried Seaweed

[Enjoy Food] 

Gwangcheon Cave Salted Shrimps & Dried Seaweed

 The place where I introduced you is Gwangcheon Cave Salted Shrimps Market, Hongseong.

 As you see the name of the market, Gwangcheon is known for Salted Shrimps stored in underground tunnel. Then, What’s the difference between Salted Shrimps of Gwangcheon and ones of other regions?

 Because Salted Shrimps in Gwangcheon are usually ripen in a temperature of 14℃ for 3 months, it has built a strong reputation for its delicacy and perfection. Every year, 70% of Salted Shrimps produced in Korea are brought into underground tunnel in Gwangcheon and ripen, then they’re sold all over the country. In winter when most of Korean people make Kimchi, there is in short supply. Can you imagine the popularity of them? :)

 Where are lots of salted shrimps stored? There are more than 40 caves under a rocky mountain used abandoned mine. They are about 2m high and 200m long. There are hundreds of containers full of Salted Shrimps. It’s difficult to guess a total amount of them!

 What is another special products of Gwangcheon? It is famous for Dried Seaweed. Lots of people in Gwangcheon are proud of it. They say, “If you try it once, you can’t eat it produced another regions.” Since it is in great demand for both Korean and foreigners visiting Korea, you can buy it at the duty free shop!

 Welcome to Gwangcheon Cave Salted Shrimps Market, the place of gourmet :D

[Talk Talk Market] Gwangcheon Cave Salted Shrimps Market

[Talk Talk Market]

Gwangcheon Cave Salted Shrimps Market

 Gwangcheon used to be a anchorage even though it is land now. The anchorage was crowded with lots of ships and merchants who wanted to sell seafoods from their ship. Gwangcheon Market developed in this way.

 Then, how was Cave Salted Shrimps developed?

 In 1950, people living near the anchorage called Ongam used to dig and bury a jar full of Salted Shrimps in the ground. However, the Salted Shrimps spoiled easily in the summer and people had to throw them away. There was a terrible vicious circle that over half of Salted Shrimps they produced were thrown out.

 At that time, Mr. Yun who retired as a miner and sold Salted Shrimps faced with same problem. He recalled the environment where he worked as a miner and carried out challenge that he stored the Salted Shrimps in the abandoned mine.

 The result of his challenge was surprising! He stored Salted Shrimps in June, and they change into higher-quality Salted Shrimps without decaying. So, Mr. Yoon started to dig in abandoned mine with villagers. Fortunately, they dug with their bare hands because the mountain was made up of talcum, soft rocks that have plenty of water. It was the moment that Salted Shrimps that couldn't help throwing away in a wastebasket turned into the Special Salted Shrimps as a representative food in Gwangcheon.

 How about visiting Gwangcheon Cave Salted Shrimps Market and tasting fresh Salted Shrimps that a man’s wisdom made? :-)