YouTuber 'Tteokbokqueen' Visits Gyeongdong Market to Buy Sundae and Dumplings
Expresses Satisfaction with Generous Portions... Also Praises the Taste
Shows a Contrasting Scene Compared to Gwangjang Market's 'Menu Switching' Practice
Recently, as posts exposing being overcharged at markets have been continuously appearing, news that Kyungdong Market is maintaining reasonable prices even in the era of high inflation, unlike other markets, has become a hot topic.
Assorted Sundae purchased by YouTuber 'Tteokbokqueen' during a visit to Gyeongdong Market. [Photo by YouTube 'Tteokbokqueen']
On the 26th, YouTuber 'Tteokbok Queen' uploaded a video titled "Same Price as Gwangjang Market, But a Different Level of Quantity." As of the 27th, the video had recorded 500,000 views. In the video, the YouTuber visits a snack shop in Kyungdong Market and shows purchasing a large amount of sundae (Korean blood sausage) for just 10,000 won. The snack shop was selling sundae at 4,000 won per kilogram. When the YouTuber told the owner, who was making sundae on the spot, "I want to buy sundae and innards," the merchant packed 6,000 won worth of sundae (1.5 kg), 4,000 won worth of osorigamtu (pork stomach cap), 1,000 won worth of lungs, and 1,000 won worth of liver. Remarkably, the liver and lungs, larger than a palm, were sold for only 1,000 won each. At the same shop, the YouTuber also purchased half a pig’s head meat for 12,000 won. As the merchant spent a long time slicing the head meat, the YouTuber marveled, "There is really a lot of quantity."
Next, the YouTuber headed to a handmade fried dumpling shop. The shop was selling 30 fried dumplings for 10,000 won and even offered the YouTuber a tasting. There, the YouTuber bought 20 mini gimbap (4,500 won) and then took away glutinous rice donuts priced at 200 won each from another store.
While arranging the packed food in the studio, the YouTuber said, "As I was organizing, I started to doubt if what I bought was really at this price. It felt like I had gone back to prices from 10 years ago." She added, "Of course, since I didn’t eat at the store but took it to go, the portions might be larger, but it feels good." To check the quantity, the YouTuber spread out the sundae, lungs, osorigamtu, and head meat, but there was so much that she couldn’t fit it all on a plate and had to place some on a wooden cutting board. The YouTuber expressed satisfaction, saying, "After buying and eating like this, I wonder if I will be able to buy sundae with such satisfaction when I go out in the future."
After tasting the purchased food, the YouTuber said, "(The sundae) tastes like the glutinous rice sundae we commonly know, but the chewiness and density of the glass noodles stick nicely in the mouth. Since it was freshly made sundae, there was no off-flavor at all and it was fresh." She added, "The lungs were also chewy. The head meat and innards had no unpleasant smell and everything was very delicious."
Netizens who watched the video responded positively with comments such as, "It has everything?conscientiousness and good taste," "That place truly feels like a traditional market," and "I felt that market prices have been too expensive lately, but I definitely want to visit Kyungdong Market once."
Gwangjang Market Compared to Kyungdong Market... Facing Backlash Over Menu Switching Controversy
A merchant swapping the menu for a YouTuber visiting Gwangjang Market. [Photo by YouTube 'Tteokbokqueen']
The situation at Kyungdong Market contrasts sharply with that of Gwangjang Market, which has recently been embroiled in a menu switching controversy. Gwangjang Market suffered from overcharging scandals and, most recently, faced backlash for confusing consumers by providing explanations that caused menu misunderstandings, selling relatively expensive menu items under misleading circumstances.
Before visiting Kyungdong Market, Tteokbok Queen went to Gwangjang Market and ordered 8,000 won worth of sundae from a merchant, who replied, "I will mix it as an assortment." However, at payment, the YouTuber was charged 10,000 won for the assorted sundae. Some shops even refused card payments, accepting only cash. The YouTuber criticized, "Who would understand 'I will mix it as an assortment' to mean that they will give a 10,000 won assorted sundae? Naturally, one would understand it as mixing innards at the same price."
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