By Honorary Reporter Wendy Palomo from the Philippines
Photos and Videos = Wendy Palomo 

I've always been fascinated with the weekly Market Day at our apartment complex in Seoul. Most apartment complexes in the capital have such a day once a week that attracts residents of the area. I'm one of them and love the convenience this arrangement brings.

I live at World Cup Park Apartments, which has 12 buildings. Market vendors are grouped by day and complex. For example, Monday might be Market Day for a given complex. A group of vendors is allowed to sell products such as fruit, seafood, vegetables, beans and root crops, snacks and cooked dishes. Sometimes trucks selling books, clothing, kitchen utensils, upholstery, plants and bicycle repair services are seen; occasionally a vendor selling all types of interior lighting appears.

My apartment building has Market Day on Mondays. It’s the start of the week and the perfect time to stock up on fruit and food. I've warmed up to the fruit vendors, who always make me feel welcome. Aside from their fresh fruit, their smiles come in abundance. If I don't buy from them for a week, they ask how my week was or if I went somewhere. Amazingly, after seeing my parents this summer, one lady remembered them from two years ago when they last visited. That was comforting and gave me a sense of community.

The fish vendors clean and cut the fish I buy per my request. No matter the season, the seafood remains fresh, even in the peak of summer. These days, I bring a container to minimize the use of plastic bags; it's a practical and eco-friendly arrangement that I hope other residents follow.

The snack area selling tteok (rice cakes), cheese sticks, sundae (pork intestine sausage) and other traditional snacks are popular especially among students, who flock to the area after school. On cool afternoons, the smoke coming from the big stoves warm everyone that stays to savor their delicacies. It's a crowded and noisy area but filled with a youthful vibe and laughter.

Whether in winter, spring, summer or fall, Market Day is a constant presence that ajumma (married or marriage-aged Korean woman), like myself, can always rely on. When the winter chill gets too harsh, the vendors use thick vinyl covering to protect themselves all day long. When spring unfolds and the cold subsides, the covers go down and eventually disappear to give way to open spaces, especially when the summer heat arrives.

How great to live in an environment that caters to resident convenience. When my grocery load is too heavy, it gets delivered right to my doorstep. When I struggle with the Korean language, I get help and understanding. So when the dusk falls, I go home with a sense of security and community.



chaey0726@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.