Hadong Hwage Jangteo | Market Guide | K-Travel Mate

Hwage Jangteo, famous as the setting of Kim Dong-ri's novel 'Yeokma,' is located at the border between Yeongnam and Honam regions. It was a hub for distributing seafood and salt from the southern coast, fertile grains from the Honam plains, mountain vegetables and woodenware from the Jirisan mountain area, through the developed waterways of Hadong port. From the mid-Joseon Dynasty to before liberation, it prospered as one of the nation's notable markets. However, with the development of transportation and distribution systems, it declined, disappearing its old appearance. Hwage Jangteo was a traditional market held at the confluence of the Hwage Stream, originating from Jirisan, and the Seomjin River, where a five-day market thrived. Recently, it operates as a permanent market without a separate five-day market. To meet the expectations of visitors drawn by Cho Young-nam's song 'Hwage Jangteo' and restore its traditional atmosphere, a project investing 1.6 billion won on about 2,540 pyeong was undertaken to build traditional market buildings and a green tea specialty mall with convenience facilities. It opened on April 5, 2001, with the 9th Hwage Jangteo Cherry Blossom Festival, operating as a permanent market.