A fun space has opened in Gwangjang Market. Known as ‘365 Iljang,’ it is essentially a grocery shop with a modern green neon sign outside, which may not have been expected of a storefront located in an old marketplace. 365 Iljang can be found in an alley near the jeon(pancake) alley, in the direction of South Gate No. 1. Within less than half a year since the opening, the store has become a must-visit place and photo spot among young customers flocking to Gwangjang Market.
The person behind the 365 Iljang success is Chu Sang-mi, CEO of ‘Park’s Mung Bean Pancake,’ an iconic gourmet restaurant in Gwangjang Market with a long history. 321Platform, a brand launched by Chu with an aim to develop new, positive roles that Gwangjang and traditional markets can play in our society, started 365 Iljang. In a four-story building of 321Platform, the first floor is occupied by 365 Iljang, while the second and third are used as an office and R&D center for 321Platform. Lastly, the fourth floor houses a wine bar called Hidden Hour.
Chu Sang-mi found it regrettable that Gwangjang Market, despite its various attractive points, had been consumed as just a symbolic image. Her childhood memories are almost all connected to the market, and she saw the market’s potential to be turned into a successful brand. She also thought if successful indeed, other traditional markets can follow suit.

365 Iljang presents and sells diverse groceries, wine, traditional alcoholic beverages, stationery, t-shirts, and living items, largely manufactured by domestic local brands. It also ran 365 Kitchen, a small restaurant offering different versions of the foods sold at Gwangjang Market. The place, which was converted into a cafe, had an espresso machine installed at the entrance, allowing visitors to enjoy complimentary coffee whenever they want to take a breather.

If you visit the market in the evening, make sure you check out ‘Hidden Hour’ located on the fourth floor. As the name suggests, the wine bar has secretive spaces at various corners. Cool and simple blackish colors and dozens of rectangular mirrors covering a wall add the element of surprise to the unique wine bar located in the marketplace. Korean-style homemade charcuterie and oven-baked pizza are on the menu if you wish to dine with wine.
Gwangjang market and the surrounding areas give different looks when viewed from the first-floor eye level and from above at the height of the fourth-floor rooftop. Some may wonder if all markets have these relatively high buildings with several stories. It turns out arch-shaped arcades installed in market alleys to enhance the flow of visitors tend to block the view of multi-story buildings that may stand in those areas.