Busan's Yeongdo Island offers delight for palate with taste of sea
by Han Jun-guPosted : March 30, 2026, 16:39Updated : March 30, 2026, 16:41
Street-food stalls are set up along the pier on Yeongdo Island in the southern port city of Busan on March 28, 2026. AJP Han Jun-gu
BUSAN, March 30 (AJP) - Yeongdo, a small coastal island in the southern port city of Busan, South Korea, has long been known for its bountiful seafood. As dusk falls and fishing boats return, street-food tents light up one by one, a daily ritual unchanged for generations that reflects the island's life deeply rooted in the sea.
Yeongdo Bridge is seen in the southern port city of Busan, in this photo taken on March 28, 2026. AJP Han Jun-gu
Getting off at Nampo Station leads visitors to the island by crossing the city's iconic Yeongdo Bridge, which glows golden at night and connects Busan's mainland to the small town. Near the waterfront, fishing boats sit moored in the harbor as street-food tents and stalls begin to open for the evening.
Yeongdo Island in the southern port city of Busan bustles with visitors on March 28, 2026. AJP Han Jun-gu
A vendor prepares food on Yeongdo Island in the southern port city of Busan on March 28, 2026. AJP Han Jun-gu
Once dusk settled, colorful plastic chairs lined the waterfront and grills fired up. Jogaetang, a clam soup, is often served first, a steaming pot filled with scallops, clams, and leeks in a milky, briny broth, the shells opening slowly as it bubbles away.
A steaming pot of soup is served at a stall on Yeongdo Island in the southern port city of Busan on March 28, 2026. AJP Han Jun-gu
Next up is grilled hagfish, coated in a sweet and savory sauce and topped with sesame seeds. Its chewy but tender texture goes perfectly with beer.
Food is served at a stall on Yeongdo Island in the southern port city of Busan on March 28, 2026. AJP Han Jun-gu
For the adventurous, raw octopus is a must-try. Sliced and served with cucumber, green chili, sesame oil, and sesame seeds, the still-lively pieces cling to the chopsticks. Its texture is firm and slippery, with a clean, briny flavor that tastes of the sea.
Food is served at a stall on Yeongdo Island in the southern port city of Busan on March 28, 2026. AJP Han Jun-gu
Yeongdo Island in the southern port city of Busan bustles with visitors on March 28, 2026. AJP Han Jun-gu
Tables are set with a variety of side dishes, often refilled without even being asked.
These tents have long been a hangout where locals gather after work, as well as a spot for visitors who want to soak in the town's atmosphere.
Boats are docked on Yeongdo Island in the southern port city of Busan on March 28, 2026. AJP Han Jun-gu
