외국인 ‘이불 성지’된 광장시장…”카드NO, 현금!” 낯뜨거운 K탈세
1Introduction
2Vocabulary
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 이불 | ibul | blanket, comforter | 겨울에는 따뜻한 이불이 필요해요.In winter, you need a warm blanket. |
| 시장 | sijang | market | 전통 시장에서 쇼핑하는 것을 좋아해요.I like shopping at traditional markets. |
| 관광객 | gwangwanggaek | tourist | 외국인 관광객들이 많이 찾아와요.Many foreign tourists visit here. |
| 현금 | hyeongeum | cash | 현금으로 계산하면 할인해 줘요.They give a discount if you pay in cash. |
| 카드 | kadeu | card | 카드 결제가 편리해요.Card payment is convenient. |
| 가격 | gagyeok | price | 가격을 비교해 보세요.Please compare the prices. |
| 골목 | golmok | alley | 좁은 골목에 작은 가게들이 있어요.There are small shops in the narrow alley. |
| 유명하다 | yumyeonghada | to be famous | 이 음식점은 맛있기로 유명해요.This restaurant is famous for being delicious. |
| 쇼핑 | syoping | shopping | 주말에 친구와 쇼핑을 갔어요.I went shopping with a friend on the weekend. |
| 비교하다 | bigyohada | to compare | 여러 가게의 가격을 비교했어요.I compared prices at several stores. |
| 환전하다 | hwanjeonhada | to exchange money | 달러를 원으로 환전했어요.I exchanged dollars for won. |
| 북적이다 | bukjeogida | to be crowded, bustling | 시장이 사람들로 북적여요.The market is bustling with people. |
3Reading Text
서울 종로구에 있는 광장시장은 오랫동안 김밥과 빈대떡 같은 전통 음식으로 유명했습니다.
Gwangjang Market in Jongno-gu, Seoul, has long been famous for traditional foods like gimbap and bindaetteok.
하지만 최근에는 ‘이불 골목‘이라고 불리는 곳이 외국인 관광객들 사이에서 인기를 끌고 있습니다.
However, recently, the area called “blanket alley” has been gaining popularity among foreign tourists.
평일임에도 불구하고 대만, 싱가포르 등에서 온 수십 명의 관광객들이 이불을 구경하고 있었습니다.
Despite being a weekday, dozens of tourists from Taiwan, Singapore, and other countries were browsing blankets.
많은 관광객들이 스마트폰으로 소셜미디어를 보면서 가격을 비교하거나 가족과 영상통화를 하며 쇼핑했습니다.
Many tourists shopped while comparing prices on social media with their smartphones or video calling their families.
그런데 문제가 하나 있었습니다. 일부 가게에서는 카드로 결제할 때와 현금으로 결제할 때 가격이 달랐습니다.
However, there was one problem. Some stores had different prices depending on whether you paid by card or cash.
한 대만 관광객은 “카드로 결제하면 더 비싸다는 이야기를 듣고 급하게 현금을 환전해 왔어요”라고 말했습니다.
One Taiwanese tourist said, “I heard that paying by card costs more, so I hurriedly exchanged money for cash.”
이렇게 현금과 카드 가격을 다르게 받는 것은 사실 불법입니다.
Actually, charging different prices for cash and card payments is illegal.
그럼에도 불구하고 광장시장의 이불 골목은 여전히 많은 외국인 관광객들이 찾는 쇼핑 명소가 되고 있습니다.
Nevertheless, the blanket alley at Gwangjang Market continues to become a shopping destination that many foreign tourists visit.
4Comprehension Questions
What was Gwangjang Market traditionally famous for before becoming popular for blankets?
Which countries do most of the foreign tourists visiting the blanket alley come from?
How do tourists typically shop for blankets at the market?
What pricing issue did some tourists encounter at the market?
Why did the Taiwanese tourist exchange money for cash before shopping?
5Cultural Notes
Gwangjang Market, established in 1905, is one of Korea’s oldest traditional markets and represents the evolution of Korean commerce from traditional food markets to modern tourist destinations. The phenomenon of different pricing for cash versus card payments reflects ongoing challenges in Korea’s transition to a cashless society, where some traditional merchants still prefer cash transactions to avoid credit card processing fees. This market’s transformation into a bedding shopping destination for international tourists demonstrates how social media and word-of-mouth recommendations can create unexpected tourism trends in Korea.
Original Article