Here’s my personal review, just so you know it’s not a sponsored post!
I might be a bit blunt with some of my expressions, but bear with me. 😉
To be honest, I didn’t know about Jesco Tourist Mart at first. I discovered it by chance while on my way to grab some woorak (rockfish) sweet-and-sour fish at Eutteumi. On the way back, I decided to stop by, and I was pleasantly surprised! For a souvenir shop in Jeju, it’s quite spacious, with reasonable prices.
(And by the way, the food at Eutteumi was great – just a little tip for you!)
Compared to Seogwipo Olle Market, this place had a greater variety of items. If you’re near the airport, I’d suggest you stop here instead of the more expensive souvenir shops around there.
There’s even a Starbucks inside – quite the find! However, the entrance from the parking lot can be a bit confusing. You’ll want to go in next to where Paris Baguette is. I made the mistake of heading toward the Starbucks entrance and ended up taking a bit of a detour. 😅
If you’re traveling with kids or happen to be a fan of Studio Ghibli, this spot has a charming atmosphere that’s sure to create some fun memories. There’s a cute little Story Village next to the shop called Songdang Fairy Tale Village. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to check it out this time, but it’s on my list for next time!
The shop is open year-round, from 9 AM to 8 PM, and I imagine it might look lovely in the evening as well.
I also wondered if it’s connected somehow to the Seong-eup Isidol Ranch nearby. For those interested, there’s a separate meat market in a different building.
“Would you like a gift from Jeju?” (I think this is a phrase from the local dialect.)
I wanted to snap a photo of the entrance, but a gentleman stood there for quite a while, so I had to give up.
Location:
Jesco Tourist Mart
1191 Bijarim-ro, Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, Korea
Jesco Tourist Mart operates with the same hours as Story Village, from 9 AM to 8 PM.
Souvenirs and Goods
Let’s take a look at some of what they offer! I couldn’t capture everything in the photos, but it’s quite a large shop, around half the size of a large supermarket. They’ve got food, fruits, souvenirs for kids, and all sorts of Jeju memorabilia. I’ve visited some of the other popular spots around Jeju, like the souvenir shops near the airport, Seogwipo’s Olle Market, and Dongmun Market, and personally, I found Jesco Tourist Mart better priced than the airport shops.
They have a wide selection of keychains, mugs, shoes, notepads, necklaces, and so many things kids might love.
The seafood corner stood out. They even offer shipping services, so if you buy something, they can send it to your home.
In terms of snacks, you’ll find Udo chocolate, tangerine chocolate, Hallabong-flavored treats, and more. The citrus section had some freshly picked green tangerines, which were sweet and a bit tangy.
For dairy lovers, there’s milk ice cream and yogurt from Isidol Ranch. Although pricey, they’re definitely worth a try! There was even vin chaud, French mulled wine, reimagined with Jeju’s Cheonhaehyang citrus.
They also had a section of Jeju Hallasan soju – I tried it and loved it! If only they sold Hallasan soju in Seoul. There was a wide variety of alcoholic beverages, along with Jeju’s specialties like shiitake mushrooms and bracken.
In addition to jewelry, there was an overwhelming variety of chocolate, one of the most popular buys for tourists in Jeju. I, too, joined the crowd and bought a few packs. Almost everyone leaves with a bag full of chocolate!
More Impressions
It truly felt like a full-blown mart with so many items to choose from. I even found the Suntory Kakubin whiskey I had been searching for the previous night.
The shop also offers a range of air fresheners and a lot of chocolates at the entrance. Walking through, you might find yourself having a bit of a decision-making dilemma!
The place feels like a bustling marketplace, offering everything from dairy products like yogurt and milk from Seong-eup Isidol Ranch to small, delicious treats like tteokbokki and roasted eggs. I tried one of the yogurts, and although I had to run to the bathroom a few times that night, it was refreshing!
There’s free parking, and they have electric vehicle charging stations as well. These are fairly new, so they might not appear on maps yet. Overall, there’s a lot to see and buy, although nothing extraordinarily unique stood out. But the spacious layout and affordability compared to airport souvenir shops make it worth a visit.
Just remember, they close at 8 PM. Since it’s located inland, it gets quite dark at night, which can feel a bit eerie. Also, there’s the lovely Story Village theme area right next door. I’d suggest budgeting 3-4 hours if you plan to explore both spots fully!
