Mart Life #1: Saeuggang (shrimp crackers)

Saying that life in Seoul is a whirlwind would be doing an injustice to how fast-paced life can be here. Between work, social and familial commitments, work, personal improvement projects, eating and drinking out, work, and more work, the daily in this sprawling city calls for interspersed safe harbors all throughout the city. These places are called marts perhaps better known as convenience stores, an all-purpose environment to have a quick bite, drink with friends at plastic tables, nap, or simply just hydrate.

Marts are an essential layer of fabric in Korean life. I would guess that the average Seoulite enters a mart at least once a day. There is an incredible selection of cup ramyeon, microwaveable meals, sandwiches, snacks, ice cream, beers, canned coffee, sometimes, if you’re lucky, a display of fried chicken or soft serve ice cream in the summer. The main players are 7/11, GS25, CU (formerly Family Mart), and Mini-Stop.

This series is meant to open up the uber-convenient wonders of the Korean mart to you who may one day find yourself in need of a respite from Seoul’s warp speed ahead lifestyle.

These are saeuggang (pronounced say-oo-gahng...romanization is awful) the most basic yet most essential Korean mart snack. Shaped like burly French fries, these are a textural treat, a very resistant crunch that once cracked pleasantly dissolved in your mouth leaving a sort of briny, shrimpy essence that will linger on your tongue. Ok with a coke but better dispatched alongside a moderately crisp and maybe somewhat crappy lager, a classic case of two wrongs making a right. Also available in extra spicy flavor (black bag). There’s also a yellow bag but I’m not sure what it is, likely low sodium! Anyway, try this most basic but brilliant of Korean mart snacks and don’t be afraid to crack open a beer if there is outside seating: that’s what it’s for after all!