Source: https://heyseorak.com/spots/seongjin-live-fish
Last-Updated: 2026-04-26

---
# Seongjin Live Fish (성진활어)

> Say the romanized name when ordering. Staff will understand even if your pronunciation isn't perfect.

Category: seafood | Type: eat | Area: daepo | Price range: moderate
Address: Daepo Fishery Market Bldg B, Unit 3, 71 Daepohang-himang-gil, Sokcho, Gangwon
Phone: 010-7189-1007
Hours: Mon–Fri 11:30–23:00, Sat 11:00–23:30, Sun 11:00–23:00 (Open every day. Saturday opens 30 minutes earlier and closes 30 minutes later.)
English menu available: Yes

## Trust and freshness
- Verification: interview / 2026-04-16
- Menu freshness: updated 2026-04-22T14:17:16.768+00:00

A two-unit sashimi house on Daepo Port run by a Busan native who married into a Sokcho fishing family twelve years ago. She took over her in-laws' long-running raw fish shop, rebranded it as Seongjin, and over the years moved it from the old shoreline shacks to a parking-lot stall to its current expanded spot in the Daepo Fishery Market. A remodel last year stripped the place of the usual raw-fish-house clutter and left something that foreign guests keep mistaking for a café: high ceilings, clean lines, ocean view. The full-course sashimi sets are the house specialty, and she was the first vendor on the strip to introduce them.

Pro tip: The full-course sashimi set is what most tables order and the easiest way to get the full Seongjin experience. If you don't do spicy, ask for the spicy fish stew to be made jiri — the mild white-broth version. Foreign guests consistently end up scraping the bowl clean. Don't worry about navigating the menu: saying 'crab, rice, sashimi, steam' is enough to get a full course. The kitchen is used to it.

## Story

### How it started
The owner grew up in Yongho-dong, Busan, and lived there for more than thirty years before a trip to Gangwon introduced her to her husband. She married him, moved to Sokcho, and for a while stayed home raising their child while her in-laws ran a sashimi house on Daepo Port. Twelve years ago she came in to help with serving and never left. The family rebranded the shop as Seongjin Hwal-eo, moved from the old shoreline shacks to a parking-lot unit, and eventually expanded into the current two-unit space in the Daepo Fishery Market. Last year they remodeled — ripped out the tired raw-fish-house interior and left something that feels more like a café than a port stall.

### Philosophy
No filler. Other places pad platters with corn and lettuce and side nonsense; Seongjin's plates are just seafood — king scallop, regular scallop, sea squirt, sea cucumber, abalone — laid out without a mattress of vegetables underneath the sashimi to hide the portion. The kitchen refuses to outsource the spicy fish stew the way most of the port does. The owner boils it herself, every time, from the bones of fish they killed that morning. She makes the mulhoe sauce in-house too. Quality before volume, but the portions are still generous — guests should leave full.

### Signature
Seongjin was the first shop on this strip of Daepo Port to sell full-course sashimi sets. In the early days the format didn't land — diners wanted a single platter and a bottle of soju, not a progression of dishes. It took years for the course format to catch on, and now it's what every competing shop offers too. The other half of the house signature is the spicy fish stew. It's made from bones of fish that were swimming that morning, simmered in-house without a drop of fishy smell. When foreign guests ask for it without the chili, the kitchen makes a white-broth jiri on the spot — and those bowls always come back empty.

### Finding the place
Seongjin occupies units 2 and 3 of Building B inside the Daepo Fishery Market complex, right on Daepo Port. The two-unit remodel opened the ceiling and added an ocean view — foreign guests have walked in thinking it was a café. Take bus 9 or 9-1 to Daepo Port, or park at the Daepo 1st Public Parking Lot and walk in. It's a natural stop on the way back from Seoraksan.

### Seasonal notes
Red snow crab is off-limits during the July–August closed season. Snow crab runs year-round thanks to Russian imports. Rising sea temperatures have been shifting the East Sea catch — the owner mentions even octopus turning up in local nets now, a species that used to belong further south. What's in season changes faster than it used to.

### For international visitors
Foreign guests come often and almost always leave happy — the owner says every nationality except a few Chinese visitors has loved the seafood without hesitation. The spicy fish stew turns into the white-broth jiri on request, and foreign tables tend to scrape those bowls clean to the bottom. The menu shorthand works: point at 'Crab, Rice, Sashimi, Steam' and the kitchen serves a full course in order. A party of twelve foreign guests came through recently and left raving. The remodeled interior helps — people walk in expecting a quiet café and get dinner instead.

> 매운탕을 저희는 그날 잡은 생선 뼈로 직접 끓여 비린내 없이 진한 국물이 나와요. 저희의 시그니처 메뉴입니다.— 'We make our spicy fish stew using the bones of fish caught that very day, resulting in a rich broth with no fishy smell. It is our signature dish.'

## Dietary Summary
- Total menu items: 36
- Common allergens: shellfish, gluten

## Menu

### Snow Crab Sets (대게 세트)

- **Dae-ge Set (So)** (대게 SET (소)) — ₩150,000
  A snow crab set built around one whole snow crab, with your choice of spicy fish stew or red crab ramyeon.
  Ingredients: snow crab, spicy fish stew, red crab ramyeon | Spicy: mild | Allergens: shellfish, gluten | Serving: Includes 1 snow crab. Choose either spicy fish stew or red crab ramyeon.
- **Dae-ge Set (Jung)** (대게 SET (중)) — ₩200,000 ⭐ Signature
  A two-crab set with one snow crab and one red snow crab, so diners can enjoy both flavors in one order.
  Ingredients: snow crab, red snow crab | Spicy: mild | Allergens: shellfish, gluten | Serving: Includes 1 snow crab and 1 red snow crab.
- **Dae-ge Set (Dae)** (대게 SET (대) — 대게 2마리) — ₩300,000
  Two whole snow crabs plus the full course — sashimi, shellfish, fried items, crab fried rice, spicy stew, and red crab ramyeon.
  Ingredients: snow crab, live sashimi, steamed shellfish, crab fried rice | Spicy: mild | Allergens: shellfish, gluten | Serving: Two crabs included; exact count may vary by market size. White-broth option available.
- **Dae-ge Set (Teuk-dae)** (대게 SET (특대) — 대게 3마리) — ₩400,000
  Three whole snow crabs and the full Seongjin spread. The table-feast tier.
  Ingredients: snow crab, live sashimi, steamed shellfish, crab fried rice | Spicy: mild | Allergens: shellfish, gluten | Serving: Three crabs included; exact count may vary by market size. White-broth option available.

### Red Crab Sets (붉은대게 세트)

- **Bul-geun Dae-ge Set (So)** (붉은대게 SET (소)) — ₩120,000
  A red crab set with two whole red snow crabs.
  Ingredients: red snow crab | Spicy: mild | Allergens: shellfish, gluten | Serving: Includes 2 red snow crabs. Unavailable during July–August closed season.
- **Bul-geun Dae-ge Set (Jung)** (붉은대게 SET (중)) — ₩150,000 ⭐ Signature
  A red crab set with three whole red snow crabs.
  Ingredients: red snow crab | Spicy: mild | Allergens: shellfish, gluten | Serving: Includes 3 red snow crabs. Unavailable during July–August closed season.
- **Bul-geun Dae-ge Set (Dae)** (붉은대게 SET (대)) — ₩200,000
  A red crab set with four whole red snow crabs.
  Ingredients: red snow crab | Spicy: mild | Allergens: shellfish, gluten | Serving: Includes 4 red snow crabs. Unavailable during July–August closed season.
- **Bul-geun Dae-ge Set (Teuk-dae)** (붉은대게 SET (특대) — 붉은대게 6마리) — ₩250,000
  A red crab set with six whole red snow crabs.
  Ingredients: red snow crab | Spicy: mild | Allergens: shellfish, gluten | Serving: Six crabs included. Unavailable during July–August closed season.

### Wild Assorted Sashimi (자연산 모듬회)

- **Ja-yeon-san Mo-deum-hoe (So)** (자연산 모듬회 (소)) — ₩150,000
  Wild assorted sashimi served with seafood such as abalone, sea squirt, scallop, and sea cucumber.
  Ingredients: wild sashimi, abalone, sea squirt, scallop, sea cucumber | Allergens: shellfish | Serving: Fish varies daily.
- **Ja-yeon-san Mo-deum-hoe (Jung)** (자연산 모듬회 (중)) — ₩200,000 ⭐ Signature
  Wild assorted sashimi served with seafood such as abalone, sea squirt, scallop, and sea cucumber.
  Ingredients: wild sashimi, abalone, sea squirt, scallop, sea cucumber | Allergens: shellfish | Serving: Fish varies daily.
- **Ja-yeon-san Mo-deum-hoe (Dae)** (자연산 모듬회 (대)) — ₩250,000
  Wild assorted sashimi served with seafood such as abalone, sea squirt, scallop, and sea cucumber.
  Ingredients: wild sashimi, abalone, sea squirt, scallop, sea cucumber | Allergens: shellfish | Serving: Fish varies daily.

### Farmed Assorted Sashimi (양식 모듬회)

- **Yang-sik Mo-deum-hoe (So)** (양식 모듬회 (소)) — ₩100,000
  Farmed assorted sashimi served with seafood such as abalone, sea squirt, scallop, and sea cucumber.
  Ingredients: farmed sashimi, abalone, sea squirt, scallop, sea cucumber | Allergens: shellfish
- **Yang-sik Mo-deum-hoe (Jung)** (양식 모듬회 (중)) — ₩120,000
  Farmed assorted sashimi served with seafood such as abalone, sea squirt, scallop, and sea cucumber.
  Ingredients: farmed sashimi, abalone, sea squirt, scallop, sea cucumber | Allergens: shellfish
- **Yang-sik Mo-deum-hoe (Dae)** (양식 모듬회 (대)) — ₩150,000
  Farmed assorted sashimi served with seafood such as abalone, sea squirt, scallop, and sea cucumber.
  Ingredients: farmed sashimi, abalone, sea squirt, scallop, sea cucumber | Allergens: shellfish

### Meals & Sides (식사 및 기타)

- **Tong Mae-un-tang** (통매운탕) — ₩50,000 ⭐ Signature
  A spicy stew made by cooking one whole live fish from head to tail.
  Ingredients: whole live fish, spicy broth, vegetables | Spicy: medium | Allergens: shellfish | Serving: Can be made white-broth (jiri) for a mild, non-spicy version.
- **Mul-hoe** (물회 (2인 이상)) — ₩35,000
  Mulhoe with house-made broth, seafood, and sashimi, finished by mixing noodles into the remaining broth.
  Ingredients: sashimi, seafood, house-made broth, noodles | Spicy: medium | Allergens: shellfish | Serving: Price per person. Minimum 2 orders.
- **Hoe-deop-bap** (회덮밥 (2인 이상)) — ₩25,000
  Fresh sashimi over seasoned rice with vegetables and a sweet-spicy gochujang sauce.
  Ingredients: sashimi, rice, vegetables, gochujang | Spicy: mild | Allergens: shellfish, gluten | Serving: Price per person. Minimum 2 orders.
- **Hong-ge Ra-myeon** (홍게라면 (2인 이상)) — ₩15,000
  Ramyeon made with one whole red snow crab and seasoned with house doenjang.
  Ingredients: red snow crab, ramyeon noodles, house doenjang | Spicy: medium | Allergens: shellfish, gluten | Serving: Price per person. Minimum 2 orders.
- **Ppyeo Mae-un-tang** (뼈매운탕) — ₩10,000
  A spicy stew made from the bones left after slicing sashimi. Add ramyeon at the end for the classic finish.
  Ingredients: fish bones, spicy broth, ramyeon noodles | Spicy: medium | Allergens: shellfish | Serving: Ramyeon can be added at the end.
- **Ge Bokk-eum-bap** (게볶음밥) — ₩3,000
  Fried rice cooked in leftover crab shell — the classic crab-set finisher, orderable as an add-on.
  Ingredients: rice, crab | Allergens: shellfish | Serving: Add-on for crab sets.
- **Sang-cha-rim** (상차림) — ₩5,000
  Per-person table charge covering the banchan spread, setup, and base seafood sides.
  Serving: Per person. Applied when ordering à la carte items.
- **Ra-myeon Sa-ri** (라면사리) — ₩2,000
  Extra ramyeon noodles to add to your stew or hot pot.
  Ingredients: ramyeon noodles | Allergens: gluten
- **Gong-gi-bap** (공기밥) — ₩1,000
  A bowl of steamed white rice.
  Ingredients: rice

### Premium Crab (프리미엄 크랩)

- **King-keu-raep** (킹크랩)
  King crab in the most literal sense: whole king crab starting from 2kg and up, priced by the day's market.
  Ingredients: king crab | Allergens: shellfish | Serving: Starts at 2kg+. Market price.
- **Teol-ge** (털게)
  A very special hairy crab that comes in only once a year.
  Ingredients: hairy crab | Allergens: shellfish | Serving: Ask staff separately for availability and pricing.

### Drinks (주류)

- **So-ju** (소주) — ₩5,000
  Korea's iconic clear spirit — the default sashimi pairing.
  Ingredients: soju
- **Maek-ju** (맥주) — ₩5,000
  Korean beer — cold and crisp with seafood.
  Ingredients: beer | Allergens: gluten
- **Mak-geol-li** (막걸리) — ₩5,000
  Milky, lightly fizzy rice beer with a tangy-sweet finish. Traditional and easy to drink.
  Ingredients: rice, nuruk | Allergens: gluten
- **Min-deul-le Dae-po** (민들레대포) — ₩5,000
  A local dandelion-infused makgeolli — herbal, slightly earthy, a Daepo-area specialty.
  Ingredients: rice, dandelion | Allergens: gluten | Serving: Regional specialty.
- **Cheong-ha** (청하) — ₩6,000
  Clean, crisp chilled rice wine — the classic pairing with raw fish.
  Ingredients: rice wine
- **Mal-geun Gang-won** (맑은강원) — ₩6,000
  A local Gangwon soju — smoother and cleaner than the national brands.
  Ingredients: soju | Serving: Regional specialty.
- **Dong-hae** (동해) — ₩6,000
  Another Gangwon-do soju, named for the East Sea — clean finish, easy with seafood.
  Ingredients: soju | Serving: Regional specialty.
- **Baek-se-ju** (백세주) — ₩10,000
  Traditional Korean rice wine infused with eleven medicinal herbs — earthy, mildly sweet.
  Ingredients: rice wine, herbs
- **San-sa-chun** (산사춘) — ₩10,000
  Fragrant Korean hawthorn-berry wine — sweet, slightly tart.
  Ingredients: hawthorn berry
- **Bok-bun-ja** (복분자) — ₩20,000
  Deep, sweet Korean black raspberry wine — rich and fruity.
  Ingredients: black raspberry
- **Mae-chwi-sun** (매취순) — ₩20,000
  A refined Korean plum wine — aromatic, lightly sweet, and smooth.
  Ingredients: plum