Night markets and cruises to Japan: The people guarding the night

The EBS1 program "Extreme Jobs" will broadcast on October 24, following the daily lives of workers at the Bupyeong Kkangtong Night Market in Busan and on a 26,000-ton cruise ship bound for Japan. The episode highlights diverse roles, from merchants selling food for 7,500 won or less to the 100 crew members managing the cruise ship.

Every evening, mobile stalls enter the alleys of the Bupyeong Kkangtong Night Market in Jung-gu, Busan, to begin another day of business. Opened in 2013 as the first permanent night market in South Korea, the market prohibits overlapping menus and sells all food for 7,500 won or less. EBS1 will follow the daily lives of people moving between the night market and cruises in the program "Extreme Jobs," broadcasting on October 24.

Bupyeong Kkangtong Night Market, where stalls arrive every evening

Bupyeong Kkangtong Market is a traditional market in Jung-gu, Busan, located adjacent to Gukje Market. Having opened in 2013 as the country's first permanent night market, the mobile stalls that gather in the public parking lot every evening at 7:20 PM line up and move into the alleys. This scene of stalls settling into their positions marks the official start of the night market's day. Operations last for approximately four hours, from 7:30 PM to 11:20 PM.

The market sells various foods, such as vegetable pork belly rolls, cream shrimp, and chicken skewers. To ensure menus do not overlap between stalls, the operating principle dictates that each stall offers different items, and all food prices are set at 7,500 won or less. EBS reported that customers from all over the country and international visitors come to taste the food at the night market. Under an operating system that limits business hours, prices, and menus, each stall presents unique dishes. As the night deepens, the market transforms into a site welcoming customers, while merchants continue to sell their prepared food within the designated business hours.

Chinese food stall preparing broth and sauces since lunchtime

Kim Jae-geun, a proprietor selling Chinese cuisine at the night market, begins preparations with his wife around lunchtime. The process starts with boiling jjamppong broth and stir-frying jajang sauce. Popular menu items at the night market stall include chili shrimp and cream shrimp, which are dishes typically found in Chinese restaurants, prepared for easy consumption at the night market. To serve customers, Kim makes the broth and sauces himself every day. Although the sales period is short, preparations continue from around midday.

EBS reported that Kim has lost more than 10kg while managing both his regular shop and the night market stall. His daily preparation of broth and sauces is intended to provide better tasting food to customers. At stalls selling items that require cooking, such as chili shrimp and cream shrimp, the preparation of ingredients and the cooking of orders proceed simultaneously. After finishing the preparations that began at lunchtime, Kim and his wife head out for the evening night market business.

Preparations continuing inside a cruise bound for Japan

The cruise ship preparing to welcome passengers in Busan is 26,000 tons, equivalent to a 15-story building in height. The ship is equipped with amenities including restaurants, performance halls, movie theaters, swimming pools, and saunas. Passengers can sleep and eat on board, enjoy nightly performances, and visit various ports of call. EBS introduced these cruise itineraries and facilities, reporting that more than 100 crew members move tirelessly 24 hours a day to ensure passengers can travel comfortably.

In the kitchen, hundreds of servings of food are prepared for passengers and crew. The kitchen is constantly busy with the continuous process of prepping and cooking ingredients. Cabin stewards begin cleaning rooms after passengers disembark. Each steward is responsible for 15 to 20 cabins. In addition to making beds and cleaning bathrooms, they replenish amenities and replace used bedding and towels. Approximately four hours are allotted for cabin cleaning, and the work proceeds busily to complete various tasks before passengers use the rooms again.

From cabins and kitchens to decks and performance teams

Cruise ship duties extend beyond the kitchen and cabin cleaning. The deck department is responsible for 24-hour navigation to ensure passenger safety. Performance teams provide entertainment for passengers, while various other departments and staff members continue their respective duties. While passengers eat, rest in their cabins, or watch performances, the work responsible for navigation and safety continues. The scenes captured by EBS include food preparation, cabin cleaning and bedding replacement, safe navigation, and performance preparations.

The night market and the cruise ship meet the night in different ways. At Bupyeong Kkangtong Night Market, stalls move at 7:20 PM and sell food for about four hours. On the cruise, the kitchen, cabins, deck, and performance teams move according to the passengers' schedules. The broadcast visits the night market in Busan and the cruise bound for Japan to introduce the daily lives of those in charge of business, navigation, and service at each site.

The EBS1 "Extreme Jobs" episode featuring the Busan night market and the cruise bound for Japan will be broadcast on Saturday, October 24, at 9:05 PM. The program will cover the stalls and food preparation at Bupyeong Kkangtong Night Market, as well as the kitchen, cabin maintenance, navigation, and performance scenes on the cruise bound for Japan.

Read the original (Korean)