A token for a unique dining experience

Tongin market

Here is a token from Seoul, South Korea. It is used to buy a lunchbox at the Tongin traditional market. Established in 1941, originally for Japanese residents of the area, the market soon attracted traditional Korean street vendors and store owners.

Markets have a long history in Korea, there is documentation of an order for a permanent market in to be established in Gyeongju, the kingdom’s capital, in 490 A.D.

In 2011, the market started a rejuvenation program which saw the introduction of yeopjeon brass coins as means of payment on the market.

Yeopjeon

Yeopjeon is the traditional name for round Korean coins with a square hole – similar to those used in China, Japan and Vietnam, commonly called “Cash” coins. The term has become closely linked to the tokens from the Tongin market, however. Searching on Google, I can mostly only find references to the market when I search for “Yeopjeon”.

Here is an image of the market Yeopjeon next to 1-won (left) and 2-won (top) traditional Korean coins from the Joseon Dynasty. The Dynasty lasted from 1392-1910, although the coins pictured are from the 18th – 19th century.

Brass Coin Lunchbox

The way dining at the market works, is that you exchange 5,000 Won for ten tokens and a lunch tray. This is known as yeopjeon dosirak (brass coin lunchbox). You then go to the various stalls, and you can exchange one or several tokens for a sample of food onto your tray. The lunchbox provides an affordable and tasty way to sample a variety of Korean food options.

(Image of the market from TheSeoulGuide.com)

I’m hungry now! Also, if any of my Korean followers are able to better translate the text on the token, I would be very happy to update the text!