Hoecnic: taking raw fish to the Han River in autumn
“Hoecnic,” buying packed raw fish in places such as Noryangjin and eating it on a picnic mat in a Han River park, has emerged as an autumn outing in Seoul. People share not just where to buy the fish but where to sit and what to bring.
The riverside instead of a restaurant
On October 3, a DongA Ilbo reporter found picnickers at Yeouido Hangang Park eating raw fish bought in Noryangjin. Hoecnic combines hoe, Korean raw fish, with picnic, turning the riverside into the dining table. A September 30 Hankyung Business report also described trips from Noryangjin to Yeouido or Nodeul Island.
Sharing a route
Incross’s October 7 analysis noted that choosing, packing and carrying the fish has become part of the experience. As people share pickup spots, routes and side dishes, a menu recommendation becomes an outing itinerary.
Before going
Seoul’s official address for Yeouido Hangang Park is 330 Yeouidong-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu. Prices, contents and pickup times vary by seller.
A mat and a bag for taking rubbish home are needed, and sellers can advise on transport and storage.
AI-generated image of friends sharing hoe by the Han River, not a photograph of a real scene.
A plate of Korean olive-flounder hoe photographed in Seoul on February 17, 2015. Archive image, not a Noryangjin takeaway product or hoe-picnic scene.
The lead image is AI-generated and staged, not a photograph of a real scene.