The First In-Person 'Gwangju World Kimchi Festival' Since COVID-19 Successfully Concludes

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The '29th Gwangju World Kimchi Festival,' held face-to-face for the first time since COVID-19, concluded successfully.

According to Gwangju Metropolitan City on the 24th, this year's festival was held under the theme "Blending Gwangju Kimchi Food and Culture" from the 20th to the 23rd at the Gwangju Kimchi Town area.

About 60,000 visitors participated, and despite the high inflation, the kimchi direct sales market, which sold napa cabbage kimchi and other varieties at affordable prices, sold out all prepared quantities, achieving sales of 500 million KRW (55 tons).

This year’s Gwangju World Kimchi Festival received positive responses from visitors with events such as the 'Kimchi Dinner Show,' which broke away from the traditional protocol-focused opening ceremony, the 'Gemin Kimchi Table,' where visitors enjoyed guided festival explanations along with tasting kimchi dishes, and the expanded 'Kimchi Rest Area' for visitor relaxation.

Additionally, the Kimchi & Cooking Experience Center was organized to allow visitors to experience and taste kimchi-making and related foods, increasing visitor satisfaction.

Meanwhile, following the Kimchi Festival, the 'Bitgoeul Love Sharing Kimjang Competition' will be held at Gwangju Kimchi Town from November 22 to December 11.

Since its inception in 2014, the Kimjang Competition has been an event where participants can easily and conveniently make kimchi using reliable ingredients at prices lower than market rates. It provides kimchi materials made through joint purchases of the kimjang communal recipe developed by the World Institute of Kimchi, Shinan solar salt, Hampyeong chili powder, and Yeosu anchovy fish sauce.

Park Jeonghwan, Director of the City’s Economic Startup Office, said, "We express our gratitude to the visitors who came to the 29th Gwangju World Kimchi Festival venue held under the clear autumn weather and to all the officials who worked hard to hold the festival." He added, "Next year’s 30th Gwangju World Kimchi Festival will prepare various programs unique to the kimchi festival by discovering resources and manpower related to kimchi."