Gwangju Seo-gu Yangdong Traditional Market Selected as Representative Traditional Market by Korea Tourism Organization

Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City (Mayor Kim Ikang) announced on the 30th that Yangdong Traditional Market has been selected as the ‘2023 Representative Traditional Market’ by the Korea Tourism Organization.

The Korea Tourism Organization selects ‘Representative Traditional Markets’ nationwide with high commercialization potential to attract foreign tourists and revitalize the local economy, providing various support such as promotional marketing.

Yangdong Traditional Market [Photo by Seogu]

With this selection, Yangdong Traditional Market will receive differentiated promotional support from the Korea Tourism Organization, including overseas promotional marketing, traditional market visit product promotions and commercialization, as well as consulting to improve the readiness for foreign tourists and active customer marketing.

Yangdong Traditional Market, the largest market in Honam with a 100-year tradition, received favorable evaluations for its excellent linked tourist attractions such as the Gwangju representative gourmet tourism festival Yangdong Tongmaek Festival, the National Asia Culture Center, and Kia Champions Field, as well as efforts to revitalize the traditional market.

Kim Ikang, Mayor of Seo-gu, said, “To increase sales and revitalize traditional markets, we will focus on strengthening internal and external competitiveness as a premium traditional market representing Gwangju, beyond attracting local customers.”

He added, “Taking the selection of Yangdong Traditional Market as the representative market of the Gwangju area as an opportunity, we will do our best to make Yangdong Traditional Market an essential element of Gwangju tourism, including holding the Yangdong Tongmaek Festival in April.”

Meanwhile, Seo-gu has been promoting the Yangdong Traditional Market Commercial Area Revitalization Project with a budget of 8 billion KRW since 2019 and the Yangdong Dried Fish Market Cultural Tourism Market Development Project with a budget of 800 million KRW since last year to revitalize traditional markets.

In connection with this, Seo-gu is focusing on creating commercial areas with food, entertainment, and attractions to revitalize traditional markets and the local economy.

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Shin Dongho baekok@asiae.co.kr