"Try Guryongpo Gwamegi and Geomeundol Jang-eo" Pohang Specialties Arrive in Yeouido

Gyeongbuk Pohang City announced that it held the "2023 Taste Pohang! Pohang Guryongpo Gwamegi & Yeongilman Black Rock Eel Media Promotion Event" at 11 a.m. on the 20th at the Kensington Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul, to promote the excellence of Guryongpo Gwamegi and Black Rock Eel, which are considered "Pohang delicacies."

Pohang City in Gyeongbuk announced the launch of Pohang Guryongpo Gwamegi while promoting the excellence of black rock eel at the "2023 Taste Pohang! Pohang Guryongpo Gwamegi & Yeongilman Black Rock Eel Media Promotion Event," held at 11 a.m. on the 20th at the Kensington Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul. Attendees enjoying the tasting event at the venue. Photo by Gyeongbuk Maeil Newspaper

At this event, Chef Park Chan-il gave a detailed explanation about Guryongpo Gwamegi and Black Rock Eel, which are representative seafood products of Pohang, showcased various dishes using them, and held a tasting event. In particular, Chef Park developed Korea's first Gwamegi Green Onion Kimchi and Rock Eel Stew while preparing for this event. Chef Park said, "In the Yeongnam region, green onion kimchi was often made with Yeongnam coastal-style seasoning containing mackerel pike or Megari-jeot (salted horse mackerel or juvenile mackerel). Inspired by this, I combined pre-processed gwamegi with green onion kimchi, resulting in Gwamegi Green Onion Kimchi with excellent taste, aroma, and texture."

Chef Park also said, "Yeongilman Black Rock Eel is a type of sea eel, specifically a conger eel, but unlike eels from other regions, it has a blackish color and very chewy meat texture. Rock eels are usually grilled or eaten in soup, but this eel stew started from the Pohang eel soup style that inspired me, and by adding Italian cooking methods and tomato sauce, I slowly simmered it to complete the rock eel stew."

Pohang City has made various efforts to break away from the stereotype that gwamegi was only a winter East Coast delicacy or drinking snack. In 2018, through the event "Gwamegi, on the Dining Table," it showcased unique table settings; in 2019, it introduced various gwamegi dishes for all seasons with "Gwamegi, Becoming a Star Snack." Then in 2021, it held "Giving Wings to Gwamegi Lunchboxes," and last year, the event "7 Million Campers! Captivated by the Winter Taste of Gwamegi," continuously promoting the true value of Guryongpo Gwamegi every year.

Guryongpo Gwamegi / Provided by Gyeongbuk Maeil Shinmun

Lee Kang-deok, Mayor of Pohang City, said, "Recently, due to consumers' concerns about seafood safety, seafood consumption has shrunk, causing difficulties in the local economy. I sincerely hope that through this event, consumption of the region's representative seafood products, Guryongpo Gwamegi and Black Rock Eel, will increase, and that the excellence of Pohang seafood will be recognized nationwide."