"Jangdokdae for Sale, Come to Make Jang"

Sunchang-gun, Famous for Gochujang, to Host 'Jang Making Day' Next Month
'Urban Residents Jangdokdae Allocation' Project Underway

An unusual traditional jang-making event will be held in Sunchang-gun, Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province, famous for its deep flavor and beautiful color of 'Gochujang' (red chili paste), where traditional sauces such as gochujang, doenjang (soybean paste), and ganjang (soy sauce) are made together with skilled artisans.

The Jangdaggeuneun Day event and the urban resident Jangdokdae distribution project conducted by Sunchang-gun, Jeonbuk, and the Sunchang Fermentation Tourism Foundation.
[Photo by Sunchang-gun]

The Sunchang Fermentation Tourism Foundation announced on the 12th that it held a tourism briefing session to attract tourists to Sunchang.

Sunchang-gun and the Sunchang Fermentation Tourism Foundation are preparing various events this year to attract tourists. Following the 'Sunchang Taste Festa' in January and 'Sunchang Daldal Nori' in February, from April 13th, the '2024 Sunchang Jang Making Day' experience event will be held at the Sunchang Traditional Gochujang Folk Village.

At the 'Jang Making Day' event, traditional jang-making artisans will participate with attendees to experience making various sauces such as gochujang, doenjang, and ganjang, sharing the taste and charm of our traditional jang. This event is especially notable for its unique project called 'Urban Residents Jangdokdae Leasing,' aimed at people living in cities.

In particular, events such as mini meju (fermented soybean blocks) making and jangdok (fermentation crock) decorating are expected to attract participants' interest. The jangdok decorating event includes various activities such as making your own geumjul (a traditional protective string) and writing messages on paper shaped like beoseon (traditional Korean socks).

The Sunchang Fermentation Tourism Foundation is also running the 'Urban Residents Jangdokdae Leasing' project in connection with the '2024 Sunchang Jang Making Day' event. Jangdokdae leasing is a program where urban residents make jang directly with traditional jang artisans and receive the matured jang, aged in the artisan's jangdokdae, delivered to their homes. Applications have been accepted since the 8th and will continue until the 31st of this month.

In order to attract tourists to Sunchang, the Sunchang Fermentation Tourism Foundation plans various events throughout the year in addition to the traditional jang-making event.

In May, on Children's Day, May 5th, puppet shows and family experience programs for children will be prepared around the Sunchang Fermentation Theme Park, and in June, to welcome the pleasant walking season, the '2024 Gangcheonsan Barefoot Walking Event' will be held around Gangcheonsan County Park.

Participants visiting the Sunchang Jangryu Festival are making dishes using gochujang.
[Photo by Sunchang Fermentation Tourism Foundation]

Also, in August, the '2024 Kkomsunrak' event will be held around the Sunchang Fermentation Theme Park. 'Kkomsunrak' is a shortened term for 'Kids' Sunchang Arcade,' an event featuring various games and activities for children and families.

In October, the '2024 Sunchang Jang Festival Experience Program,' which is considered the most meaningful by Sunchang-gun, will be held from the 11th to the 13th. Currently, Sunchang-gun is awaiting the UNESCO registration of our traditional jang, which is expected to be finalized in October or November. The Sunchang Fermentation Tourism Foundation is reportedly preparing this event with the certainty of the UNESCO registration of our traditional jang.

Meanwhile, the Sunchang County Office is also supporting efforts to attract tourists. The Sunchang County Office has allocated a budget of about 90 million KRW this year to support travel expenses not only for group tourists such as schools and travel agencies but also for individual travelers and those traveling through the KORAIL Travel Center.

Travelers can apply for travel expense support on the Sunchang County website. Individual travelers can receive 50% of rural experience costs, and group travelers can apply for various support benefits such as 300,000 KRW for bus fees.

Sun Yunsook, CEO of the Sunchang Fermentation Tourism Foundation, said, "Sunchang is located in the mountainous area of the Honam Jeongmaek range in the southern central part of our country, with the Seomjin River, Jeokseong River, and Gyeongcheon River spreading to the south and east, making it a clear and clean area. We have prepared various tourism programs and events so that the whole nation can enjoy these natural tourism resources all year round. Please visit Sunchang anytime."