Dongdaemun-gu Selects 5 ‘Nopo Matjip’ Restaurants Over 30 Years Old

Seoul's First 'Old Restaurant Certification and Support Ordinance' Enacted

Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul (Mayor Lee Pil-hyung) announced on the 19th that it will select and support long-established restaurants in accordance with an ordinance established to promote the local food culture and revitalize the local economy.

The long-established restaurants selected by Dongdaemun-gu this time are five places: Sinrakwon and Jeonnong Kalguksu (in Jeonnong-dong), Anheung Galbi and Haengun Donkatsu (in Jangan-dong), and Hoegi Jokbal (in Hoegi-dong), which can be checked in detail on the Dongdaemun-gu website.

Dongdaemun-gu is a geographical and historical transportation hub with a large floating population, and as several traditional markets such as Gyeongdong Market and Yakryeong Market have naturally formed, the commercial district has developed, resulting in many long-established restaurants.

Recently, famous YouTubers have introduced restaurants throughout Dongdaemun-gu, including Gyeongdong Market, increasing the number of young people visiting Dongdaemun-gu to enjoy delicious food at affordable prices while experiencing the old atmosphere.

The district established the “Ordinance on Certification and Support for Long-established Restaurants in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul” last year, the first of its kind in Seoul, to actively discover and promote excellent old restaurants filled with memories and contribute to revitalizing the local economy.

The district received recommendations for long-established restaurants within the area and selected five long-established restaurants that have been operated by the owner or passed down for more than 30 years without changing the type of business, after hygiene inspections and other evaluations. Certified restaurants were provided with certification plaques.

Going forward, the district plans to continue discovering hidden long-established restaurants through ongoing promotion and discuss specific support measures to develop them as tourism resources.

Lee Pil-hyung, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, said, “With the retro sentiment trending, the number of visitors to Dongdaemun-gu’s long-established restaurants is continuously increasing,” and added, “We will continue to actively find long-established restaurants worth widely promoting and strive to use them to showcase the taste and charm of Dongdaemun-gu.”