30,000 Attend Opening Ceremony on 27th... Merchants Rejoice
On the 26th, Gumi City in Gyeongbuk reported that an enormous crowd of 30,000 people gathered on the second day, Saturday, at the Sweet Romantic Night Market which opened on the 26th.
The night market, held at the Gumi Saemaeul Central Market area every Friday and Saturday from April 26 to June 22 (including Children's Day and the 12th Provincial Sports Festival on Sundays), spans a total of 20 sessions. From the very first day on the 26th, it was fully packed, and on the 27th opening ceremony, it was so crowded that there were no seats available, with 30,000 visitors marking a successful launch.
Some stalls recorded sales at 180% of their usual on the first day, and 350% during the opening ceremony. The top-performing stall achieved sales of 400% on the first day and 600% during the opening, selling out early.
Merchants at Saemaeul Central Market said, “We did not expect such a huge crowd. Although it is exhausting to the point of physical strain, we feel energized by the market’s liveliness and regret not being able to prepare more food,” expressing their joyful complaints.
A citizen said, “Until now, when it came to night markets, I used to visit Daegu. After hearing about this night market, I was intrigued by the variety of menus and entertainment. I waited an hour to eat gukbap, but it was worth it because I could enjoy the unique excitement of a traditional market and the ambiance of a spring night.”
This night market, planned to revitalize the old downtown and traditional markets, was made possible through the active cooperation of Lee Su-wook, president of the Saemaeul Central Market Merchants Association, and the efforts of several professors including Professor Choi Sung-chul from Gumi University.
To differentiate from other night markets, eight sessions of vendor training including tasting events for developing unique menus exclusive to Gumi Saemaeul Central Market were conducted, along with practical training for night market stalls. Customized professional consulting for each vendor’s menu was also provided.
Additionally, Nam Woo-hyun, president of the Korea Food Service Industry Association Gumi Branch, and Jo Jeong-nam, president of the Korea Traditional Food Forum Gyeongbuk Federation, contributed their expertise on ensuring safety and maintaining a clean environment at the food festival.
The night market opening ceremony featured explosive performances by Park Hyun-bin and Jung Da-kyung, along with unique participation programs targeting younger audiences such as acorn caricatures, personal color diagnosis, and a retro photo studio.
Mayor Kim Jang-ho stated, “A month ago during the cherry blossom season, 60,000 people gathered at Jisan Saetgang, confirming Gumi’s potential. Through this night market, we have proven that Gumi is a city full of things to see and enjoy. We aim to develop it into a tourist attraction visited by overseas YouTubers,” expressing his ambitious vision.
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