'Seongbuk World Food Festival Nurimasil' Attracts 50,000 Visitors

19 Embassies in Korea Showcase Food Directly
Foreign Visitors Show Great Interest in Traditional Temple Cuisine

More than 50,000 visitors attended the Seongbuk World Food Festival Nurimasil again this year. Photo of Lee Seung-ro, Mayor of Seongbuk District, declaring the opening, along with ambassadors from various countries and other officials. Courtesy of Seongbuk District Office.

On the 19th, over 50,000 visitors came to the ‘16th Seongbuk World Food Festival Nurimasil’ held around Seongbuk-ro, Seoul, to fully taste and enjoy the diverse and valuable foods and cultures of the world.

This year, the Seongbuk World Food Festival Nurimasil featured participation from 19 countries across four continents, including Spain, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Oman, Nepal, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil. Visitors had the opportunity to enjoy a global culinary journey in one place in Seongbuk-dong by visiting the ‘World Food Chefs’ booths presented by chefs from each country’s embassy.

Specially this year, the festival also operated the ‘Our Coexistence Chefs’ booths themed on temple food, local food, and vegan cuisine, as well as the ‘Seongbuk Excellent Chefs’ booths composed of world foods from local stores and communities in Seongbuk-gu. Traditional temple food was showcased by Suwolam, located near the diplomatic residence complex in Seongbuk-gu, and Unseonam, located across from Kookmin University in Jeongneung-dong, representing the Seongbuk Temple Association.

The Seongbuk World Food Festival Nurimasil used reusable containers for all food at the venue, minimizing waste generation despite being a food festival attracting tens of thousands of visitors, and was organized with consideration for the environment and climate crisis. All food prices were set below 8,000 KRW.

Ana (23), who came from Paraguay to study at a university in Seongbuk-gu, said, “It was great to enjoy foods from various countries all in one place,” adding, “After tasting the mild and clean flavors of Korean temple food, I became interested in Korean Buddhist culture and plan to go on a temple stay with my friends.”

The resident-participation parade and performances including magic, fusion gugak, and classical music gathered many spectators who cheered and enjoyed themselves. The market selling various items related to cultural diversity, zero waste, and fair trade, as well as the experience zone introducing traditional games from around the world, were very popular among family visitors.

Lee Seung-ro, Mayor of Seongbuk-gu, said, “I thank all the embassies, the Seongbuk Temple Association, local merchants, and everyone who worked hard for the Seongbuk World Food Festival Nurimasil, where people can experience world food and culture in one place,” and added, “We will strive to share the Seongbuk World Food Festival Nurimasil, which embodies the value that the world is a dining community through food, with even more people.”

Traditional temple food debuted at the Seongbuk World Food Festival Nurimasil Festival. Traditional temple food expert Seowolam Hyebeom and officials. Provided by Seongbuk District Office.