An Average of 15,430 Daily Visitors, Affordable Prices and Diverse Foods
New Menu Development and Lively Busking Performances Prepared... Attracting Crowds
The Saemaeul Jungang Market Night Market (Gumi Sweet Romantic Night Market), which has been operating since April 26 to revitalize the old downtown and traditional markets, is gaining great popularity among citizens and tourists every week.
The area around Saemaeul Jungang Market, once the heart of Gumi's old downtown, had become a quiet and dark place in the evenings due to the rise of online shopping, large supermarkets, and the shift of local commercial districts. However, the success of the night market is changing the atmosphere.
At 6 p.m. on the 25th, the night market was filled with the aroma of food being prepared at around 20 food stalls and the lively sounds of busking performances on the central stage, delighting visitors as they enjoyed the weekend.
Most food prices are around 5,000 won, with the most expensive items not exceeding 10,000 won, which visitors find reasonable. Popular menu items such as Yukjeon, Bul Makchang, and sushi often require waiting for dozens of minutes, and it is difficult to find an empty seat at customer tables due to the crowds.
The night market at Gumi Saemaeul Jungang Market reached half of its schedule as of May 18. According to KT mobile data (including duplicate visitors) based on the spatial range (Wolpyeong-dong area), the average daily number of visitors to the Saemaeul Jungang Market area is 15,430, with a cumulative total of 154,300. Of these, 41,327 (27%) are from outside the region, indicating the night market's significant role in attracting tourists.
Cumulative sales at the night market food stalls reached 200 million won by May 18, with some stalls recording 15 million won in sales over 10 events.
Various collaborative programs are also being held, such as free experiences for SNS promotion participants like LED lamp making and leather grip tok making, unique experiences at the Jungang-ro Dongmun Shopping District such as acorn caricatures and personal color analysis, and promotions for the Provincial Sports Festival and Onnuri gift certificates.
The menu is being diversified with hard-to-find foods such as Indonesian fried noodles and sugarcane juice, which are offered by multicultural families. Consulting is provided for underperforming food stalls. In addition, to reduce the burden on night market food stall operators and enable reasonable pricing, electricity fees and food stalls are provided free of charge.
Existing traditional market merchants are also seeking new changes by moving away from their usual menus to offer items such as fried chicken, chicken feet, and jeon. Even on weekdays when the night market is not open, the Saemaeul Jungang Market is seeing positive effects, with more young people visiting.
Mayor Kim Jangho said, "During the remaining period, we plan to continue the success of the Sweet Romantic Night Market by developing new menus in cooperation with Gumi University and offering vibrant busking performances that reflect the tastes of people in their 30s and 40s."
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