Gumi Food Festival Elevated by Chef Jung Hoyoung's Gourmet Zone
Enhanced Convenience and Safety with Card Payment and Child Safety Bracelets
Gumi City in North Gyeongsang Province successfully concluded the ‘2024 Gumi Food Festival,’ which was held at Songjeong Matgil from the 5th to the 6th.
With approximately 170,000 visitors over two days, the Gumi Food Festival has established itself as a nationwide event representing the autumn season.
This year’s festival received a great response with even richer programs and more diverse content than last year. The unveiling ceremony of the symbolic sculpture of Songjeong Matgil and the lighting of the Milky Way installation added to the festival’s splendor, while the ‘Samgyeop Gupgup Zone,’ reminiscent of urban camping, gained huge popularity. The ‘Nyangnyam Showcase,’ with 60 participating businesses, offered a glimpse of Gumi’s diverse cuisine, and the food booths presenting over 150 menu items greatly increased visitor satisfaction.
In particular, the ‘Gumi Gourmet Zone,’ which received consulting from Chef Jung Hoyoung, provided a unique gourmet experience and further elevated the festival’s brand value. The family cooking classes offered healthy culinary experiences and were highly popular.
Programs targeting the MZ generation, such as the silent EDM party, national singing contest, folk festival, and busking performances, heightened the excitement of the festival and appealed to all generations. Japanese dishes such as okonomiyaki and yakisoba, presented by the Japan Culinary Research Association, added international appeal.
There were also notable improvements in festival operations. While only cash payments were accepted last year, this year card payments were introduced for greater convenience. Safety measures were also strengthened, such as providing wristbands to prevent children from getting lost, allowing families to enjoy the festival with peace of mind. Additionally, new booths offering coffee and a variety of beverages after meals enhanced convenience.
Starting this year, Gumi City plans to select outstanding restaurants from the festival and offer them exemption from entry fees at next year’s event, aiming to boost local restaurant pride and encourage participation.
One citizen said, “I’ve never seen so many people gathered at Songjeong Matgil before. I especially enjoyed being able to experience a camping atmosphere with my family and eat delicious food at the Samgyeop Gupgup Zone. I definitely want to come again next time.”
Mayor Kim Jangho said, “The Gumi Food Festival has established itself as a nationwide healing food festival where you can enjoy both the romance and flavors of Gumi. We will continue to develop diverse content and programs so that 500,000 or even 1 million people can visit, making it Korea’s leading festival.”
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