2024 Wonju Mandu Festival, Economic Direct and Indirect Effects Reach 34.7 Billion and 66.3 Billion KRW

On the 20th, Results Report Meeting... 61.56% of 500,000 Visitors Were Non-Local
Established as a Nationwide Festival After 2 Years... "Preparing to Become a Global Festival Next Year"

The ‘2024 Wonju Mandu Festival,’ held over three days starting October 25 this year, reported a direct economic ripple effect of 34.7 billion KRW, with indirect economic ripple effects including employment reaching 66.3 billion KRW.

From October 25th for three days, the area around the traditional market in Jungang-dong, Wonju-si, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, was bustling with many visitors during the '2024 Wonju Mandu Festival.' According to the report on the results of the '2024 Wonju Mandu Festival,' the total number of visitors reached approximately 500,000, with 61.56% being out-of-town visitors, marking a 10% increase compared to last year. Notably, visitors aged 30 and under from the MZ generation accounted for a high proportion of 46.54%. Photo by Wonju City Hall, Yonhap News.

Wonju City, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province (Mayor Won Kang-su) announced that it held a results briefing session for the ‘2024 Wonju Mandu Festival’ at 2 p.m. on the 20th in the large conference room on the 10th floor of City Hall.

The briefing session, attended by a total of 25 people including Mayor Won Kang-su, Choi Jae-hee, Chairperson of the Festival Promotion Committee, committee members, and heads of related departments, was organized to share the evaluation service results of the mandu festival promotion and to seek development plans.

On the 20th at 2 PM, Wonju City in Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province held a results briefing session for the '2024 Wonju Mandu Festival' in the large conference room on the 10th floor of City Hall. Mayor Won Gang-su and other officials attended the event, which was based on an analysis commissioned to the Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation of Dongduk Women's University, an external evaluation agency.

The session began with footage of the Wonju Mandu Festival, held over three days from October 25 in the traditional market of Jungang-dong, Wonju City, followed by a report on the festival’s progress and achievements by Shin Hyun-sik, the festival’s general director.

Next, the Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation of Dongduk Women’s University, the evaluation agency, presented reports on ▲quantitative survey results of economic effects ▲visitor satisfaction survey results ▲expert on-site monitoring results ▲suggestions for festival development plans.

The total number of visitors was counted at 500,000, more than double last year’s 200,000, based on analysis using a human body temperature detection unmanned people counter.

Among them, out-of-town visitors accounted for 61.56%, a 10% increase compared to last year. Notably, MZ generation visitors aged 30 and under showed a high ratio of 46.54%, which is evaluated to have had a significant effect on attracting tourists through pre-events and SNS promotions.

Furthermore, the direct economic ripple effect from the festival was estimated at 34.7 billion KRW, while indirect economic ripple effects including production, income, and employment reached 66.37 billion KRW.

Despite the crowd exceeding 500,000 people, the festival was praised for being a safe event with zero accidents for two consecutive years and for establishing itself as a no-overcharging festival by limiting mandu sales prices to under 5,000 KRW.

Wonju City plans to prepare for a leap to a global festival next year by reflecting on the evaluation service results and opinions from the festival promotion committee.

Mayor Won Kang-su of Wonju City stated, “The Wonju Mandu Festival has grown into a nationwide festival in just its second edition,” and added, “Based on the experience accumulated this year, we will improve shortcomings and strengthen content to advance next year beyond revitalizing the old downtown economy to becoming a world-class global festival.”