Gwangju City to Develop Kimchi Products for 'K-Gourmet Travel'

City, Hansik Globalization Foundation, and Tourism Organization Sign 'Kimchi Belt' Agreement
Special Tourism Project Launched for Visit Gwangju Year
Gastronomic Tourism Products to Go on Sale in May After Consulting in April

Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijeong is taking a commemorative photo after signing a business agreement to promote the K-Gourmet Belt project with Lee Gyumin, Chairman of the Korean Food Promotion Institute, and Kim Jingang, President of the Gwangju Tourism Organization, at the city hall business room on the afternoon of the 24th. Provided by Gwangju City

In celebration of the '2025 Visit Gwangju Year,' Gwangju City has launched a tourism project themed around kimchi, aiming to capture the attention and interest of both citizens and visitors.

On the afternoon of the 24th, Gwangju City held a 'K-Gastronomy Belt Development Project Business Agreement Ceremony' in the city hall's business room. The ceremony was attended by Mayor Kang Gijung, Lee Kyumin, President of the Hansik Globalization Foundation, and Kim Jingang, CEO of the Gwangju Tourism Organization.

They pledged mutual cooperation for the smooth progress of the 'K-Gastronomy Belt (Kimchi Belt) Development Project.' Plans are in place to continue building partnerships and collaborations to vitalize local culinary masters, gastronomy experience infrastructure, and popular restaurants, all centered around kimchi.

The 'K-Gastronomy Belt Development Project' aims to boost domestic gastronomic tourism by linking regional culinary resources and tourism products. It is one of the government's 'New Growth 4.0 Strategy Implementation Plans.' Starting with the 'Jang Belt' last year, this year three belts?'Kimchi,' 'Traditional Liquor,' and 'Ginseng'?will be operated. The goal is to establish a total of 30 belts by 2032.

In a public contest for local governments held last month by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Hansik Globalization Foundation, Gwangju City's and the Tourism Organization's 'Kimchi Belt' was selected, securing 150 million KRW in national funding. The city proposed the tourism product 'Gwangju Gastronomy Tour Where Kimchi Is Art,' utilizing kimchi industry infrastructure and gastronomic resources.

The gastronomic tourism products to be promoted through this business agreement will be organized by theme, setting goals so that both individual and group tourists can choose according to their preferences. Planned offerings include 'Kimchi Tour with Presidential Award Winners' (group, 2 nights 3 days), 'Art + Five Senses Satisfaction Kimchi Tour' (1 night 2 days), 'Precious Kids Kimchi Tour' (1 night 2 days), and 'Hot Place Kimchi Tour' (day trip).

The city plans to attract domestic and international tourists and satisfy their palates by linking various events?such as the Gwangju Kimchi Festival, Kimjang Grand Fair, World Archery Championships, and Gwangju Design Biennale?with gastronomic tourism. Next month, the city will develop experience and interpretation programs and conduct consulting, further refining these into premium gastronomic tourism products to be launched for sale starting in May.

Mayor Kang Gijung stated, "Gwangju is Korea's representative gastronomic city, and gastronomy is the largest content in the tourism industry. In celebration of the 'Visit Gwangju Year,' we will work closely together to create a successful model of gastronomic tourism using outstanding cultural heritage such as kimchi and kimjang, local masters and experience facilities, and specialized resources like popular restaurants."