Seongbuk World Food Festival 'Nurimasil' to Be Held on the 18th of This Month

The Only “Local 100” Among Seoul District Festivals
World Cuisine from 19 Countries... Flea Markets and Performances

Seongbuk-gu, Seoul will host the 17th Seongbuk World Food Festival Nurimasil: Matjiguna on May 18 in the Seongbuk-dong area. Nurimasil, Seongbuk-gu’s signature festival, attracts around 60,000 visitors each year and serves as a multicultural event where people can experience diverse cultures from around the world through food.

The 17th Seongbuk World Food Festival Nurimasil will be held on the 18th in the Seongbuk-dong area. Provided by Seongbuk-gu.

This year’s festival will feature embassies from 19 countries across four continents?Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas?presenting their traditional cuisines. At the “World Food Chef” booth, visitors can sample gourmet dishes prepared by chefs from each country. The “Our Mutual Growth Chef” booth will host a special “Climate Gastronomy Zone” focusing on ecology and food culture in the era of climate crisis.

Additionally, the festival will include “Seongbuk Best Chef” featuring local shops and organizations, 18 flea markets?nearly double the number from last year?cultural diversity experiences, games from around the world, and a variety of performances such as magic shows and ballet.

In 2023, Nurimasil was the only festival among Seoul’s district festivals to be selected by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for the “Top 100 Local Cultural Attractions” (Local 100). Setting itself apart from a simple campaign, the festival mandates zero-waste practices by requiring all food booths to use reusable containers. Collection points for reusable containers and separate waste disposal areas will be set up throughout the venue, and eco-friendly mission events will also be held.

To reduce the burden on visitors, a “food price ceiling” (within 8,000 KRW) will be implemented. Comprehensive safety measures have also been strengthened, including the deployment of safety personnel throughout the venue, management of queues and movement routes, and thorough checks for cooking safety.

Lee Seungro, Mayor of Seongbuk-gu, stated, “In line with this year’s festival slogan ‘Matjiguna,’ I hope that every citizen participating in the festival will enjoy the diverse ‘flavors’ of world cuisine, reflect on the ‘Earth’ we share, and take ecological action starting with ‘myself.’ I invite everyone to visit Seongbuk-gu’s Nurimasil Festival and create wonderful memories filled with both joy and meaning.”