Gurye Hwaeom Nature Table Food Street
Yeongam Gipum Dokcheon Nakji Street Selected
Strengthening Competitiveness as a Leading Gastronomic Destination
Scene from the evaluation site for the creation of a regional specialty Namdo Food Street conducted by Jeonnam Province. Provided by Jeonnam Province
Jeonnam Province has additionally selected the Gurye Hwaeom Nature Table Food Street and the Yeongam Gipum Dokcheon Nakji Street as new sites for the creation of "Namdo Food Streets."
The Namdo Food Street project aims to foster a unique culinary culture that highlights the region's distinctive flavors and styles, developing it as a tourism resource and strengthening Jeonnam's competitiveness as a leading gastronomic destination.
The Gurye Hwaeom Nature Table Food Street is planned to be established in the area around the entrance to Hwaeomsa Temple in Masan-myeon, Gurye, at the foot of Mount Jirisan. Currently, 16 restaurants are operating there, with signature dishes such as wild vegetable set meals and mushroom hot pot, attracting tourists with healthy meals made from the pristine ingredients of Jirisan.
Gurye County plans to develop content that connects the food street with popular tourist attractions in the area, such as the Jirisan History and Culture Center, Baekdudaegan Ecological Education Center, and Banyawon Platanus. The county also intends to establish a unique "Gurye Food Street" brand by installing sculptures that represent local ecology and specialties, including a moon bear statue and a natural pine mushroom monument.
The Yeongam Gipum Dokcheon Nakji Street is located near the Dokcheon 5-day Market in Haksan-myeon, Yeongam. It has already gained a reputation among food enthusiasts for its distinctive dishes that combine octopus and Korean beef, such as galnaktang (beef and octopus soup) and nakji chomu chim (spicy octopus salad).
Yeongam County plans to use this selection as an opportunity to improve visitor amenities, enhance the pedestrian environment, and secure additional parking facilities. The county also aims to set a new standard for Jeonnam octopus cuisine by developing unique Yeongam-style octopus dishes that distinguish it from neighboring cities and counties.
Jeonnam Province will invest a total of 1 billion KRW per site this year (500 million KRW from the province and 500 million KRW from the counties) in the selected food streets. The funds will be used for user-centered environmental improvements, including the installation of symbolic monuments, signage upgrades, pedestrian walkway enhancements, and expansion of parking spaces, with the projects set to continue through next year.
Jeong Gwangseon, Director of Health and Welfare at Jeonnam Province, stated, "We are creating distinctive Namdo Food Streets in each of the 22 cities and counties to develop diverse Namdo food brands. Even after the streets are established, we will actively promote and vitalize them to deliver the unique flavors and culture of Namdo to tourists in a more appealing way."
The Namdo Food Street project was launched in 2016 to specialize Namdo cuisine?which has a significant impact on the tourism industry?according to local characteristics, and to revitalize the regional economy by building food tourism infrastructure.
To date, 19 food streets have been established in 17 cities and counties, including Mokpo Peace Plaza Seafood Street, Yeosu Marine Park Seafood Samhap, Suncheon Ujang Gukbap, Naju Yeongsanpo Hongeo, Gwangyang Bulgogi and Seomjingang Mangdeok Port Raw Fish Restaurant, Boseong Beolgyo Cockle, Jangheung Pen Shell, Wando Abalone, and Shinan Island Mudflat Octopus. In addition, "Hampyeong Cheonji Taste Street" and "Jindo Ganjaemi Street" are currently under development.
Detailed information on the locations of Namdo Food Streets and representative restaurants can be found on the Namdo Food Master & Namdo Food Street website.
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