Muju County to Conduct "Food Booth Cooking Evaluation" for Firefly Festival on August 20-21

Held at Sangsang Bandi Forest Cooking Classroom and Learning Facility
Seventeen Booths to Participate
Evaluation Conducted in "Blind Review" Format

Muju County in North Jeolla Province will conduct a "food booth cooking evaluation" to provide safe food options for visitors to the 29th Muju Firefly Festival.

Exterior view of Muju County Office. Provided by Muju County.

According to the county on August 13, the evaluation will take place over two days, August 20 and 21, at the Muju Sangsang Bandi Forest Cooking Classroom and Learning Facility. Seventeen booths that have passed the document screening will participate.

To ensure a fair evaluation, the county has formed a judging panel consisting of evaluators recommended by the Muju Firefly Festival Committee and experts in the field of hygiene. The evaluation will be conducted in a "blind review" format.

Booth participants will be required to cook three menu items, which they plan to sell, on-site during the evaluation. They will be comprehensively assessed on personal hygiene practices such as wearing sanitary uniforms and handwashing, as well as the cleanliness of cooking utensils and the workspace.

The food evaluation will also focus on the appropriateness of pricing, the use of pre-made or disposable products, and whether the menu items represent Muju. Each menu item must be prepared within 10 minutes, for a total of 30 minutes, and submitted in reusable containers.

Park Chanju, Chairperson of the Muju Firefly Festival Committee, stated, "We have decided to conduct a practical cooking evaluation of the food to be sold at the festival booths in order to enhance the quality of the festival and increase visitor satisfaction. Through this evaluation, we will do our utmost to continue the reputation of the Muju Firefly Festival by offering carefully selected, safe, and delicious food."

This year as well, the festival is drawing attention, as food booths highlighting local specialties will operate under the basic principles of a "three-no festival"-no price gouging, no disposable products, and no safety accidents.

Meanwhile, the 29th Muju Firefly Festival will be held throughout Muju County from September 6 to 14, featuring the theme "A Healing Journey to Muju, the Special City of Nature." For nine days, the festival will offer programs including hands-on experiences, environmental exploration, culture and arts, daytime scenery, and nighttime lighting.