A Local Festival for Community Harmony
Featuring Cultural Performances, Busking, and Youth-Run Shops
Gurye County in South Jeolla Province announced that it will hold the "2025 Gurye 5-Day Market 8th Omech Festival" on the 23rd at the Gurye 5-Day Market area in Gurye-eup.
The Omech Festival, now in its eighth year, was first launched in 2023 as part of the Gurye-eup central district-type urban regeneration project. The festival aims to address the decline in visitors and sales at traditional markets during the summer and to revitalize the stagnant old downtown area.
Gurye County will hold the "2025 Gurye 5-Day Market 8th Omech Festival" on the 23rd at the Gurye 5-Day Market area in Gurye-eup as part of the Gurye-eup central district-type urban regeneration project. Photo by Gurye County
With the slogan "Dive into the Ice and Enjoy the Coolness," this year’s festival will feature a variety of programs to beat the heat, including cool ice, water balloon relays, slushies, and draft beer.
The event will kick off at 3 p.m. with experience programs such as the Ice Curling Challenge, Life Four-Cut Photo Booth, Bangya Bangya Water Gun Game, Watermelon Eating Contest Preliminaries, and a Stamp Tour. From 5 p.m., there will be busking performances, guerrilla events, the Watermelon Eating Contest Finals, youth-run shops, and a flea market.
At the festival site, 400 liters of draft beer (equivalent to 800 cups of 500cc each) will be available. Visitors can purchase beer vouchers to enjoy up to four cups per person. For families, slushies will be offered at 500 won per cup.
The youth-run shops and flea market will sell a variety of foods and crafts that pair well with beer, and visitors can also use livelihood recovery consumption coupons on site, which is expected to contribute to revitalizing the local economy.
Gurye County and the Urban Regeneration Field Support Center have prepared safety measures before, during, and after the event, including plans for electricity, medical emergencies, and rainy weather, to ensure that visitors can enjoy the festival with peace of mind.
The head of the Gurye 5-Day Market Merchants Association said, "The Omech Festival is a place where merchants, residents, and tourists can all come together and smile," adding, "We hope this will serve as an opportunity to breathe new life into the traditional market."
Kim Soonho, Governor of Gurye County, said, "I hope the 8th Omech Festival will grow into a beloved summer night premium festival for both residents and tourists," adding, "We will strive to revitalize the local economy through sustainable operations."
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