Gurye County to Hold 'Omac Festival' at O-il Market on September 13

A Variety of Experiences and Foods Await

Gurye County in South Jeolla Province announced on September 10 that the 9th Omac Festival, co-hosted with the O-il Market Merchants Association, will be held on September 13 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the O-il Market area (main stage) in Gurye-eup.

The Omac Festival, now in its ninth year, began in 2023 as part of the Gurye-eup central city-type urban regeneration project. It aims to address the issues of low visitor numbers and declining sales at the traditional market, as well as to revitalize the stagnant old downtown area.

Poster of the 9th Omac Festival.

This year’s festival brings together the merchants association and youth-run shops to create an event where local residents and tourists can enjoy a cool autumn evening with draft beer, a variety of foods, performances, and events.

The festival will kick off at 5:00 p.m. with a Nanta performance, followed by popular music concerts featuring singers Ha Sukja, Lee Wooyeon, Oh Seunghui, and Lim Sookhui, as well as a Nogodan Ensemble performance and an on-the-spot singing contest. In particular, the singing contest, open to anyone at the venue, is expected to add to the excitement of the festival.

A total of 540 liters of draft beer (500cc per glass at 500 KRW each) will be served at the festival, with a coupon system allowing each person to enjoy up to four servings. In addition, youth-run and community shops will participate to offer a variety of side dishes such as fried foods, buchujeon (chive pancakes), dakgangjeong (sweet crispy chicken), tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), chicken, as well as handmade bread and crafts.

A representative of the O-il Market Merchants Association said, "We hope that the 9th Omac Festival, a special event with both the merchants association and youth-run shops participating, will widely promote the charm of the traditional market and encourage more people to visit the O-il Market."

Kim Soonho, the county governor, stated, "We expect that the Omac Festival, which combines Gurye’s traditional market with the urban regeneration project, will create enjoyable memories for both residents and tourists, and serve as an opportunity to invigorate the local economy."