Hongseong Global Barbecue Festival Achieves Massive Success
98,000 Visitors on Opening Day... Over 600,000 Expected in Total
The "2025 Hongseong Global Barbecue Festival," organized solely by Hongseong County in Chungnam without collaboration with Baek Jongwon, CEO of The Born Korea, achieved record-breaking success.
According to Hongseong County on November 2, SK Telecom’s telecommunications-based big data analysis revealed that, excluding approximately 40,000 local residents within a 2-kilometer radius of the festival site in Hongseong-eup, the pure visitor count reached 98,000 on the opening day, 121,000 on the second day, and 226,000 on the third day (Saturday), totaling around 445,000 visitors over the three days.
A county official stated, "There were concerns about holding the opening on a Thursday, but in the end, it was a huge success," adding, "We expect more than 600,000 people to visit by the final day."
The festival, which drew 400,000 visitors in its inaugural year in 2023 and 550,000 last year, received an enthusiastic response this year for its self-produced barbecue equipment and amusement park-themed spaces. Attractions such as the Ferris wheel, carousel, and Viking ride evoked nostalgia, while barbecue grills and equipment designed and developed independently by the county drew significant attention.
From the first day, YouTubers and festival enthusiasts flocked to the event. On the second day, all prepared barbecue portions sold out, with even the next day's supply being exhausted early, demonstrating the festival's continued excitement.
Enhanced by Global Chef Participation
True to its name as a "Global Barbecue Festival," this year's event was further upgraded by the participation of foreign attendees and international teams. The winning team from "Memphis in May," one of the top three barbecue festivals in the United States, participated directly, serving pulled pork and ribs smoked for over 10 hours. Tasting events, held three times a day for a total of 1,000 people, were met with great enthusiasm.
Additionally, chefs from Vietnam, Thailand, and Uzbekistan showcased barbecue prepared using their countries' traditional methods. Visitors expressed high satisfaction, commenting, "This is on par with overseas festivals."
The festival's ripple effect extended to the local economy. The "Meat Grilling Day" event at Hongseong Permanent Market was packed with crowds, and nearby restaurants specializing in Korean beef, pork soup, and Chinese cuisine saw their sales more than double compared to usual. Some stores even hired additional part-time staff to meet demand.
People eating meat at the 'Meat Grilling Day' event at Hongseong Permanent Market. Hongseong County Office
Hongseong County Governor Lee Yongrok emphasized, "If the achievements of the past two years were attributed to the 'Baek Jongwon effect,' this year’s success was truly the result of 'Hongseong’s own strength.' From now on, we will aim not just to be the 'first,' but the 'best.'"
An official from the Hongju Culture and Tourism Foundation also stated, "After lengthy discussions following the controversy with The Born Korea, we decided to host the festival independently. We will present a festival that embodies Hongseong’s unique character, featuring dishes such as jar barbecue and cauldron-lid pork belly."
Meanwhile, Baek Jongwon, CEO of The Born Korea, who had collaborated with the Hongseong Barbecue Festival for the past two years, was embroiled in controversy after the 2023 festival in November for allegedly violating the Livestock Products Sanitary Control Act by transporting pork in a regular truck exposed to room temperature.
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