Seoul's street food favorites come together for two-day market festival

Seoul’s traditional markets are coming together in one place this weekend, as the Seoul Market Fair is set to return to Cheonggye Plaza in Jung District, central Seoul, this weekend. 

The market is returning after a seven-year hiatus, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Sunday.

The Seoul Market Fair is an exhibition that brings together merchants from traditional markets and shopping districts across the capital to connect with residents.

This year's event will take place under the theme "Traditional Market by Day, Outdoor Dining by Night” (translated).

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., visitors can browse products from traditional markets and neighborhood shopping districts across Seoul and take part in traditional cultural activities.

After 5 p.m., the venue will transform into a lively nighttime food market, with performances and views of Seoul's illuminated cityscape until 9 p.m.

Some of Seoul's best-known traditional markets will participate, including Namdaemun Market in Jung District, central Seoul, Baengnyeon Market in Gangbuk District, northern Seoul, and Daejo Market in Eunpyeong District, northern Seoul.

Around 40 vendors from major shopping areas, including Sangbong food alley in Jungnang District, eastern Seoul, and Sharosu-gil — a shopping and food street near Seoul National University — in Gwanak District, southern Seoul, will also take part.

Visitors will be able to shop for a wide range of products, from popular traditional market foods and fresh agricultural and seafood products to regional specialties, traditional crafts, handmade goods and everyday household items.

Foods such as tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), dakgangjeong (sweet-and-spicy crispy Korean fried chicken), and kebabs will be available to eat on-site.

The city will set up around 40 dining tables with 160 seats along a section of the roadway beside Cheonggyecheon.

Vendors will also sell regional specialties such as gopchang gim, which is a premium variety of dried seaweed, and locally produced honey, as well as fabric goods, home decor items, accessories and other handmade products.

Hands-on activities will also be offered, including making mother-of-pearl phone grips and hand mirrors, crafting K-food-themed key chains, making scrubbers, decorating ballpoint pens, drawing caricatures and face painting.

The city has also prepared a lineup of cultural performances and entertainment.

On Saturday, daytime visitors can enjoy fusion gugak — a contemporary interpretation of traditional Korean music — and traditional folk performances.

The following day will feature talchumnori (traditional Korean mask dances), samulnori (traditional Korean percussion performance) and K-pop performances during the day, while a DJ show will take place at night.

The city will also operate an information booth where traditional market merchants and small-business owners can learn about municipal support programs.

The booth will provide information on fire insurance support for traditional market merchants and Seoul Pay+, a mobile simple-payment platform operated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Visitors can also receive consultations on loan guarantees and financing for small businesses and learn about policies aimed at revitalizing local commercial districts.

Additional attractions include a “stamp tour,” in which visitors can collect stamps from at least three designated booths to receive souvenirs, and a giant lucky roulette event offering prizes.

The city will restrict vehicle traffic on sections of both sides of Cheonggyecheon-ro in Jung District from 6 a.m. on Saturday until midnight on Sunday for the event.

"The Seoul Market Fair is an urban festival where visitors can experience the charm of Seoul's traditional markets and neighborhood shopping districts while enjoying the atmosphere of outdoor dining along Cheonggyecheon," said Park Kyung-hwan, director-general of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Livelihood and Labor Bureau.

"We hope the event will give citizens an opportunity to discover the appeal of traditional markets and provide merchants with a chance to reach more customers.”

BY MOON HEE-CHUL [[email protected]]