Where Is Busan's Best Pork Soup Rice Spot? The 2026 Busan Pork Soup Rice Competition Debuts

[Financial News] An unusual participatory gourmet event will be held, making use of Busan's many pork soup rice restaurants.
Busan Metropolitan City Government and the Busan Tourism Organization (BTO) announced on the 25th that they will host the 2026 Busan Pork Soup Rice Competition, an event centered on pork soup rice, one of Busan's signature culinary assets.
Held for the first time this year, the event will spotlight pork soup rice, a dish long woven into the daily lives of Busan residents, through online and offline participation by citizens and visitors, along with a range of content.
The city and BTO plan to develop the event into a Busan-style gourmet tourism program that uses the appeal of pork soup rice to turn public interest from citizens and tourists into actual visits to local restaurants and regional travel.
Through online and offline recommendations from citizens and visitors, the event will select the top 20 representative pork soup rice restaurants in Busan. A vote will then determine the top 10 and top 3.
Starting today and running through the 29th, the city will conduct both an online survey and an on-site survey for the public through its YouTube and Instagram channels, using posts related to the 2026 Busan Pork Soup Rice Competition. Based on the recommended restaurants and submitted stories, it will first select 20 representative pork soup rice restaurants in Busan.
On the 19th of next month, a "gukbap roundtable" will be held with representatives from the 20 selected restaurants and gourmet experts, known as "gukbap lovers," who recommended those establishments. The event will be produced as video content in which participants freely discuss each restaurant's signature features, the reasons for their recommendations, and the many charms of pork soup rice. It is expected to be released later on social media.
A two-week "gukbap week" will run from the 28th of next month through October 14. During this period, citizens and tourists will directly take part in selecting the top 10 and top 3 from the 20 pork soup rice restaurants chosen through the survey, voting either on-site at the restaurants or through Kakao Map.
A festival-style event will also be held on site. From October 16 to 18, the "Gukbap Showcase" will take place at BIFC2 in Busan. Various programs, including pork soup rice sales booths and cooking shows, will be set up so visitors can taste and enjoy Busan's pork soup rice firsthand. The "Gukbap Awards," which will announce the year's three best pork soup rice restaurants, will also be held there.

[email protected] Byeon Ok-hwan Reporter