'27 Signature Dishes from Jeonnam-Gwangju Cities and Counties Gather in One Place'... Naju-si to Host the 31st Namdo Food Festival from Oct. 23 to 25

【Financial News, Naju = Hwang Tae-jong】 The 31st Namdo Food Festival, where visitors can taste and experience signature dishes from 27 cities, counties, and districts in Jeonnam-Gwangju, as well as dishes prepared by master chefs and local gourmet specialties unique to Naju, will be held from Oct. 23 to 25 at Yeongsan River Garden.
The festival, co-hosted by the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Metropolitan City and Naju-si and organized by the Namdo Food Festival Foundation, will bring together 27 local governments from Jeonnam-Gwangju under the theme, "An integrated metropolitan city united by the taste of Namdo!"
This year's event goes beyond the traditional focus on exhibitions and viewing. It will be held as a "stay-and-enjoy gourmet festival" where visitors can taste, make, and enjoy Namdo cuisine firsthand.
Yoon Byung-tae, Mayor of Naju, said at the event, "This year's Namdo Food Festival will be a special gourmet festival where the 27 cities, counties, and districts of Jeonnam-Gwangju gather in one place to taste and enjoy a wide variety of Namdo dishes firsthand and experience the history and culture behind them." He added, "We will prepare rich content so visitors can fully enjoy the flavors and charm of Namdo in the beautiful setting of Yeongsan River Garden."
At this year's festival, on-site cooking, tastings, and sales of signature dishes from the 27 cities, counties, and districts will be expanded. Traditional dishes prepared by Namdo master chefs, along with home-style meals long enjoyed by local residents, will also be showcased, allowing visitors to experience the diversity and depth of Namdo food culture in one place.
The wide, open space of Yeongsan River Garden will also be fully utilized to create a "garden-style gourmet festival venue" where food, performances, hands-on activities, and relaxation come together naturally. The plan is to give visitors a comfortable place to stay and enjoy the flavors and charm of Namdo at a leisurely pace.
In addition, a wide range of programs will be offered, including the opening ceremony, theme performances, Namdo food tasting sessions, a sales pavilion for representative Jeonnam-Gwangju dishes, the Namdo Master Chef Pavilion, exhibition halls for all 27 cities, counties, and districts, Namdo food experiences, children's cooking classes, cooking competitions, and a youth food and dessert zone.
In particular, a paid tasting experience program will be introduced for the first time this year. In the pre-registered tasting sessions, visitors will be able to sample dishes prepared by Namdo master chefs, special creations by well-known local chefs, and signature dishes from the 27 cities, counties, and districts of Jeonnam-Gwangju. The program is expected to offer visitors a unique gourmet journey through the region's diverse flavors.
At the Namdo Master Chef Pavilion, cooking demonstrations, tastings, and cooking shows will be linked to present the flavors and preparation methods of traditional Namdo cuisine in a more vivid way.
At the 27-city, county, and district promotional pavilions, signature dishes and home-style meals from each region, along with the local culture and tourism resources reflected in the food, will be introduced through tastings. The goal is to help visitors experience Namdo's food culture more easily and in a more approachable way.
Ahead of the festival, Naju-si plans to hold the Namdo Food Culture Forum, which will shed new light on the history of local food culture and the value of gourmet resources. The forum will take a broad look at traditional food culture passed down through generations, including dishes from noble families and temple cuisine, as well as Naju's unique gourmet resources such as Yeongsanpo skate and other fermented foods. It will also explore the potential for expanding them into tourism and cultural content.
During the festival, Naju-si will also operate a separate Naju Special Pavilion to highlight the city's diverse gourmet resources, including its food culture, signature dishes, and outstanding agricultural and specialty products. The city plans to promote Naju's history as a food destination and its diversity as the host of the Namdo Food Festival, while drawing attention to the fresh appeal of Naju as the "home of flavor."
Mayor Yoon emphasized, "We will do our utmost to prepare for the festival so that Naju, the host city, can widely promote its traditional food culture and distinctive gourmet resources such as Yeongsanpo skate, bringing new vitality to tourism and the local economy."

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