Seoul's 23 Traditional Markets to Host 'Autumn Night Festivals' ... Nighttime Events Across 12 Districts

[Financial News] This fall, 23 traditional markets in Seoul will transform into nighttime culinary destinations centered on food and culture. Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 29th that it will hold autumn festivals at 23 traditional markets and shopping districts across 12 autonomous districts as part of the 2026 Traditional Market Nighttime and Food Culture Promotion Support Project. The initiative aims to attract more nighttime visitors and boost consumption at traditional markets and in surrounding alley commercial areas through market-specific specialty foods, cultural performances and culinary tours.
Sinheung Market in Haebangchon, Yongsan-gu, will host the 2026 Sinheung Market Global Local Festival from October 1 to 3. The event will feature a global flea market with participants from nine countries, a Yutnori World Cup and a global talk concert. At Guro Market in Guro-gu, citizens and college student models will wear hanbok and introduce the market's 10 signature products in an unusual runway show on October 24.
Events featuring each market's signature foods are also planned. Namseong Station Alley Market in Dongjak-gu will hold the “Well~Done Pork” Chilled Pork Festival on October 23, offering a chilled boiled-pork food zone and hands-on workshops to make chilled boiled pork and homemade sauces. Starlight Nam-Mun Market in Geumcheon-gu will unveil seven new menu items developed with nearby universities on October 9 and invite citizens to taste and rate them.
Other events will link the markets with local cultural resources. Yangwon Forest Road Alley Shopping District in Jungnang-gu will offer foods featured in books as limited-time menu items at the 2026 Yangwon Forest Road Spooky Library on October 31. It will also operate an outdoor reading area and host a book talk with an invited author. Sanggye Central Market in Nowon-gu will present a night market and cultural performances on October 17 in conjunction with the Nowon public art festival Moonlightwalk, held along Danghyeoncheon.
Culinary tours allowing visitors to explore various parts of the markets will also take place. At the 1st Suyu Gourmet Gathering, held at Suyu Traditional Market in Gangbuk-gu on October 3, visitors who use at least three stores in each category and collect stamps will receive souvenirs. Bangsin Traditional Market in Gangseo-gu will operate a passport-style stamp tour themed around airports and travel from October 23 to 24.
At Sinwon Market in Gwanak-gu, customers who spend at least 50,000 won from November 13 to 14 will receive a 10,000-won refund in the form of a Digital Onnuri Gift Certificate. Markets will also hold events such as receipt-based prize drawings and discount coupon giveaways.
Park Kyung-hwan, director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Citizens' Livelihood and Labor Bureau, said, "We will create traditional markets that people want to visit and stay in even in the evening, and ensure that citizens' visits translate into sales for merchants and vitality for surrounding alley commercial areas."

[email protected] Seong Cho-rong Reporter