‘World Gimbap & Salt Festival’ to be held in Yeosu on the 9th–11th

【Financial News, Jeonnam-Gwangju — Hwang Tae-jong, staff reporter】The ‘2026 Jeonnam-Gwangju World Gimbap & Salt Festival’ will be held at the Yeosu Expo Convention Center on the 9th–11th.
 At the event, visitors can enjoy hands-on activities, performances, food and shopping all in one place, with gim and sun-dried salt, two of Jeonnam-Gwangju’s signature marine products, paired with familiar K-food content.
 The Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City (Gwangju Special City), which is hosting the event, will highlight Jeonnam’s strengths—accounting for 78% of the country’s seaweed production—by showcasing the process from seaweed production through processing and export, as well as a variety of gimbap-themed content. Exhibitions, hands-on activities and a symposium will also introduce the history and production process of sun-dried salt and its value as a food product.
 “This event is an opportunity for families to experience the sea and seafood of Jeonnam-Gwangju by seeing, making and tasting gim and sun-dried salt firsthand together,” said Park Young-chae, director of Gwangju Special City’s Oceans and Fisheries Bureau. “We will make thorough preparations so that the enjoyment people experience at the event leads to greater interest in and consumption of seafood from Jeonnam-Gwangju.”
 Gwangju Special City will set up themed areas at the venue, including a Gimbap Zone, Sun-Dried Salt Zone, Performance Zone, Market Zone and Healing Zone. It will also offer programs for families to enjoy together, including art-gimbap making, exhibitions on the history of gim and sun-dried salt, local seafood sales, cooking classes and performances.
 On the first day of the event, the 9th, the festival will be introduced nationwide through an on-site live broadcast of the TV program ‘6 O’Clock Hometown.’ There will also be a calligraphy performance by artist Kim So-young and a special performance by trot singer Park Ji-hyun.
 On the second day, the 10th, historical storyteller Sun Kim will introduce the history and value of salt through the ‘Salt Concert,’ and hands-on programs featuring gimbap and sun-dried salt will be held.
 On the final day of the event, the 11th, cooking classes with chef Jung Ho-young will be held at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Registration for 20 teams per session will be taken on site on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants can make and taste dishes using ingredients from Jeonnam-Gwangju.
 A benefit has also been arranged in conjunction with the World Island Exhibition Yeosu Korea: holders of tickets to the island exhibition can get 10% off sun-dried salt purchased at the festival.
 “Exports of gim from the Jeonnam-Gwangju region have grown about ninefold, from $50 million in 2015 to $447 million in 2026. In response to rising global market demand, we are working to introduce a quality grading system for dried gim, upgrade export packaging technology and strengthen overseas promotion,” said Park Young-chae, director of the Oceans and Fisheries Bureau. “Through this festival, we plan to boost consumption of local seafood, including gim and sun-dried salt, and work to increase the added value of the gim industry and expand exports.”

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