Gwangju Special City: “Enjoy Namdo’s flavors and charm at Naju’s Yeongsan River Garden, from the 23rd to the 25th”

【Financial News, Jeonnam-Gwangju = Reporter Hwang Tae-jong】“Enjoy Namdo’s flavors and charm at Naju’s Yeongsan River Garden from the 23rd to the 25th.”
 The Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City (Gwangju Special City) will hold the 31st Namdo Food Culture Grand Festival across the Yeongsan River Garden area in Naju for three days starting on the 23rd, to share Jeonnam-Gwangju’s diverse food culture with the public nationwide.
 Oh Mi-gyeong, head of Gwangju Special City’s Tourism Policy Division, said, “I hope the Namdo Food Culture Grand Festival, now in its 31st edition, will help bring together Jeonnam-Gwangju’s diverse food cultures and widely promote the value of Namdo cuisine.”
 At this year’s event, Gwangju Special City will present signature dishes from 27 cities, counties and districts in one place, under the slogan “A Unified Special City, United by the Flavors of Namdo,” in line with the integration of Jeonnam and Gwangju.
 Moving beyond the event’s previous focus on exhibitions, it will be run as an experiential food festival designed for visitors to participate and enjoy, and to spend time at, with programs including a “Star Chef Dinner Show,” “The Namdo Food Masters’ Table” and “Cooking Experiences.”
 First, at the “Star Chef Dinner Show” on the opening day, the 23rd, master chef An Yu-seong, who appeared on Netflix’s variety show Culinary Class Wars, and chefs from the French association of master chefs (MCF) will present “Naju’s Kitchen” together. Singer An Seong-hun will perform as part of the celebratory program.
 On the second day, the 24th, Venerable Jeong Kwan of Baekyangsa Temple will demonstrate cooking and serve a special dish, while chef Cheon Sang-hyun, who worked at the Blue House for 20 years, will host a dinner show featuring ingredients from Namdo. Singers Lee Sang-woo and Byun Jin-seop will take the stage as part of the celebratory program. 
 At “The Namdo Food Masters’ Table,” visitors can sample a home-style Korean meal prepared by 12 Namdo food masters, as well as products from regional food brands and desserts from young people.
 The “Cooking Experiences” program will feature participatory activities, including cooking classes with culinary masters and children, fermented-food experiences and Namdo side-dish making, along with a Namdo cooking competition and a signature-dish competition among cities, counties and districts.
 “The Taste of Namdo,” introducing signature dishes and food culture from 27 cities, counties and districts, will also be held. It will share the distinctive flavors of five regions and the stories behind their food: forests and mountain ranges; Dadohae and the southwestern coast; Gwangju’s five signature flavors; the west coast and the Yeongsan River; and tidal flats and bays.
 There will also be spaces where visitors can sample and buy local food and products, including stalls selling signature dishes and Namdo food products, a young-dessert zone and food trucks.
 Oh Mi-gyeong, head of the Tourism Policy Division, said, “We’ve made plans that take advantage of Yeongsan River Garden’s distinctive setting: during the day, visitors can enjoy Namdo food in the mat-picnic area, food lounge and garden photo zone, and at night they can enjoy busking performances and nighttime picnics.” She added, “I hope families and friends will visit Naju’s Yeongsan River Garden together and enjoy Namdo’s flavors and charm.”
 Meanwhile, the opening ceremony of the 31st Namdo Food Culture Grand Festival will be held at 6 p.m. on the 23rd under the theme “Namdo’s Flavors Become One Shared Table.” A themed performance showcasing the history and culture of Namdo food will express the unity and vision for the future of the Unified Special City.

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