A festival aimed at carrying the spirit of Liberation Day into the daily lives of traditional market visitors and local residents is set to open this week.
Seodaemun-gu said the "815 Independence Dinner Festival" will be held Saturday and Sunday at Dongnimmun Culture Park, next to Yeongcheon Market near Dongnimmun, organized by the market's merchants association.
The event is tied to the 2026 Seodaemun Independence Democracy Festival and is designed to draw visitors from Independence Park and the Seodaemun Prison History Hall into the traditional market, where residents, merchants and university students can mingle.
The festival aims to breathe new life into the traditional market by linking the historical significance of Liberation Day with food, culture and local commerce.
On Saturday, a program running from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. will open with a line-dance performance by local residents, followed by a college students' traditional percussion performance and a series of celebratory acts. Body-painting and tattoo-sticker experiences will also be available for families.
Visitors can sample kkwabaegi (twisted doughnuts) and tteokgalbi (grilled short-rib patties), two signature dishes of Yeongcheon Market. Those wearing hanbok, carrying a Taegukgi (Korean national flag), or spending 5,000 won or more at the market will receive a complimentary beer. Customers who present a receipt showing a purchase of 40,000 won ($28) or more can also claim a 10,000-won Onuri gift voucher cashback.
The festival continues Sunday at the same venue and hours. Performances will include pop opera and trot music acts, a college students' fusion traditional music club, and an impromptu singing contest. Signature Yeongcheon Market foods will be on offer, and customers spending 5,000 won or more will be entered into a receipt-draw event.
The festival is part of Yeongcheon Market's participation in the Seoul Metropolitan Government's 2026 Night and Food Culture Revitalization Support Project and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' Cultural Tourism Market Development Project.
Seodaemun-gu is running the Seoul city support project across eight traditional markets and alley shopping districts, including Yeongcheon Market.
Events have already been held at Inwang Market, followed by the alley shopping districts near Myongji University, Yujin Arcade, Moraenae Market and Hongjae, with the Yeongcheon Market festival to be followed by events at Nami-donggil and Pobangter Market in September and October, respectively.
Seodaemun-gu District Mayor Park Woon-ki said he expects many residents to rediscover the appeal of Yeongcheon Market through the event, adding that the district will actively support traditional markets in becoming competitive spaces with both great food and character.
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