GKL to host K-traditional market dessert festival at Gangnam COEX branch from Monday through Friday

Staff from GKL's Seoul Dragon City branch deliver fire safety supplies to the Yongsan Yongmun Market merchants' association. [GKL]
Staff from GKL's Seoul Dragon City branch deliver fire safety supplies to the Yongsan Yongmun Market merchants' association. [GKL]

A casino for foreign visitors is reinventing itself as a cultural gateway to introduce Korean traditional market snacks to international tourists.

Grand Korea Leisure (GKL), the state-run operator of the Seven Luck Casino, announced Thursday it will partner with traditional market merchants' associations around chuseok to launch a joint marketing campaign aimed at attracting foreign tourists and revitalizing local commerce.

From Monday through Friday, GKL will hold the "K-Traditional Market Dessert Festa" at its Seven Luck Casino Gangnam COEX branch, showcasing the culinary culture of Korean traditional markets to foreign visitors.

More than 10 vendors from the Yeongdong Traditional Market merchants' association in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, will take part in the event, offering foreign tourists traditional Korean snacks — including rice cakes, spicy fried chicken, twisted doughnuts and steamed buns — to highlight the flavors and character of Korea's traditional markets. A promotional giveaway of 200 sets of domestically pressed sesame oil is also planned to draw participation.

"We hope this unique hands-on event introducing traditional Korean snacks to foreign visitors at Seven Luck will boost tourism satisfaction and contribute to revitalizing the local business district," GKL President Yoon Du-hyeon said.


terry@heraldcorp.com