The two-day event on Oct. 23–24 in the Seongbuk-dong area features noodle and bread tastings and local food culture experiences, linking neighborhood shops with arts and cultural resources through food and walking programs.
Seongbuk-gu will host the 2026 Seongbuk Millo Jang festival across the Seongbuk-dong neighborhood Oct. 23–24.
Organized jointly by Seongbuk-gu and the Seongbuk Cultural Foundation, the festival celebrates wheat-based food culture — noodles, bread and more — while weaving together the stories of Seongbuk-dong's alleyways, shops and people. This year, rather than concentrating activities in a single venue, organizers have linked participating shops and lanes throughout the neighborhood so visitors can explore on foot, discovering food and local culture along the way.
The opening event, "Everyone's Table," runs from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Oct. 23. Dishes developed around the lives and works of artists and cultural figures connected to Seongbuk — created through the "Seongbuk Millo Cooking School: Cooking Literature" program run jointly by the Seongbuk Cultural Foundation and the University of Seoul's startup support center — will be shared with the public, accompanied by a screening of a short film documenting the cooking school's activities.
The main program, "Millo Table," runs from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Oct. 24. The "Alley Table" segment lets visitors sample distinctive food and drinks from participating Seongbuk-dong shops throughout the day. The "Artist's Table" features "Seongbuk Gamsang," a walk through Seongbuk-dong themed around the lives and art of Kim Yong-jun and Kim Whan-ki, paired with seasonal persimmon dishes. A market section called "Seongbuk Millo Friends" brings together ingredient, beverage and lifestyle brands alongside regional brands from other parts of the country, including Busan's "Bbantastic" bakery brand.
An alley exploration program called "Adventure Table" will also take place. Children can join "Millang-i's Secret Recipe Mission," planned by Hansung University students, for a guided romp through the neighborhood's lanes, while adults can join the "Seongbuk Millo Docent Tour" to hear the stories behind local food spots and spaces.
Additional programming includes an exhibition showcasing the activities of "Seongbuk Millo Life Club" participants and a community session where residents share food-related memories.
The University of Seoul's startup support center, Sungkyunkwan University's HUSS project team and Hansung University are all collaborating on the event. University students are contributing to recipe development, alley tour planning and research into local cultural resources, presenting Seongbuk-dong's food and everyday culture in a variety of ways.
"Seongbuk Millo Jang is not an event that gathers shops and programs in one place — it is a gathering that connects the neighborhood of Seongbuk-dong itself into one big table," a Seongbuk Cultural Foundation official said. "We hope residents will walk the alleyways, discover stories about food, spaces and people, and find a reason to come back to Seongbuk-dong."
Seongbuk-gu District Mayor Lee Seung-ro said he hopes the festival will raise the profile of the area's shops and arts and cultural resources while injecting new energy into the alley economy. "We will consistently develop the distinctive local culture of Seongbuk — one built together by residents, merchants and artists," he added.
Full program details and participation information are available on the Seongbuk Cultural Foundation's website and official Instagram account. Inquiries can be directed to the foundation's 2030 Cultural Vision Project team.
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