Food, performances and hands-on activities set for Seorim Dabok-gil on Saturday and Sinwon Market on Nov. 14; events tied to new nighttime tourism push along Byeolbit Stream
Seoul's Gwanak-gu will host a series of nighttime alley-market festivals in November to inject new energy into the local economy.
The district announced it will hold a "nighttime and food culture activation festival" — combining food stalls, performances and hands-on activities — at the Seorim Dabok-gil alley shopping street on Saturday and at Sinwon Market on Nov. 14.
The events are part of a relay-style local commerce revitalization project running across 25 commercial districts in Gwanak-gu through December, which kicked off at the Bongcheon Dalbit-gil alley shopping street in June.
The Saturday event at Seorim Dabok-gil, near Seoul National University Venture Town Station, will be billed as a "night-stroll food market and food culture festival." Customers will be eligible for first-come, first-served Onnuri gift-voucher cashback, and the district will also offer promotional giveaways and a prize draw.
Caricature and calligraphy experiences will be on offer alongside performances by local artists and a talent show stage. The aim is to bring vitality to the alley market through a festival that merchants and residents can enjoy together.
On Nov. 14, Sinwon Market will host a "night market to eat, enjoy and share." On top of digital Onnuri gift-voucher cashback, a prize draw and hands-on activities, the event will feature food and beer booths and a live performance stage, giving residents who visit the traditional market a fresh after-dark experience.
The district is also focusing on safe event management. Each market's merchants' association plans to work with relevant agencies to inspect fire and safety hazards before the events and establish an on-site emergency response system.
The festivals are drawing particular attention for their connection to Byeolbit Stream, which the district is developing into a nighttime tourism destination. The stretch of the stream near both Seorim Dabok-gil and Sinwon Market was selected Tuesday as one of Seoul's official "Seoul Starlight Landmarks" in a city-run competition.
The district plans to expand nighttime content — including media art installations, performance facilities and seasonal gardens — along an approximately 17,226-square-meter stretch from Sillim Bridge to Bongnim Bridge, linking the area to nearby attractions and alley markets to boost nighttime tourism and local spending.
Gwanak-gu currently operates 22 alley-type shopping streets, the largest number among Seoul's autonomous districts. The Namhyeon-dong commercial district was recently selected for the city's "Moonlight Night Market Development Project," securing up to 2 billion won ($1.49 million) in support — a sign the district is accelerating its push to grow the nighttime economy.
"I hope Gwanak-gu's traditional markets will grow into warm cultural spaces that leave residents with happy autumn memories," Gwanak-gu District Mayor Park Jun-hee said. "We will consistently discover and nurture alley markets that reflect the character of our community, and breathe lasting vitality into the local economy."
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