Scenes from the 27th Pohang Guryongpo Gwamegi Festival, held Saturday and Sunday at Ara Plaza in Guryongpo-eup, Nam-gu. [Pohang City]
Scenes from the 27th Pohang Guryongpo Gwamegi Festival, held Saturday and Sunday at Ara Plaza in Guryongpo-eup, Nam-gu. [Pohang City]

The city of Pohang in North Gyeongsang Province announced Monday that the 27th Pohang Guryongpo Gwamegi Festival concluded successfully over the weekend at Ara Plaza in Guryongpo-eup, Nam-gu. The two-day event, organized by the Pohang Guryongpo Gwamegi Business Cooperative and hosted by the Maeil Sinmun, ran Saturday and Sunday.

About 3,000 residents and tourists visited the festival grounds over the two days, sampling the local delicacy and experiencing the region's food culture.

A "gwamegi history and culture booth" introduced visitors to the origins of Guryongpo gwamegi — a traditional Korean dish of dried fish, typically Pacific saury — along with its production process and nutritional value. Through exhibition materials and guided information, attendees explored the food's history and its place in Guryongpo's culinary heritage.

Interactive programs including a gwamegi quiz competition and a gwamegi costume show were also held, drawing families and younger visitors with entertainment designed to broaden the festival's appeal.

Food and discount sales proved equally popular. Fresh gwamegi, just brought to market, was available at 10 percent below retail price, drawing steady crowds of visitors who sampled the fish on-site before purchasing it to take home.

Fusion food offerings — including gwamegi kimbap and mini burgers — were also on offer, making the festival accessible to children and younger visitors trying gwamegi for the first time, as well as longtime fans of the dish.

"This festival gave us a valuable opportunity to showcase the quality of Guryongpo gwamegi and its potential for wider use," said Oh Jeong-heung, head of Pohang's fisheries policy division. "We will continue to provide administrative support to raise the brand value of gwamegi and help drive consumption of local specialties and revitalize the regional economy."


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