Held Friday and Saturday at Baengnyeon Market and Uicheon Stream, the festival drew strong turnout from residents and tourists alike
Gangbuk-gu announced that the 2026 Gangbuk Baengmaek Festival, held Friday and Saturday at Baengnyeon Market and along Uicheon Stream, concluded successfully with large crowds in attendance.
Now in its fourth year, the Gangbuk Baengmaek Festival is the district's signature event, bringing together food from traditional markets and local commercial districts, craft beer, and cultural performances in one place. This year's edition was themed "A Wonderland of a Hundred Flavors," transforming the Baengnyeon Market and Uicheon Stream area into a festive space blending diverse culinary offerings with live entertainment.
A highlight of the festival was "Baengmaek Chefs," a live cooking competition in which vendors from traditional markets and local commercial districts went head-to-head on-site, drawing considerable attention from visitors.
Six vendors representing five traditional markets and the Saillo-ro commercial district took part in the competition. Participating vendors included Chicken Ieora from Solsaem Market, Kkeul Nong from Saillo-ro, Kkuigui from Suyu Traditional Market, Toy Gangjeong from Jangmiwon Alley Market, Hunie's 10,000-won Jokbal from Suyu Jaerae Market, and Macha Meokgeori from Baengnyeon Market — each cooking on the spot to showcase the distinctive flavors and culinary skills of their respective markets and districts.
The winner was determined by combining on-site sales figures with a public vote. Macha Meokgeori from Baengnyeon Market took first place with its charcoal-grilled galbi barbecue and charcoal-grilled pork neck barbecue.
This year also saw changes aimed at diversifying the festival's attractions and improving visitor convenience. Working with a private tourism operator, the district ran a tour linking the Bukhansan Dulle-gil trail with the Baengmaek Festival, allowing foreign tourists visiting Bukhansan to extend their trip naturally to Baengnyeon Market and Uicheon Stream. Foreign visitors who joined the tour experienced Gangbuk-gu's natural scenery, traditional markets, and local festival together.
The festival also expanded its designated eating areas and introduced a mobile QR ordering system, improving operations so that more visitors could enjoy food and performances with greater ease.
Particularly notable was the district's effort to address price gouging — a persistent problem at local festivals nationwide. By working closely with the merchants' association to keep menu prices affordable, the festival earned widespread praise as a "fair festival" where visitors could eat well without straining their wallets.
"The strong turnout at this year's Baengmaek Festival reaffirmed the appeal of Gangbuk-gu's traditional markets and local commercial districts," Gangbuk-gu District Mayor Jeong Chang-su said. "I am grateful to all the visitors who came out, as well as the merchants and staff who put so much effort into making it happen."
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