'Gyeongdong Market 1960 Festival' on Sunday features herbal-weight guessing, a vintage stationery corner, a song contest and more
Dongdaemun-gu in Seoul will host the "Gyeongdong Market 1960 Festival" along the Gyeongdong Market arcade on Sunday, the district announced.
The retro-themed festival celebrates the history and character of Gyeongdong Market, which opened in 1960. Organizers have put together a range of hands-on activities, food offerings and cultural performances so visitors of all ages can enjoy the charm of a traditional market.
The "1960 Experience Hall" will offer a variety of activities — visitors can test their eye by guessing the weight of medicinal herbs, one of the market's signature products, sit for a caricature portrait, take a set of four commemorative photos at the "Gyeongdong Four-Cut" booth, and browse a vintage stationery corner stocked with old-school snacks and nostalgic keepsakes.
Market vendors will run their own food stalls at the event, where visitors can sample a variety of dishes along with beer and popcorn at a shared dining area. Visitors who post photos or videos from the festival on social media will receive a free bag of popcorn.
The stage program kicks off at 2 p.m. with K-pop dance performances and fusion music, followed by an opening ceremony at 3 p.m. A song contest modeled after a college music festival, special performances by local artists and a prize raffle will round out the afternoon. From 6 p.m., invited singers Simshin and Yoyomi will take the stage to close out the festivities.
Dongdaemun-gu District Mayor Choi Dong-min said the festival was designed to let people experience the history and appeal of Gyeongdong Market — a longtime fixture of the community — in a fresh way. "I hope residents and visitors of all generations can come together, enjoy themselves and discover a new side of Gyeongdong Market, and that the event breathes new energy into the traditional market," he said.
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