Chilgok burger festival draws 10,000 visitors

The 2026 Chilgok Burger Festa, held Saturday at Waegwan Station Plaza in North Gyeongsang Province's Chilgok-gun, drew about 10,000 visitors, the county announced Tuesday.

The festival featured handcrafted burger vendors alongside a flea market, busking performances and a burger-making experience.

Visitors spread beyond the festival grounds to nearby restaurants, cafes and a traditional market in the area.

Passenger boardings and alightings at Waegwan Station on the Daegyeong Line more than doubled compared with a typical day.

Chilgok-gun has been developing burgers as a local tourism draw, inspired by the food culture that grew up around Camp Carroll, a US military base in Waegwan.

"We will link the region's food, culture and tourism resources so that visitors can stay longer in Chilgok," Chilgok-gun County Chief Kim Jae-wook said.